• Countdown to College
    hat
    Juniors and Seniors!
    Plan your path to education success with
    these month-by-month calendars.
     
    JUNIOR YEAR
    September
    • Browse college catalogs and guidebooks available in the College Resource Center, and surf the Web for information.
    • List 10 colleges you would like to attend.
    • Talk to your parents and high school guidance counselor about that list to narrow it down.
    • Attend Junior Class meeting.
    • Register and study for the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)
    • Meet with college admissions representatives visiting South High School.  Check the College Resource Center website and listen to announcements.
     
    October
    • Take the PSAT to get familiar with the college testing process.
    • Research Advanced Placement (AP) or college courses you might take.
    • Continue researching organizations that award scholarships to graduating seniors.  You may need to apply for them the summer after your junior year.  There are some scholarships specifically for Juniors.
    • Meet with college admissions representatives visiting South High School.  Check the College Resource Center website and listen to announcements.
    • Explore careers through websites (see "Career Planning and Job Search" on the CRC webpage), friends and possibly shadowing/mentoring local resources. 
    • Plan a personal schedule for college admissions testing.  
    • Check registration deadlines for the ACT and/or SAT.
     
    November
    • Attend Financial Aid Night at North/South.  Learn about eligibility requirements for federal and private student loans.
    • Talk as a family about how much you can afford to spend for your education.
    December
    • Attend Junior Parent Night.
    • Review results of PSAT.  Use report form, College Board website and/or your counselor to interpret scores.
     
    January
    • Review your high school courses and activities for next year.  Colleges look for challenging course work, strong grades and extracurricular activities.
    • Plan for the next round of tests: the SAT and the ACT.  Take an exam prep course to help you succeed.
     
    February
    • Investigate private scholarships and other aid programs.  Check with your parents' employers, local membership organizations, or programs related to  your intended course study.
    • Make the most of spring break with a weeklong college tour.
    • Register for the SAT and ACT.  Consider utilizing test preparation options:  books, classes, online resources . . .
    • Plan a senior year that takes advantage of South's strong college prep curriculum. 
    • Plan for AP exams.
    • Update your EDP in the Career Cruising website.  www.careercruising.com
    March
    • Visit the three to six schools on your final list.  Do the official tour.  Schedule an admissions interview and an overnight stay.  Take time at each school's financial aid office to collect information. 
    • Begin preparing essays for admission and scholarship applications.
    • Take the ACT (with MME) and possibly again in June.
    • If your school requires SAT subject tests consider the June test.
    • Mark your calendar with the dates for future tests.

    • Meet with college admissions representatives visiting South High School.  Check the College Resource Center website and listen to announcements.
    •  Plan to attend College Night at South or North.
    • Use college matching search engines. 
       
       
    April
    • Meet with college admissions representatives visiting South High School.  Check the Career Resource Center website and listen to announcements.
    • If you are considering participating in NCAA Division I or II sports in college sign up for the NCAA Clearinghouse on the website.
    • Again make plans to visit a few schools - do the official tour.
    • Schedule and attend your counseling Junior Meeting.  Don't forget to complete and submit your Junior Conference Information Form to your counselor.
     
    May
    • Take AP examinations.
    • Register for the SAT and ACT. 
    • Mark your calendar with the dates for future tests.
    • Start to access college applications online.  Do they require a teacher recommendation?  If so identify and talk with a teacher about it.
     
    June
    • Continue researching organizations that award scholarships to graduating seniors.  You may need to apply for them the summer after your junior year.
    • Take the ACT and/or SAT.
     
     
     
    SENIOR YEAR
     
    August
    • If the colleges you are considering require an essay use this summer to write! (and rewrite and rewrite).
    • Take advantage of any summer opportunities that give you some school/work/life experience.
    • Keep visiting schools - but know that summertime is not necessarily indicative of the authentic campus experience when school is in session.
    • Discuss the many aspects of college life with your parents and college friends.  Consult college reference manuals.
    • Gather application materials for school you are considering.
    • Register for fall standardized tests, if necessary.
     
    September
    • Attend Senior Class meeting.
    • Meet with college admissions representatives visiting South High School.  Check the College Resource Center website and listen to announcements.
    • Make a calendar of key application and financial aid deadlines.
    • Ask teachers, guidance counselors and other adults who know you for letters of recommendation for scholarship and admissions applications.  Don't forget pre-addressed and stamped envelopes. 
    • Handwritten thank you notes to the people who wrote you letters of recommendation to be sent two weeks after.
    • Work on admissions application essays.
    •  Decide on a final list of colleges to which you will apply.
    • Get those applications to rolling admissions schools out early (including all Michigan Public schools).
    • Prepare your college applications and request transcripts to those which you have applied.
    • Work on admissions application essays. 


     
    October
    • Decide on a final list of colleges to which you will apply.
    • Get those applications to rolling admissions schools out early (including all Michigan Public schools).
    • Take the SAT or ACT if necessary.
    • Prepare your college applications and request transcripts to those which you have applied.  Stop by the CRC and fill out the Application Notification form.
    • Work on admissions application essays
    • Revisit your top school choices.  Talk face to face with current students and faculty members at those schools. 
    • Continue to seek and apply for scholarship awards from a variety of sources.
     
    November
    • Prepare your college applications.
    • Send transcripts to the schools to which you have applied.  Stop by the CRC and fill out the Application Notification form.
    • Send ACT scores to the schools to which you have applied.
    • Take the SAT or ACT if necessary.
    • Attend Financial Aid Night at North/South.  Obtain financial aid applications from your colleges of choice.
    • Update your EDP in career cruising.
    • Sign up for FastWeb or other financial aid search engines to hunt down money.
     
    December
    • Gather the data needed for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
    • If you applied early decision (binding)  or early action watch for your acceptance letters.
     
    January
    • Submit your completed FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible.
    • Check the CRC website regularly for scholarship opportunities.
    • Provide your counselor with a scholarship resume if you created one.
     
    February
    • Send your mid-year transcripts to the schools to which you have applied.  You can stop by the CRC and fill out the form.
    • Plan for AP exams or College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams.
     
    March
    • Check to see if your mid-year transcripts have been sent to the schools to which you have applied.
    • Look for your Student Aid Report (SAR) in the mail.  Pay particular attention to the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and discuss it with your parents and family. 
    •  Plan to attend College Night at South or North.
     
    April
    • Watch the mail for acceptance letters and financial aid award letters.  Compare the financial aid packages.
    • Choose a school and send in a deposit by the deadline.
    • Contact the financial aid office at your chosen school to make certain your application is complete.
    • Notify colleges by May 1 if you are going to accept or reject admission.
     
    May
    • Take AP examinations.
    • Notify Counseling Center or College Resource Center where you will be attending college by updating your Naviance account.
    • Send final transcript to your college. 
    June
    • Celebrate your high school graduation!