Junior checklist Senior checklist CHECKLIST FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS September If you haven't started a college savings plan, start one now. Most colleges and universities expect students to contribute toward college expenses. Review your high school course selection plan. If you haven't started a file for your college materials, start one now. Read and act on any pertinent email that comes from the counseling office. Start your resume. October Sign up and take the PSAT. Listen for your counselor's announcements about the test. (The PSAT provides a predicted score for the SAT, provides familiarity with the SAT format, and is the only method by which a student can enter the National Merit Scholarship competition. Attend the National Christian College Fair and the National College Fair. Listen to the bulletin for details. Purchase a computer program to help you study for the SAT and/or ACT. Begin to study (about 20 minutes, three or four times a week). Go to www.collegeboard.com and click on the "SAT Question of the Day." You will not only have the opportunity to test your ability on an SAT question, but will see the rationale for the correct answer. Plan to do this each day leading up to your test. Attend college rep meetings held during lunch hour at SCS. Read your email. November Make an appointment with the guidance counselor to discuss college and career options.You may want to ask to take one of the career interest inventory test. Continue to study for the college entrance exam. Give thanks to God for His many blessings! Read your email Attend college rep meeting held during lunch hour at SCS. Attend the PNACAC National College Fair. December Begin to make a list of college features that suit your interests, needs, and abilities. Think about such things as size, location, academic programs, etc.) Look for your counselor to come to your class with the PSAT results. Listen well to the explanation, and use the information to continue studying for the SAT. Visit college campuses if you travel out of town during the holidays. If you stay in town visit near-by campuses. Have a restful and joyous Christmas break! January Happy New Year! Continue studying for the SAT and/or ACT. Narrow down your choices of colleges and/or universities to visit. Talk to your counselor about what things to look for during a college visit. Check on registration dates for spring SATs and/or ACTs. Study hard for finals. February Start to research college costs and financial aid. If you have decided on a campus to visit, call and make arrangements. Continue studying for the SAT or ACT. March If you are taking an AP course, check with your teacher about signing up for the May test. Continue studying for the SAT or ACT. Send in your SAT or ACT application for the May or June test. April Narrow down your college choices. Your counselor has a number of things to help you do this. Call or write for applications, catalogs, view books, and financial aid information. Step up the studying for the SAT or ACT. May Take the SAT or the ACT (you signed up earlier, remember?) June Study hard for finals. School's out! Happy vacation!! Earn some money for your schooling. Visit college campuses. Study for the SAT or ACT and sign up for the October or November test dates. Choose your senior year courses carefully to reflect a solid college prep course of study. July and August Read widely and review math to strengthen skills necessary to help you succeed in college. Sign up for the October or November SAT or ACT tests. CHECKLIST FOR HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS September Listen very carefully to the Daily Bulletin announcements each school day this year! Complete your resume. Add community service you plan to do this year too. Begin getting college applications ready. Ask teachers/counselor/pastor for recommendations. Review your high school course selection plan. Make sure you are taking a rigorous course of study. If you haven't started a file for your college materials, start one now. If you haven't taken the SAT or ACT—or if you want to retake it, sign up now. Check www.collegeboard.com and click on the "SAT Question of the Day." Do it faithfully each day until test time. Apply for as many scholarships as is realistic. Continue to do this throughout the year. Most colleges and universities allow "scholarship stacking," (e.g.) piling one scholarship on another. Make an appointment to see your counselor. Read your email. October Attend the National Christian College Fair and the National College Fair. Read your email. Attend college rep meetings held during lunch hour at SCS. Send in for college applications or apply online. Pay close attention to due dates! Hand in your Senior Bio with picture. Take the SAT or ACT. Apply to several schools. Give your guidance counselor sufficient time to complete the "Secondary School Report" section of your application forms. If a letter is required, remember that you must fill out a form for your guidance counselor, with two-weeks notice, prior to the letter being written. November Attend college rep meetings. Parents are also invited and even encouraged to attend. If you are planning to apply to a highly selective college, get your application in this month. Take the SAT or ACT. Gentlemen—if you haven't signed up for the Selective Service, click here, to register online. Without registering, you are subjecting yourself to jail time and a hefty fine. Also, you become ineligible for federal financial help for college. Have you seen your counselor yet? Give God thanks for His manifold blessings. December December 1st is the usual deadline to apply for early action or early decision at some colleges. Most public schools in the state of Washington have mid or late January deadlines. (The UW, for instance, has a firm deadline of January 15th.) Be aware of these dates and get your applications in on time. Pick up the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form from your counselor before you leave on break. If you didn't visit colleges and/or universities last year, plan to do so soon. Last chance to take the SAT or ACT. When you schedule second semester classes, schedule challenging ones. Your final semester does count and the colleges and universities look closely at it. It also keeps you in the study mode so that you won't lose that edge when you go to college in the fall. Read your email. Have a restful break. Merry Christmas! January Happy New Year! Fill out the FAFSA form and send it in as close to January 1st as you can. Those who send their applications in earliest generally have a better chance of receiving financial aid. As you begin receiving acceptance letters, make copies and give them to your counselor for the "Look Who's Going to College" wall. Study hard for finals. February Are you applying for scholarships? Complete and send in any applications that have not been mailed. March Although your college applications are in the mail, high school isn't over yet! Remember your last semester's grades really are important, so keep hitting those books! Look over your financial aid award letter. If you didn't get enough aid, seek out other resources available to you. It wouldn't hurt to make an appointment with the financial aid office at the college or university to plead your case. You will probably have more success doing this at a small college than at a state university. April If you haven't heard from a college or university by now about your acceptance status, you should be hearing this month. When you decide on a college, send a thank-you letter of acceptance. Write letters to other schools which may have accepted you and thank them as well, and let them know that you are going elsewhere. May At most colleges, you must submit your deposits by May 1st to avoid jeopardizing your admission. Hang in there and fight off "Senioritis." If you are receiving financial aid, be sure to follow the directions carefully! June Graduation month! Can you believe it!?? Study hard for finals. Enjoy your classmates. Find a summer position to help you finance your education. July and August Go shopping for your clothing and dorm room essentials. Call your new roommate to get acquainted and coordinate things for the room you will be sharing. May God richly bless you on your new adventure. ("I will instruct you and teach you in the way you will go; I will guide you with my eye". Psalm 32:8)

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