Freshman Year
As a freshman, you may not have any idea what you want to do after high school, but the last thing you want is to look back at your senior year and have regrets. The following is a list of things you can do NOW to help plan for the future.
- Make a four-year upper school plan.
- Get to know your teachers. You may need recommendations for college.
- Research colleges and admission requirements.
- Look for ways to get involved to help build a good resumé.
- Begin keeping a log or portfolio of activities you are involved in or awards you receive.
- Look into summer programs that are of interest to you.
- Take ACT at the end of your freshman year.
- Most of all - REMEMBER - GRADES COUNT!!!
Sophomore Year
- Challenge yourself and focus on your GPA. Understand the difference between core and overall GPA.
- Continue to be involved, but begin to narrow down your areas of interest. Become more than just a member; begin to serve on committees.
- Continue with your log or portfolio of activities and awards.
- Take either the PLAN (a practice for the ACT) or the PSAT (a practice for the SAT).
- Take an interest inventory to help determine possible majors you can research. Several of these are on-line and one is part of the PLAN.
- Take the ACT at the end of your sophomore year.
- Begin making lists of colleges that you may consider, especially colleges that offer majors in your area of interest.
- During the summer of your sophomore and junior years, visit colleges to start narrowing your search.
Junior Year Calendar
Fall
* Concentrate on doing well in your classes.
* Continue to take leadership roles within your activities .
* Make a list of the types of colleges and the criteria that will best meet your needs and interests and begin to research the schools that meet your criteria.
* Meet with college admissions officers who visit Rogers. These visits are usually scheduled during Lunch Period.
* Attend the College Fair that is held annually at the Allen Thorton in the fall.
* Make a college file/folder to manage your college search, testing records, and application information.
* Register for the ACT. Rogers high school code (often referred to as the CEEB code) . You can visit the ACT website at http://www.actstudent.org/ to find testing dates, registration deadlines, and to register.
* Prepare for the PSAT. Some Juniors take this test on the national testing date in October during the school day. The Junior year scores may qualify you for National Merit Semi-Finalist status and make you eligible for possible National Merit scholarships
Winter
* Find out about college firsthand from friends who are home from college for the holidays.
* Sign up to take the SAT and/or ACT at least once in the spring and again next fall. Register online. To prepare, download practice booklets from http://www.collegeboard.com/ (for the SAT) or from http://www.actstudent.org/ (for the ACT).
* Review you PSAT scores that you should receive through your English classes in January.
* Plan to visit college campuses over Spring Break – Schedule campus tours and interviews with admissions officers.
* If applicable, begin to prepare writing samples, portfolios, audition tapes and other materials for the fall college application process.
* As you plan your senior schedule, be aware of and plan for the academic requirements at the colleges that most interest you.
* Find out about college firsthand from friends who are home from college for the holidays.
* Sign up to take the SAT and/or ACT at least once in the spring and again next fall. Register online. To prepare, download practice booklets from http://www.collegeboard.com/ (for the SAT) or from http://www.actstudent.org/ (for the ACT).
* Review you PSAT scores that you should receive through your English classes in January.
* Plan to visit college campuses over Spring Break – Schedule campus tours and interviews with admissions officers.
* If applicable, begin to prepare writing samples, portfolios, audition tapes and other materials for the fall college application process.
* As you plan your senior schedule, be aware of and plan for the academic requirements at the colleges that most interest you.
Spring
* Take an ACT/SAT workshop.
* Plan to take the SAT II subject tests when you have successfully completed the corresponding high school course (B+ average or better) if you’re interested in a school that requires them.
* If you are considering military academies or ROTC scholarships, contact the Guidance Office and begin the process the summer before your senior year.
* Now is a great time to look for a summer job, internship, or volunteer opportunity.
Summer* Take an ACT/SAT workshop.
* Plan to take the SAT II subject tests when you have successfully completed the corresponding high school course (B+ average or better) if you’re interested in a school that requires them.
