Senior Year Timeline .... Mark your calendars...Make a plan!
Summer before Senior Year:
1. Create a resume or activities list of all you have done in 9th - 11th grade. Include athletics, community service, church activities, clubs, honors, and work experience. It is great if you create the document on the computer so it is ready to go when school starts. Include dates and length of time involved as much as possible. Colleges like depth of activity rather than a really long list where you just had your name on a roll. Don't be bashful - Don't lie. List any leadership positions held. You may want to include books read, travel or other interests or hobbies.
2. Prepare to be organized. You will experience less stress if you are prepared to be organized before the year starts. Get a calendar. Keep up with deadlines, due dates and meetings - for you and your parents. An online calendar like Cozi allows all family members to be linked together so everyone knows what is going on. The online version also sends alerts for dates. Keep it updated. Read the daily announcement on the school website - especially if you are absent. Get an expandable file to keep college stuff in. Have a tab for each college you are interested in, a tab for scholarships and a tab for your personal papers - like your resume in #1, your personal statement, test scores, etc. The file will help you throughout the process in keeping everything together.
3. Make your list of potential colleges. This list will change, but you have to start somewhere. List all colleges that you are interested in, or colleges that are interested in you. Try to narrow it down to 5 to 10 before school starts. Keep a ranking on the list - but don't be afraid to change the ranking as you visit, find out more information and add or delete colleges from the list. Begin to look at college websites if you have not already. Review requirements, average test scores, majors offered and other information that you need to know to help you in ranking the schools. You can make college visits in the summer, but understand that campuses are a lot different in the summer than during the year. Talk to seniors who are about to leave for college and professionals in careers that you are interested in pursuing.
4. Make sure all of your accounts are in good working order. You will need active accounts on www.collegeboard.con, www.cfnc.org, www.actstudent.com and if you are an athlete, www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org. Know your log in, your password and be sure your profile is up to date. You will also need a professional email account. NOT sweet lips or bullet head ....but something with your name that is easily recognizable as you. There are links to all of theses websites on this sight.
1. Create a resume or activities list of all you have done in 9th - 11th grade. Include athletics, community service, church activities, clubs, honors, and work experience. It is great if you create the document on the computer so it is ready to go when school starts. Include dates and length of time involved as much as possible. Colleges like depth of activity rather than a really long list where you just had your name on a roll. Don't be bashful - Don't lie. List any leadership positions held. You may want to include books read, travel or other interests or hobbies.
2. Prepare to be organized. You will experience less stress if you are prepared to be organized before the year starts. Get a calendar. Keep up with deadlines, due dates and meetings - for you and your parents. An online calendar like Cozi allows all family members to be linked together so everyone knows what is going on. The online version also sends alerts for dates. Keep it updated. Read the daily announcement on the school website - especially if you are absent. Get an expandable file to keep college stuff in. Have a tab for each college you are interested in, a tab for scholarships and a tab for your personal papers - like your resume in #1, your personal statement, test scores, etc. The file will help you throughout the process in keeping everything together.
3. Make your list of potential colleges. This list will change, but you have to start somewhere. List all colleges that you are interested in, or colleges that are interested in you. Try to narrow it down to 5 to 10 before school starts. Keep a ranking on the list - but don't be afraid to change the ranking as you visit, find out more information and add or delete colleges from the list. Begin to look at college websites if you have not already. Review requirements, average test scores, majors offered and other information that you need to know to help you in ranking the schools. You can make college visits in the summer, but understand that campuses are a lot different in the summer than during the year. Talk to seniors who are about to leave for college and professionals in careers that you are interested in pursuing.
4. Make sure all of your accounts are in good working order. You will need active accounts on www.collegeboard.con, www.cfnc.org, www.actstudent.com and if you are an athlete, www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org. Know your log in, your password and be sure your profile is up to date. You will also need a professional email account. NOT sweet lips or bullet head ....but something with your name that is easily recognizable as you. There are links to all of theses websites on this sight.
Fall - Senior Year
August - September
1. Be sure your schedule includes the most difficult courses possible. This is the most important thing that colleges review when looking at your high school record. Be sure you are taking all courses required by the colleges in which you are interested, especially if you are applying to an out of state college.
2. Make a testing plan. You will need a senior year test score - preferably the SAT and ACT. Check the respective websites to see when they are offered. This information will also be discussed when I come to your English class. Review your past scores on both tests and decide what you can do to improve your scores. There are several programs to help with this. (See the all about tests tabl) Note the registration deadlines on your calendar and the test dates. You will want to complete ALL testing by December. You should plan to take these tests 2 to 3 times in order to gain the best scores. Colleges will take your highest scores in each area. Waiting until the last minute will cost you extra money and you will run the risk of not being able to test when you need to.
