Applying to college does NOT start your senior year. From planning your high school classes, to preparing for standardized tests, to requesting letters of recommendation, to completing applications, to compiling a brag sheet, to writing your essays, these things take time. Planning is key.
The major dates:
A more detailed list by grade is as follows:
9th GRADE
• Keep up your grades.
• Sign up for sports and clubs or outside extra curricular activities.
• Sign up on Naviance (if your school has it) and complete the personality test and interest inventory.
• Start your "Brag List" which contains all your awards, evaluations, nominations and achievements to be used in letters of recommendations.
• Consider your summer plans. Work? Volunteering?
• Meet with and get to know your counselor.
10th GRADE
• Take Challenging Classes.
• Keep up your "Brag Sheet."
• Stay involved in your clubs and other activities, consider a leadership position.
• Register for the PSAT.
• Evaluate your volunteer opportunities, enrichment programs, and work experience.
• Consider applying to an academic summer program.
• Plan some colleges visits while they are in session.
• Start researching the college application process. What do you know? What do you need to learn?
11th GRADE
• Enroll in a test preparation course or practice seminar.
• Take PSAT.
• Attend a College Fair.
• Select your testing dates for SAT & ACT tests.
• Open up a Common Application account.
• Ask for Letters of Recommendation.
• Athletes should register with the NCAA clearing-house if they have not already.
• Take appropriate AP exams and SAT subject tests.
• Create your college list and visit schools.
• Update your "Brag Sheet."
• Summer after 11th grade, start writing your common application essays.
12th GRADE
• SAT or ACT
• Apply!
The major dates:
- Practice PSAT - 10th grade
- PSAT - Fall 11th grade
- SAT or ACT - Fall/Spring 11th grade & Fall 12th grade
- Applications Due - Fall 12th grade
- Aid Applications Due - October 12th grade
- Applications Decisions Mailed - Spring 12th grade
A more detailed list by grade is as follows:
9th GRADE
• Keep up your grades.
• Sign up for sports and clubs or outside extra curricular activities.
• Sign up on Naviance (if your school has it) and complete the personality test and interest inventory.
• Start your "Brag List" which contains all your awards, evaluations, nominations and achievements to be used in letters of recommendations.
• Consider your summer plans. Work? Volunteering?
• Meet with and get to know your counselor.
10th GRADE
• Take Challenging Classes.
• Keep up your "Brag Sheet."
• Stay involved in your clubs and other activities, consider a leadership position.
• Register for the PSAT.
• Evaluate your volunteer opportunities, enrichment programs, and work experience.
• Consider applying to an academic summer program.
• Plan some colleges visits while they are in session.
• Start researching the college application process. What do you know? What do you need to learn?
11th GRADE
• Enroll in a test preparation course or practice seminar.
• Take PSAT.
• Attend a College Fair.
• Select your testing dates for SAT & ACT tests.
• Open up a Common Application account.
• Ask for Letters of Recommendation.
• Athletes should register with the NCAA clearing-house if they have not already.
• Take appropriate AP exams and SAT subject tests.
• Create your college list and visit schools.
• Update your "Brag Sheet."
• Summer after 11th grade, start writing your common application essays.
12th GRADE
• SAT or ACT
• Apply!