College Planning: 4 Year Overview

• Begin to build strong academic, language, mathematical, and critical thinking skills by taking challenging courses. Look at what Honors and AP courses are offered and discuss taking these courses with your teachers.
• Take your studies seriously and focus on your grades! This is the beginning of your cumulative grade point average which is reported to colleges.
• Become involved in your high school. Explore extracurricular activities and begin thinking about leadership opportunities at your school and in your community.
• Utilize Scoir to record your extracurricular activities, leadership positions, community service, honors, awards, summer experiences, and jobs.
• Attend the Freshman/Sophomore College Counseling Night and the individual course scheduling conferences that are offered in the spring.
• Evaluate your grades each quarter and determine what you are doing well and where you need to improve. Make an appointment with your teachers as needed. Remember that you are building your record for college admission beginning in your freshman year.
• Freshmen will take the PSAT 8/9 for practice (please see school calendar for dates). Utilize this practice test to become more familiar with the test format and the types of questions found on the PSAT. You may also want to visit the College Board website for more information on the PSAT 8/9.

• Evaluate your performance and your interest in each academic area. Continue to take challenging courses (Honors and AP). Remember to balance taking challenging courses with your commitment and ability to perform well in them.
• Stay involved in extracurricular activities that interest you. The level of involvement and accomplishment is most important, not the number of activities. Continue to record these activities in Scoir.
• Consider attending College Fairs (see College Financial Aid, Scholarships & Events section on the College Counseling page of the SJCS website for dates and times).
• Prepare to take the PSAT in October. Utilize the practice tests to become more familiar with test format and the types of questions found on the PSAT. You may also want to visit the College Board website at www.collegeboard.org for more information on the PSAT.
• Take the PSAT in October. This is practice for the SAT and for the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. However, sophomores may be eligible for one of the National Recognition Programs with a qualifying score on this test. For more information about eligibility criteria, visit bigfuture.org/NRP. The test date is on the SJCS school calendar.
• If you are traveling near any colleges, consider making an informal visit there.

• Attend the Freshman/Sophomore College Counseling Night and the individual course scheduling conferences that are required in the spring.

• Use your summer wisely. Consider taking a summer course or participating in a special program related to your field of interest. Think about volunteering or getting some work experience.

August

• Evaluate your performance and your interest in each academic area. Continue to take challenging courses (Honors and AP). Remember to balance taking challenging courses with doing well in them.
• Focus on your academics remembering that junior year grades are very important to college admission committees.
• Update the activities list that you began as a freshman in Scoir.

September

• Make use of the college planning resources available in the College Counseling Office, as well as those on the Internet.
• Attend the Greenville County College Fair (see College Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Events section on the College Counseling page of the SJCS website for dates and times).
• Prepare for the PSAT that will be taken in October. Remember, juniors who score exceptionally high on the PSAT may be considered for participation in the National Merit Scholarship Program and/or one of the National Recognitions Programs.
• Numerous college representatives will visit SJCS in the fall. Obviously, schoolwork must come first, but try to attend a few for colleges of particular interest to you. Make sure to review the College Representative visiting schedule on SCOIR to see the dates and times that the colleges will be visiting. Make sure to discuss attending these visits with your teacher in advance to determine if you can be released from class. Remember you must sign up in SCOIR at least one day prior to the scheduled visit. Listen to the college representatives’ presentations and ask questions about your particular interests. Pick up information and sign the cards provided by the reps so that you will be added to the schools’ mailing lists.
• Be sure to be an active participant in class to set yourself up for success when asking for letters of recommendations from your teachers in the spring.

October

• Take the PSAT on the national test date (see school calendar).
• Begin to establish criteria for the type of college that you would like to attend. Begin thinking about preferences in broad terms (location, size, programs, etc.). Use college guides and talk to family, friends, and teachers about their college choices and experiences.
• Consider using Fall Break to visit colleges.

