Academics

College Counseling

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Student Timeline

9^th Grade:

• Take challenging courses
• Get involved in school activities
• Participate in community service opportunities
• Begin studying for the PSAT
• Study and do your best in all courses
• Begin a high school brag book, keeping track of all activities, awards and community service projects
• Meet with a College Planning professional
• Sign up for an account with gafutures.org
• Recover any failed credits online during the summer

10^th Grade:

• Register with collegeboard.org and www.act.org
• Register with NCAA.org
• Plan to take the PSAT in the spring
• Start collecting college information from schools that interest you
• Review the admission requirements from those selected schools
• Continue involvement in extracurricular activities and service projects
• Start thinking about different degree options and courses you will need
• If you need tutoring for the SAT and/or ACT, late spring and summer is a great time.
• Continue adding items to your brag journal
• Recover any failed credits online during the summer

11^th Grade:

• Continue to take challenging course work
• Register for the SAT/and or the ACT- you should plan to take each test once in order to decide which test you are better suited to take.
• Take the National PSAT/NMSQT- National Merit
• Meet with counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate
• Make sure you have completed Health and PE
• If you qualify, join the Rivers chapter of National Honors Society
• Volunteer for activities in areas that interest you
• Narrow down college choices and plan official visits
• Investigate scholarship opportunities
• Attend local college fairs
• Add to brag journal
• Continue to keep grades up and complete any failed coursework over the summer

12^th Grade:

• Continue taking the SAT/ACT
• Register with parchment.com to send transcripts to college choices
• Begin the college application process- checking college websites for deadlines and requirements
• Begin the financial aid process by completing the FASFA form online- Check out scholarships opportunities at school of choice
• Ask teachers and school counselors for recommendations at least three weeks in advance