3. Make a plan for college visits. You can visit in the fall - prior to applying and prior to decisions - OR you can visit in the spring after you have been accepted to help you make your final decision. Either way, the college visit is VERY important. You need to be able to see yourself on a particular campus. Go to the college websites for information on how to schedule a visit. Other resources are available about college visits on this website.
4. Have your parents attend the Senior Parent Meeting in September. All parents will be invited to attend. This is a critical time for them to understand the process, how to find information and to know how to help students through this process. When I come to your English class, be sure to take notes and keep all information given with your college folder and review it throughout the year.
October - December
1. Take tests, make college visits and work hard to have a good strong fall semester. Your testing should be complete by December.
2. Begin applying to colleges. After September 30, transcripts will be ready to process for college applications. In general, if you are applying to a North Carolina college, you will need to apply through CFNC. The website will guide you through the application and will not allow you to submit an application until all parts are complete. Whether you apply on CFNC or through the college website, you must send your transcript through CFNC to all NC colleges - under the apply to college tab, you will find the Transcript Manager. You will need to review the information about your CFNC account on this website prior to sending any transcripts. For out of state colleges, you can use the Common Application website or apply through the college website. When applying out of state, your will need to send your transcript electronically through parchment.com (See information on electronic transcripts) You should plan to send ALL applications before Christmas. Pay close attention to deadlines. College Application Week will be held in November. Watch for announcements. Some colleges will waive fees during this week. State colleges RARELY waive their fees but private colleges will. Some state schools who don't normally accept fee waivers, will accept them during college application week. Every senior will have the chance to participate.
3. Watch for scholarship announcements. Most scholarships in the fall are national, state or regional scholarships and are very competitive. But you should still be vigilant and watch the blog found on this website under Senior Information and follow through on scholarship applications.
1. Be sure your schedule includes the most difficult courses possible. This is the most important thing that colleges review when looking at your high school record. Be sure you are taking all courses required by the colleges in which you are interested, especially if you are applying to an out of state college.
2. Make a testing plan. You will need a senior year test score - preferably the SAT and ACT. Check the respective websites to see when they are offered. This information will also be discussed when I come to your English class. Review your past scores on both tests and decide what you can do to improve your scores. There are several programs to help with this. (See the all about tests tabl) Note the registration deadlines on your calendar and the test dates. You will want to complete ALL testing by December. You should plan to take these tests 2 to 3 times in order to gain the best scores. Colleges will take your highest scores in each area. Waiting until the last minute will cost you extra money and you will run the risk of not being able to test when you need to.
3. Make a plan for college visits. You can visit in the fall - prior to applying and prior to decisions - OR you can visit in the spring after you have been accepted to help you make your final decision. Either way, the college visit is VERY important. You need to be able to see yourself on a particular campus. Go to the college websites for information on how to schedule a visit. Other resources are available about college visits on this website.
4. Have your parents attend the Senior Parent Meeting in September. All parents will be invited to attend. This is a critical time for them to understand the process, how to find information and to know how to help students through this process. When I come to your English class, be sure to take notes and keep all information given with your college folder and review it throughout the year.
October - December
1. Take tests, make college visits and work hard to have a good strong fall semester. Your testing should be complete by December.
2. Begin applying to colleges. After September 30, transcripts will be ready to process for college applications. In general, if you are applying to a North Carolina college, you will need to apply through CFNC. The website will guide you through the application and will not allow you to submit an application until all parts are complete. Whether you apply on CFNC or through the college website, you must send your transcript through CFNC to all NC colleges - under the apply to college tab, you will find the Transcript Manager. You will need to review the information about your CFNC account on this website prior to sending any transcripts. For out of state colleges, you can use the Common Application website or apply through the college website. When applying out of state, your will need to send your transcript electronically through parchment.com (See information on electronic transcripts) You should plan to send ALL applications before Christmas. Pay close attention to deadlines. College Application Week will be held in November. Watch for announcements. Some colleges will waive fees during this week. State colleges RARELY waive their fees but private colleges will. Some state schools who don't normally accept fee waivers, will accept them during college application week. Every senior will have the chance to participate.
3. Watch for scholarship announcements. Most scholarships in the fall are national, state or regional scholarships and are very competitive. But you should still be vigilant and watch the blog found on this website under Senior Information and follow through on scholarship applications.