November

• Evaluate your first quarter grades and determine what you are doing well and where you need to improve to meet your academic goals for the year. Make sure to meet with your teachers as needed. Remember, your transcript (which is provided to colleges) will document all high school level coursework and grades.

December

• Study thoroughly for exams and attend any extra help sessions that your teachers offer.
• PSAT student reports are available online. Read the information carefully to interpret your performance.
• Use your cumulative grade point average (GPA) and PSAT scores to determine your academic eligibility for your colleges of interest.

January

• You and your parents should plan to attend the Junior Class College Counseling Night that will be held in late January/early February. This meeting is extremely helpful in your college planning!
• Look ahead to spring break for possible opportunities to visit colleges.

February

• Begin SAT/ACT preparation and register for the SAT Test and the ACT Test this spring.
• Schedule an initial parent-student meeting with your college counselor to discuss your college selection and application process as well as your senior year schedule.

March

• Make the most of the College Match program which is conducted during class time in the spring—complete suggested research/assessments/etc.
• Continue your college search.
• Begin    thinking   about   which    teachers   you   will   ask   to write    letters      of recommendation on your behalf and discuss with your college counselor.
• Utilize your spring break for college visits and/or consider utilizing the college visit mini-mester.
• When you visit college campuses, be sure to ask questions, talk to college students, and keep a notebook of what you liked and disliked about each campus.

April

• Make your requests for teacher recommendation letters and let your college counselor know what requests have been made. All teacher recommendation letters will be submitted to the College Counseling Office.
• Prepare for your AP Exams, if applicable.
• Consider taking the ACT Test.

May

• Take the SAT Test.
• Take AP Exams, if applicable.
• Prepare for all your final exams.

June-July

• Take (or retake) the SAT Test (June) and/or ACT Test (June and/or July).
• If you are considering playing sports in college, make sure that you register with the NCAA Eligibility Center  and/or NAIA.
• Spend your summer productively. Colleges like to see that you have spent your summers doing something productive (summer job, community service, etc.).
• Visit colleges that you did not see during the school year.
• Begin to consider essay topics and look for opportunities to use an essay for more than one application. Common Application essay prompts are generally released by this time. Do rough drafts of essay topics and all applications. You will be glad that you did!
• If needed, schedule another student-parent visit with your college counselor in July and/or August.
• Complete your Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR) for the courses that have been completed or will be attempted (e.g., senior year courses in progress) for high school credit.
• Sign up for the College Counseling Office’s essay workshop.

General Expectations

By the end of your junior year, you should have completed the following: 

1. Met with your college counselor a minimum of one to two times.
2. Taken the SAT Reasoning Test and/or ACT Test at least once. We recommend taking both the SAT and the ACT one time each and then repeating whichever test you scored higher with.
3. Established a preliminary list of potential colleges and update Scoir with this information.

August

• Attend the College Counseling Office’s College Application Boot Camp.
• Consider taking the SAT especially if you are applying Early Decision, Early Action, or to any Rolling Admission schools.
• Note all registration deadlines for fall SAT and ACT tests and complete registration promptly.
• If needed, plan to attend a SAT/ACT Prep Course.

September

• If you haven’t already done so, schedule a meeting with your college counselor to discuss your final list of college choices and discuss application deadlines.
• Attend sessions with college admission representatives who visit SJCS (see SCOIR for dates and times).
• Attend the Greenville County College Fair (see College Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Events section on the College Counseling page of the SJCS website for dates and times).
• Make final decisions regarding Early Decision and Early Action options. Know the deadlines for each college to which you are applying.
• Consider scheduling an interview with the colleges on your list.
• If you have not already done so, consult with your college counselor to review your college essays. It is strongly recommended that you work closely with your college counselor on all of your essays; making sure to start this process early!
• Attend, with your parents, the Senior College Counseling Night and the Financial Aid Night (late September/early October).
• Send test scores to all schools to which you are applying.

