From the Counselor’s Corner | Juniors and seniors prepare for college - step-by-step

— Preparing for college

The high school junior year is critical for high school students planning to go to college. There are important issues that need to be started and developed in the junior year, in school and outside of it. This timeline is a suggested checklist the junior year.

September

Students should meet with a guidance counselor to verify selected courses are on target, get mailers for college information and check class rank.

Begin to look for community service hours. Schedule the time on a calendar, even if it’s months away.

Record any hours the student completes.

Register for the fall PSAT and begin a goal sheet and action plan for junior-year grades. Use a daily planner to schedule study time.

Make this a habit. Become involved in or continue to be involved in organizations the student finds interesting. Leadership skills are important.

October

Take the PSAT and register to take the ACT.

Preview a few college applications and take a class or get a book on writing essays. Begin to sharpenskills in this area for college testing and scholarship applications.

Continue to look for and research colleges, weighing each college’s pros and cons.

November

Reassess grade goals and action plan. Look for more community service, as there are more opportunities during the holidays.

Continue to look for and research colleges while working on testing skills by using practice SAT I/ACT tests and writing essays.

December

Take a look at the dates for the spring SATs.

Begin to take a serious look at career choices. Remember there will be many choices within a field of study or major at college, so keep it broad.

January

Begin thinking of a summer job. Begin to think about career options. Start looking into how they match up with the collegesbeing considered.

Note everything the student has accomplished in the first half of the junior year in both the academic and personal record.

February

Narrow down college choices to five to 10. Continue to be on the lookout for other colleges that may have slipped under the radar. Just because the list has been narrowed down does not mean it cannot be added to.

Schedule a SAT I /ACT preparation class if offered. March

Begin applying for summer jobs and start to research financial aid including loans, scholarships and grants.

April

Register for the SAT/ ACT.

Look for community service time for the summer, in addition to a summer job.

May through the summer

Students should develop a summer reading list and take the SAT I and/or SAT II or ACT. Visit one or two colleges that are high on the list of choices. College choices can be narrowed down by looking at the atmosphere.

Decide if the student will need to retake the SAT I/ ACT test in the fall. If so, continue to work on testing skills by using practice SAT I tests and writing essays.

Senior year, fall semester

◊Continue to take a full course load of college-prep courses.

◊Keep working on grades. Make sure you have taken the courses necessary to graduate in the spring.

◊Continue to participate in extracurricular and volunteer activities. Demonstrate initiative, creativity, commitment and leadership.

◊Male students must register for selective service on your 18th birthday to be eligible for federal and state financial aid.

◊Talk to counselors, teachers and parents aboutfinal college choices.

◊Make a calendar showing application deadlines for admission, financial aid and scholarships.

◊Check resource books, computer programs and your guidance office for information on scholarships and grants. Ask colleges about scholarships for which you may qualify.

◊Give recommendation forms to the teachers youhave chosen, along with stamped, self-addressed envelopes so your teachers can send them directly to colleges. Be sure to fill out your name, address and school name on the top of the form. Talk to you recommendation writers about your goals and ambitions.

◊Give school report forms to your high school’s guidance office. Fill in your name, address and any other required information on top. Verify with your guidance counselor schools to which transcripts, test scores and letters are to be sent. Give your counselor any necessary forms at least two weeks before they are due or whenever your counselor’s deadline is,whichever is earlier.

◊Register for and take the ACT, SAT I or SAT II Subject Tests, as necessary.

◊Be sure you have requested (by mail or online) test scores be sent to the colleges of your choice.

◊Mail or send electronically any college applications for early-decision admission by Nov. 1.

◊If possible, visit colleges while classes are in session.

◊If you plan to apply for an ROTC scholarship, remember that your application is due by Dec. 1.

◊Print extra copies or make photocopies of every application you send.

Winter

◊Attend whatever college-preparatory nights are held at your school or by local organizations.

◊Send mid-year grade reports to colleges. Continue to focus on your schoolwork.

◊Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and, if necessary, PROFILE®. These forms can be obtained from your guidance counselor or at www.fafsa.ed.gov to download the forms or to file electronically. These forms may not be processed before Jan. 1 so don’t send them before then.

◊Mail or send electronically any remaining applications and financial aid forms before winter break.

Make sure to apply to at least one college that you know you can afford and where you know you will be accepted.

◊Follow up to makesure that the colleges have received all application information, including recommendations and test scores.

◊Meet with your counselor to verify all applicable forms are in order and have been sent out to colleges.

Spring

◊Watch your mail between March 1 and April 1 for acceptance notifications from colleges.

◊Watch your mail for notification of financial aid awards between April 1 and May 1.

◊Compare the financial aid packages from the colleges and universities that have accepted you.

◊Make your final choice and notify all schools of your intent by May 1. If possible, do not decide without making at least one campus visit. Send your nonrefundable deposit toyour chosen school by May 1 as well. Request that your guidance counselor send a final transcript to the college in June.

◊Be sure that you have received a FAFSA acknowledgment.

◊If you applied for a Pell Grant (on the FAFSA), you will receive the Student Aid Report (SAR) statement. Review this Pell notice and forward it to the college you plan to attend. Make a copy for your record.

◊Complete follow-up paperwork for the college of your choice (scheduling, orientation session, housing arrangements and othernecessary forms).

Summer

◊If applicable, apply for a Stafford Loan through a lender. Allow eight weeks for processing.

◊Receive the orientation schedule from your college.

◊Get residence hall assignment from your college.

◊Obtain course scheduling and cost information from your college.

◊Congratulations! You are about to begin the greatest adventure of your life. Good luck.

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Randi Jo Hutchinson-Kelso is the counselor for Pea Ridge High School.

School, Pages 11 on 06/23/2010