* If you are considering military academies or ROTC scholarships, contact the Guidance Office and begin the process the summer before your senior year.
* Now is a great time to look for a summer job, internship, or volunteer opportunity.
* Visit prospective college campuses
.* Call, write, or email prospective colleges and request that you be added to their mailing list. Download applications (or request paper copies) from colleges to which you’ll apply. Check application deadlines – many may have early dates, rolling admissions, or early housing opportunities.
* If you plan to take the ACT or SAT in the fall, register online now.
* If you are an athlete planning to continue playing a sport in college and want to be eligible to be recruited by colleges, you must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse (http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/).
* By the end of the summer, you should have narrowed your prospective college list. The list should include “safe” schools as well as “likely” and “reach” schools.
* Mark a calendar with important application, financial aid, and scholarship due dates and deadlines for the senior year.
* Explore a passion – this could be a job, an internship, summer academic coursework, an outdoor adventure, athletic camp or travel.
Senior Year Calendar
Fall
* Continue to narrow your list of prospective colleges. If you have not yet done so, download college applications and financial aid and scholarship forms.
* Use your College Days (2) wisely. If you are unsure of the College Day policy, ask the counselor.
* Pay close attention to the daily announcements and the blogspot. Both will announce visits by college admission representatives, evening programs in the area, application and scholarship deadlines, and other important information.
* Register to take the ACT, SAT I and SAT II if needed. Remember that colleges will always take the highest score, regardless of how many times you take the test. Be sure to have your scores sent to the schools to which you are applying.
* Begin working on college application essays.
* Decide who you want to write your teacher recommendation(s).
* Create a master list or calendar that includes:
> tests that you will take and their fees, dates, and registration deadlines
> college application due dates
> financial aid and scholarship application forms required and their deadlines
> other materials you will need (recommendations, transcripts, etc.)
> Roger’s application process deadlines
* Request your transcripts, as needed, from the Guidance Office.
Winter
* Finish your applications. Keep copies of everything that you send to colleges.
* If applying for financial aid, complete the FAFSA form online and any other forms required by the institutions. Some schools have their own forms that come with the applications and many private schools require the Financial Aid Profile.
* Relax and enjoy your senior year as you wait for responses from the colleges.
* Finish your applications. Keep copies of everything that you send to colleges.
* If applying for financial aid, complete the FAFSA form online and any other forms required by the institutions. Some schools have their own forms that come with the applications and many private schools require the Financial Aid Profile.
* Relax and enjoy your senior year as you wait for responses from the colleges.
Spring
* Bring to the Guidance Office your letters of acceptance and awarded scholarships.
* Respond to college offers of admission and/or scholarships. Notify the college you are planning to attend, as well as those to which you were accepted but will not attend.
* If you have been placed on the waiting list at a college that is a top choice for you, be sure to let the Guidance Office know and write a letter letting them know that their institution is your first choice. Stay in contact with the college and the Guidance Office through the month of April.
* Take AP exams in May.
* There are no College Days after Spring Break. But, you may want to plan an excused absence during the month of April to take advantage of special visitation days for accepted students or to make another visit to those schools where you have been accepted if that would help in your decision process.
* Bring to the Guidance Office your letters of acceptance and awarded scholarships.
* Respond to college offers of admission and/or scholarships. Notify the college you are planning to attend, as well as those to which you were accepted but will not attend.
* If you have been placed on the waiting list at a college that is a top choice for you, be sure to let the Guidance Office know and write a letter letting them know that their institution is your first choice. Stay in contact with the college and the Guidance Office through the month of April.
* Take AP exams in May.
* There are no College Days after Spring Break. But, you may want to plan an excused absence during the month of April to take advantage of special visitation days for accepted students or to make another visit to those schools where you have been accepted if that would help in your decision process.
After Graduation…
* The Guidance Office will send your final transcript to the college you are now attending.
* The Guidance Office will send your final transcript to the college you are now attending.
