College Prep Schedule

1.     Join academic and non-academic organizations in your high school to enhance your college application.

2.     Meet your guidance counselor. Discuss with the guidance counselor the areas of study that you may be interested in.

3.     Purchase an ACT or SAT practice guide to study the material on these tests.

4.     Have a sit down discussion with your parents about college funding. Ask how much money they have set aside for your college education.

5.     Pursue academic excellence in all testing subjects. Start raising the bar of your grade point average. Every class counts. Do not even blow off PE. It all affects your overall GPA. There was a student when I graduated that made a “D” in PE which resulted in her being disqualified from a PTA scholarship for books even though she had an overall GPA of 3.8.

6.     Plan activities during the summer months that illuminate new options following high school. For example, visit nursing homes and hospitals if interested in the medical profession or sit in on some trials at the local courthouse if interested in law.

7.     Volunteer at companies that you are interested in and interview company employees about job requirements and challenges.

8.     Talk to your faculty advisor or a key teacher about the possibility of a high school honor program track. It looks good on the application but beware of honor programs that do not compensate grade point averages. If you take all honors classes and get a “B”, another student who takes regular class and gets an “A” may rank higher than you even if you put forth more effort.

9.     Start Internet research on colleges that you may be interested in. Review newspaper reviews about colleges that are doing well and colleges that are floundering. Make sure that your college choice is accredited or be sure to rule it out as a choice. A degree from a non-accredited college or university is worthless.

10. Focus on your weakest subjects to appear well rounded when applying for college. Get tutoring assistance to aid in this process if it is necessary.

11. Identify 3-5 key teachers in your school, that you will attempt to get recommendations from for college applications.

12. Participate in some type of sport in high school to exhibit academic and non-academic balance on your college application.

13. Don’t skip school on career day. Take advantage of career day and meet local professionals in fields that you are interested in. Be prepared to ask lots of questions.

14. Start a list of all activities in which you have participated, for future reference when filling out college applications.

15. Read monthly newsmagazines to stay up-to-date on current events. Some monthly magazines have a monthly vocabulary section that can be helpful. By the time you are completing your senior year you could increased your vocabulary with over 400 new words. Remember if trash goes in, trash comes out when you speak. Something goes for putting in quality information. You will sound much more intelligent if you can respond to current events questions with appropriate answers.

1.     Keep your grade point average up and try to raise it, if it is not a 4.0.

2.     Meet with your guidance counselor to clarify college intent and possible career focus.

3.     Identify the entrance requirements at the schools that you are interested in attending.

4.     Take the PSAT or Pre-ACT tests to prepare for the SAT/ACT examinations.

5.     Develop writing, reading, current affairs awareness and algebraic skills.

6.     Start the application process for military schools, if you are interested in a military career.

7.     Start saving money for college and meet with your parents again about money being put away in savings.

8.     Continue to interview professionals and tradesmen that you may want to explore.

9.     Take a career and personality assessment tool that is offered by your guidance counselor.

10. Continue your involvement with academic and non-academic programs and improve your vocabulary. This will help you get an increased score on the standardized test.

11. Review your PSAT or Pre-ACT test scores with your guidance counselor. Take a review course or book to study.

12. Visit various local colleges for an overview of college life and requirements. Participate in their college fair events.

13. Get a job between your sophomore and junior year for work experience to put on your college application.

14. Start collecting information on potential scholarships that you may qualify for college tuition, books, room, and board.

15. Progress your advanced high school coursework; take the hardest classes offered by your high school to prepare for college classes.

16. Identify a mentor that will review your overall progression to your long-term goals objectively with you. We suggest a teacher, guidance counselor, or any adult that you trust. Do not ask your parents.

17. Continue to build relationships with the 3-5 college recommenders that you have selected.

1.     Continue to keep your grade point average up.

2.     Meet with your guidance counselor to select or create a final list of possible colleges.

3.     Identify the entrance requirements at these specific colleges. Tuition costs, estimated living expenses, and college reputations should all be identified.

4.     Take the SAT/ACT examinations and review your score with your guidance counselor. Don’t be afraid to retake it if you do poorly. Remember to study between tests. Your scores won’t improve without your help.

5.     Continue to develop writing, reading, current affairs awareness and advanced algebraic skills. Continue to build your vocabulary and communication skill

6.     Review the amount of money saved for college, and meet with your parents again about money being put away in savings.

7.     Continue to interview professionals and tradesmen on career paths that you may want to explore.

8.     Start the certification process if you are wanting to play Division I or II college sports.

9.     Continue your involvement with academic and non-academic programs.

10. Continue to visit various local colleges for an overview of college life and requirements. Participate in their college fair events.

11. Get a job between your junior and senior year for work experience to put on your college application.

12. Clarify data collected on potential scholarships that you may qualify for college.

13. Progress your advanced high school coursework; take the hardest classes offered by your high school to prepare for college classes. Don’t feel obligated to take Calculus in high school unless you are going to be in a field that requires it.

14. Consult with your mentor about current college plans and goals.

15. Continue to build relationships with the 3-5 college recommenders that you have selected.

16. Receive applications from various colleges and programs.

17. Go for college interviews if required. Send a thank-you letter to the interviewer.

1.     Don’t take a shortened course-load, because that may indicated that you are slacking off your senior year to some admissions reviewers.

2.     Meet with your guidance counselor to finalize a college.

3.     Identify the entrance requirements at your specific college. Tuition costs, estimated living expenses, and college reputations should all be identified.

4.     Take the SAT/ACT examinations again and send your highest scores to the colleges of your choice.

5.     Focus on academic success, and determine your class-rank.

6.     File college applications by the correct due date.

7.     Get letters of recommendations from your selected recommenders.

8.     Review your overall plan with your guidance counselor.

9.     Fill out the FAFSA, free application for federal student aid.

10. Make sure your selected colleges have your correct information.

11. Attend college-prep classes if available in your area.

12. Make extra copies of every application; you should send applications registered mail to be sure the school has gotten them.

13. Visit your final college, one more time.

14. Keep a calendar outlining important deadlines, during your senior year. Review it frequently.

15. Review the amount of money you have saved for college and determine if there are any gaps that need extra funding. Unplanned expenses may include joining a sorority or fraternity.

16. Continue your involvement with academic and non-academic programs.

17. Finalize all scholarships for which you are applying, and send in the necessary paperwork.

18. Consult with your mentor about your finalized college plans and goals.

19. Write thank-you letters to all recommenders.

20. Go for college interviews if required. Send a thank-you letter to the interviewer.

All documents on this website are copyrighted.