Sign up for strong courses and make studying your number one priority.
Work up to your potential—the grades you earn become part of your Grade Point Average (GPA).
Participate in extracurricular activities.
Begin to work on your community service hours requirement for graduation.
Make your summer meaningful. Consider summer school, a part-time job, volunteer work, or other enrichment opportunities.
Begin looking at strong courses to take in 10th grade.
When on vacation, drive through and walk around college campuses just to get the feel of different types of schools.
Take the PSAT.

Fall

•Create a log including all extracurricular activities, awards, community service, and honors. Update it every season.
•Get involved in extracurricular activities. Colleges are looking for well-rounded students.
•Start off the year right by making good grades.
•Make sure you are enrolled in challenging classes.
•Sophomore year, take the PSAT. The PSAT is preparation for the SAT.

Spring

•Attend college fairs in the area.
•Sign up for challenging classes for the following year.
•Colleges look for volunteer hours, so start early with meaningful community service and leadership positions.

Take strong courses and continue to work to your full potential.
Be a self-advocate, attend tutorials, and do not let yourself fall behind in your classes.
Meet with teachers as necessary to review course work, tests, and other academic work.
Begin to consider the various types of colleges and universities available and the types of programs they offer.
If you have not done so yet, take the PSAT. You do not need to take a preparatory course for these tests in the sophomore year.
Use the results of these tests to determine strengths and weaknesses.
Begin to visit colleges informally whenever you are near one during a family vacation or trip.
Make your summer meaningful. Summer experiences are invaluable for personal growth and add depth to a resume.
Work on your community service hours. Many colleges and scholarship applications focus on community service.

Study! Study! Study!

Fall

•Create a log including all extracurricular activities, awards, community service, and honors. Update it every season.
•Get involved in extracurricular activities. Colleges are looking for well-rounded students.
•Start off the year right by making good grades.
•Make sure you are enrolled in challenging classes.
•Sophomore year, take the PSAT. The PSAT is preparation for the SAT.

Spring

•Attend college fairs in the area.
•Sign up for challenging classes for the following year.
•Colleges look for volunteer hours, so start early with meaningful community service and leadership positions.

Junior year is an important time in the college admission process. Although our formal college counseling program does not begin until February of the junior year, there are a number of things you should be aware of and doing before that time. The following is a college admissions calendar for the junior year. Read it carefully so that you are informed about what to do and what is available to you as you go through this important year in high school.

Focus firmly on grades. This is the last year to acquire a strong GPA for college admissions applications next fall. If your 10th grade PSAT test scores show potential for National Merit consideration, consider taking a PSAT prep course. Talk to college representatives and begin to establish contact with various schools of interest to you.

Talk with college representatives when they visit the school.

Attend college information sessions in Lee County and throughout the state.

Take the PSAT in October. National Merit Scholarship Competition is determined from the 11th Grade PSAT.

Use your 11th Grade PSAT as a baseline score from which to prep for next spring’s SATs and ACTs.

Consider an SAT/ACT prep course after receiving PSAT scores in December. PSAT scores can be used as SAT predictors within approximate ranges.They can also indicate areas of strength or weakness that students can work on before taking the first SAT or ACT in the spring of the junior year. You can retest in the fall of the senior year.

Check with your counselor for additional application forms if you regularly use and will need special testing accommodations.

Take the SAT Subject Tests at the end of your junior year if appropriate based on your future college plans.

Continue to work on your community service hours. Consider running for leadership positions during your senior year.

Sign up for the NCAA and NAIA if you are an athlete

Get on the internet and investigate college websites.

Visit college campuses. Begin to narrow choices.

Make your summer meaningful. Consider internships, enrichment programs on college campuses, work experiences, travel to Israel, etc.

Begin to develop your resume.

Fall

•Take the PSAT.
•Take a career assessment test to assist your career decisions.
•Create an account on www.fastweb.com and on www.schoolsoup.com. Both websites will email you scholarship information.
•Get an SAT and an ACT preparation booklet from your Guidance Counselor and start preparing for the tests.
•Register to take the SAT and the ACT.
•Consider taking the CLEP.

Spring

•Take the SAT and the ACT.
•Collect financial aid information, admission requirements, and applications for colleges of interest.
•Start visiting colleges, and take campus tours.

Sign up again for the SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests if necessary. Continue test prep if appropriate.
Make plans to visit college campuses of interest to you.
Attend the senior group meeting with the counselor for admission tips and to review the college application process.
Become aware of application deadlines. Meet with your counselor to finalize college application choices.
Follow application directions for each college and mail in or electronically submit all applications on time.
Check on the financial aid and scholarship process at the colleges you are considering. Meet application deadlines.
Finish the senior year strong.
Enjoy your senior year! You’ve earned it!

Fall

•Narrow a list of colleges to around 5, and make sure you have applications and financial aid information from those schools.
•Get organized!!! Make lists of test dates, deadlines, recommendations needed, transcript requests, and any other necessary materials.
•Take the SAT and/or the ACT again.
•Ask for teacher recommendations.
•Write application essays.
•Send in college applications. (October is the traditional Florida deadline.)
•Speak to the same college admissions rep each time, and send all paperwork to that person’s attention.

Winter

•Have your Guidance Counselor send out your midyear transcript to colleges on your list.
•Contact colleges to make sure they received your application.
•Submit the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible.
•Boys must register for the Selective Services by their 18th birthdays to receive federal funding.
•Many financial aid deadlines are in February; make sure to apply before the deadline.
•Fill out the FFAA for Florida Bright Futures.
•Be in contact with your financial aid officer.

Spring

•You should receive acceptance letters and financial aid offers by mid-April.
•Decline acceptance to undesired colleges by way of a thank you note.
•Accept entrance to your desired college.

Summer

•Ask your Guidance Counselor to send your final transcripts to your college.
•Pack, and get ready for the next phase of your life!

Standardized testing scores are a major factor in college admissions decisions. Most colleges will accept the two primary standardized tests, the SAT and the ACT. The College Board also offers specific subject tests called SAT IIs.

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