October

• If you have not already done so, complete all Rolling Applications.
• Meet with your college counselor to complete final reviews of your college essays.
• Meet with your college counselor to review your online college application prior to submitting it to the college/university. The college counselor will send your transcripts, all letters of recommendation (if applicable), and any other school related forms to your college/university. Please be aware that if you do not follow this process, you may not receive the maximum benefits of the College Counseling Program.
• Adhere to the October 15^th SJCS deadline for all Rolling, Early Action, and Early Decision applications. Please note that colleges may have earlier deadlines that you need to adhere to.
• Make sure that you give your Transcript Request Form to the College Counseling Office at least one month prior to the college’s application deadline or one month prior to when you want your transcript packet sent out.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens October 1. Please see the Financial Aid Section for more information on this. Note financial aid application deadlines for each of your colleges and complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. Colleges’ financial aid deadlines must be met or aid may not be available. Please note that some colleges have additional financial aid forms that they need you to complete. Please be aware of this and comply with all deadlines. 
• If you plan to seek financial aid and are applying to private colleges and selective state universities, complete the CSS PROFILE. Visit the College Board website to get more information and to see if your college(s) require this form.
• Review private scholarship opportunities by visiting the SJCS College Counseling website page, SCOIR, or one of the following websites: Going Merry, Fastweb, and/or Scholarship Experts.
• Some competitive scholarship applications have deadlines this month. Consult with the College Counseling Office as you complete the application requirements and be sure all recommendations are completed by the required deadline.
• Retake the SAT/ACT Tests, if applicable.

November

• If you have not already done so, finish all remaining college applications.
• Meet with your college counselor to review your online college application prior to submitting it to the college/university. The college counselor will send your transcripts, all letters of recommendation (if applicable), and any other school related forms to your college/university. Please be aware that if you do not follow this process, you may not receive the maximum benefits of the College Counseling Program.
• Retake the SAT/ACT Tests, if applicable.

December

• December 1^st is the SJCS deadline for all remaining applications.
• Request Mid-Year Transcript for all applicable colleges.
• Devote time and energy to prepare for your first semester exams. Attend review sessions scheduled prior to exams.

January-February

• Meet with your college counselor for your mid-year review
• Mid-year transcripts sent to colleges—if requested by student.
• Early Decision/Early Action deferrals should submit additional information to the colleges to update their applications.
• If you are placed on deferment or wait-list status, please see your college counselor to establish a plan of action. Requesting an interview with the college is highly recommended.
• Complete all scholarship applications that have not been submitted.
• If you have not already done so, you should verify that colleges have all necessary materials from you and let the College Counseling Office know the status of this check.

March

• Colleges, who do not have Rolling Admissions, usually begin notifying Regular Decision applicants of admission decisions. Notifications begin in early March and continue through April 15^th.
• Notify the College Counseling Office of all decisions you receive. If you are placed on a wait-list, additional information to update and support your application may be sent at this time—speak with your college counselor!
• Showing strong interest by staying in touch is important!

April

• If necessary, attend special days and weekends planned for accepted students to visit colleges to help in your decision. If you have not already done so, make sure that you visit the college/university. It is highly recommended that you visit the school prior to accepting.
• Final admission notification letters are received. Notify the college you will attend prior to May 1^st as well as notify all other colleges of your decision with regard to their acceptances. This helps colleges predict their yield and make decisions relating to wait-list candidates.
• Contact the financial aid office at the college you will attend with questions concerning your financial aid package.
• Prepare for AP exams to be held in May.

May

• You must inform every college of your acceptance or rejection of their offer of admissions or financial aid by May 1^st.
• One single deposit to your choice college must be received by May 1^st.
• If you wish to remain active on a wait-list, additional steps should be completed by May 1^st. Please see your college counselor for assistance.
• Meet with your college counselor to complete your College Acceptance Survey. This survey is extremely important and must be completed in order to ensure that your final transcripts are sent to the correct colleges. It also includes scholarship offers and college matriculation.
• Take AP and final Exams.

June-July

• Final transcripts will be sent to colleges. Make sure that you have met with your college counselor to ensure proper delivery of your transcripts.