Senior Timeline | Junior Timeline | Freshman/Sophomore Timeline

Senior Timeline - What Should I Be Doing Now?

COLLEGE COUNSELING OVERVIEW FOR SENIORS

NOTE: Use this information as a guide and to answer your questions. You are required to do some, but not all, of these activities. Please consider each carefully, and with the help of Mr. D'Antonio, your teachers and parents, decide what you need to do. You would not, for example, take every SAT and ACT test listed, but you should take these tests enough times to get the practice and scores you want and need. This timeline is designed to provide you with specific information on what is available to you.

September

· Make an appointment to meet with your college counselor ASAP to discuss your plans.
· Update Student Profile Sheet and Student Self-Evaluations
· Register for October SAT testing.
· Register for the October ACT.
· Check College Counseling Office announcements (e-mail and website) for upcoming college representative meetings at WPS.
· Attend college representative meetings.
· Write or call for any applications that you do not have yet.
· Work toward your final list of colleges. Discuss with parents and college counselor.
· Once a college application is received, give it to Mrs. Tull for copying.
· Revise and polish required essays.
· Register with NCAA Clearinghouse for Division I and II if you have not already done so. College Counseling Office has the forms.
· Talk with Mr. D'Antonio about whether to apply ED, Early Decision, or EA, Early Action, to any college. Begin completing these applications.
· Check on dates for scholarship, grant, and prize applications. See Mr. D'Antonio about completing these forms. We will provide you with information regarding scholarships as it is received. Be sure to take advantage of these opportunities. In addition, if you come across other scholarship and award opportunities, please let Mr. D'Antonio know of these so that we can add them to our list.

October

· Early Decision, Early Action and Rolling Admission applications should be a priority. Pay attention to deadlines!!
· Attend college representative meetings.
· Continue to work on essays. Ask your teachers for advice.
· Select the final list of 5to 8 colleges to which you will apply
· Register for the December SAT I or SAT II if necessary.
· Register for the December ACT if necessary.
· Submit applications for any schools you are applying to with "rolling admissions".
· Pick up the CSS Profile Registration Forms from the College Counseling Office (if needed).

November

· Take the November SAT I.
· Request official score reports be sent to all schools that request them.
· Make sure that Mr. D'Antonio has a complete list of where you are applying and where your transcript needs to be sent.
· Applications with January 1-5 deadline must be given to Mrs. Tull by November 14.
· Continue to work on your essay. Share your efforts with several people, asking them key questions: "Does this sound like me? Did my point come across?"
· Attend Regional College Fair at Chesapeake College, if necessary.
· Attend National College Fair in Baltimore, if necessary.
· Pick up the FAFSA Form (Application for Federal Student Aid) in the College Counseling Office, when available.
· When you receive your SAT (October or November) score report in the mail, pay close attention to previous testing. Scores should accumulate each time you retake the test. Make sure you have released all subject test scores you want sent to colleges.
· See your counselor about University of California application process if you are applying to any UCAL schools.
· Submit any remaining rolling applications. You will enhance your opportunity for admission to the college of your choice by filing your application early.

December

· Make sure the College Counseling Office has your final list of colleges.
· Finalize your essay.
· Take December SAT I or SAT II, if necessary. Take December ACT, if necessary.
· Talk with friends (first year and upper-class students) who are home from college; get their impressions, try to understand their likes and dislikes.
· If you are applying for financial aid, complete the CSS Profile registration form to receive the Profile application, if you haven't already. Also, begin to gather financial/tax information so you can file tax return as soon after January 1 as possible.
· Register for January SAT I or SAT II test if necessary. Your scores will arrive at schools with January or February deadlines in plenty of time.

January

· File FAFSA forms.
· Check with Mrs. Tull to verify the completion of all your transcripts and applications. This is your responsibility.

January/February/March

· Share all correspondence from colleges with Mr. D'Antonio. He will be able to interpret what might be confusing or misunderstood.
· Be sure to notify Mr. DAntonio as soon as you receive a definite decision on your appication to college.
· Let Mr. D'Antonio and Dr. Tull know of all scholarship offers you receive from all colleges and organizations.

April

· Let Mr. D'Antonio know if there are any problems regarding your college acceptances, wait lists, etc.
· Let Mr. D'Antonio and Dr. Tull know of all scholarship offers you receive from all colleges and organizations.

May

College Board examinations are administered early in May.
Advanced Placement examination are given at WPS during the 2nd and 3rd week of May.

Be sure to let Mr. D'Antonio and Dr. Tull know of your final decision about your choice of college.

Let Mr. D'Antonio and Dr. Tull know of all scholarship offers you receive from all colleges and organizations.

June

· Final senior year grades will be sent to the one college you have selected to attend.
· Be sure to provide Mrs. Tull with any additional forms you have received that require her attention.
· Continue to let Mr. D'Antonio and Dr. Tull know of any scholarship offers and prizes you receive.