This is the most important year of high school for college admission. Set clear academic goals and work hard. You are at the point when you must be aware of who you are and what’s important to you and get excited about exploring all the possibilities that colleges offer.
This is the most important year of high school for college admission. Set clear academic goals and work hard. You are at the point when you must be aware of who you are and what’s important to you and get excited about exploring all the possibilities that colleges offer.
*****Artists******
Interested in fine or performing arts? Start to research portfolio requirements for schools and collect and keep track of your work with a spreadsheet or in a digital folder
*****Athletes******
Complete online recruitment surveys for colleges you’re interested in and Create initial contact email with transcript attachment. Start collecting video for recruiting reel.
Students
- Review social media accounts and pay attention to what you post. NOTHING IS PRIVATE and colleges often review social media accounts of students
- Review personality and strength-finders assessment and take again if necessary
- Start the year off strong, review the transcript and junior year schedule. Are you taking Honors, Advanced and AP courses?
- Register for and take standardized tests (PSAT, ACT or SAT)
- Continue to invest yourself in extracurricular activities and assert yourself for positions of leadership
- Start to visit colleges on school holidays such as Columbus Day or Veterans’ Day
- Pay close attention to 12th graders and their college application process
- Ask school counselor if you can join in-school college information sessions
- Start to investigate summer opportunities and apply for programs, jobs and internships
- Continue to research colleges, build the list and visit
- Register for senior year courses and consider how specific courses will influence your application. Are you taking Honors, Advanced and AP courses? In subjects that you want to pursue in college?
- Discuss your college list with your school counselor based on your transcript thus far, scores, activities and school history of applicants.
- Ask about SCOIR, Naviance, Maia Learning, Overgrad
- Start Common Application
- Brainstorm personal essay prompts
- Ask specific teachers for college recommendation letters
- Become a leader in your extracurricular activity for upcoming 12th Grade and revise your resume and add ALL high school activities
- Take ACT or SAT and decide how many more times, if any, you need to do again
- Plan to visit colleges
- Confirm summer plans
- Confirm senior year class schedule
- Attend college fair or college information sessions to connect with admissions officers
- Discuss possibly Early Decision and/or Early Action strategies
- Start to demonstrate interest to top colleges on your list (opening emails, following on social media, attending online/virtual information sessions, engaging with admissions office)
- Attend any essay and application workshops offered by school
Parents
- Attend a financial aid and college scholarship workshop or webinar
- Schedule official college visits to attend with your child
- Review your family calendars for opportunities to visit schools
- Schedule meeting with school counselor and attend school-sponsored college admissions workshops
Questions to Ask School Guidance Counselor
- Can my junior child meet with college admissions representatives when they visit virtually in the Fall?
- When should we start to visit virtually on our own?
- Does our school use Naviance, Maia, or SCOIR? If so, what is your username and password?
- When is our junior-year college information presentation?
- Do you have any sample case studies of applicants for us to review?
- Is there a list of students at certain colleges from our high school who we can speak to about their transition?
- What information goes into the school counselor recommendation?
- Do you read the teacher recommendations before they are sent?
- Can we see the school profile that you send to colleges?
- How often will we be able to meet with you?