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Timeline for College Planning

Freshman Year 

  • Meet with your academic advisor throughout the year.

  • Get involved in clubs, sports, and community service projects.

  • Start to compile a list of your extra-curricular activities. 

  • Identify possible leadership positions, class and/or club officers, honor council.                                 

 

Sophomore Year 

  • Take the PLAN, a practice ACT.

  • Take SAT II Subject tests and/or AP exams as appropriate.

  • Meet with your academic advisor throughout the year.

  • Continue to take challenging academic courses.

  • Continue active participation in clubs & sports.

  • Focus on organizational skills and good study skills.

  • Start to think about career goals/ interests.

  • Consider a summer job & continue with community service, it looks good when preparing your resume!

  • Continue to add to your list of extra-curricular activities.

 

Junior Year 

  • Start to construct your list of possible colleges, think about the values that are important to you.

  • Meet with your college guidance counselor along with your parents to discuss your college planning.

  • Find out what college representatives will be visiting the Prep campus and make time to be there.  Familiarize yourself with as many different colleges as you can.

  • Plan to start visiting colleges that you may be considering and take campus tours; juniors receive three excused absence days during third trimester for college visits.

  • Take the PSAT test in the fall.
  • Continue to take strong academic courses and strive to achieve your academic best.
  • Take the ACT and/or SAT test in the spring.
  • Stay involved with community service, activities, clubs, a part- time job.
  • Start to prepare your rough draft resume.
  • Begin exploring scholarship and financial aid opportunities.

 

Senior Year   

  • Over the summer complete your college-ready resume and two college application essays as outlined in Prep’s “Jump Start” program.

  • Meet with college guidance counselor early in fall to discuss college plans.  This is the time when the list gets narrowed down to the colleges you want to apply to.

  • Attend college fairs and meet with college representatives that are visiting the Prep campus.

  • Take the ACT and/or SAT in the early fall and forward your scores to the colleges to which you plan to apply.
  • Apply for any scholarships that you may be eligible for.
  • Choose teachers, employers, members of the clergy etc., and request letter of recommendation from them. All letters must be given to the college guidance coordinator. 
  • Continue to strive in all classes. Remember that first trimester grades are sent to the colleges to which you have applied.
  • Be sure to have all essays proofed and a final draft ready to send within the college package.
  • When you are ready to apply to a college via website or hardcopy, you need to complete the College Application Checklist located in the College Guidance office. All material on the list must be submitted to the college guidance coordinator.  The coordinator will prepare each college package to be sent out to the specific colleges by deadline date.
  • VERY IMPORTANT: Be sure to submit your SAT/ACT scores through the college board website at www.collegeboard.com or the ACT site at www.act.org to each college you are applying too.
  • Keep copies for your own files.
  • Have your parents fill out and submit the FAFSA form as soon after January 1 as possible (www.fafsa.ed.gov).
  • Have your parents fill out and submit the CSS/Financial Aid Profile through www.collegeboard.com (if applicable). Colleges and Universities use the information collected on the PROFILE to help them award nonfederal student  aid funds. By completing the PROFILE, you provide the college with a  complete picture of your family’s financial circumstances. 
  • Apply for all possible scholarships.
  • If you have not done so, try to visit the colleges to which you have applied.
  • Inform your college guidance office when notification comes from the colleges to which you have applied.
  • Make your final decision no later than May 1. Send acceptance letter and any necessary documents along with the deposit to your college of choice.
  • Notify all other colleges with a polite letter of refusal.
  • Inform the college guidance coordinator of any scholarships you were  awarded.
  • If offered, plan to attend the summer orientation program at the college in which you will be enrolling.