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College Planning Timeline

College preparation begins as soon as you enter high school and continues through graduation.

9th Grade - Freshman Year

  • Sign up for strong courses and make studying your number one priority.
  • Work up to your potential—the grades you earn become part of your grade point average (GPA).
  • Participate in extracurricular activities.
  • Begin to work on your community service requirement for graduation.
  • Make your summer meaningful. Consider summer school, a part-time job, volunteer work, or other enrichment opportunities.
  • Begin looking at strong courses to take in 10th Grade.
  • When on vacation, drive through and walk around college campuses just to get the feel of different types of schools.

10th Grade - Sophomore Year

  • Take strong courses and continue to work to your full potential.
  • Be a self-advocate, attend tutorials, and do not let yourself fall behind in your classes.
  • Meet with teachers as necessary to review course work, tests, and other academic work.
  • Attend local college fairs in the fall and the NACAC DFW National College Fair in the spring.
  • Begin to consider the various types of colleges and universities available and the types of programs they offer.
  • If you have not done so yet, take the PSAT. You do not need to take a preparatory course for these tests in the sophomore year.
  • Use the results of these tests to determine strengths and weaknesses.
  • Begin to visit colleges informally whenever you are near one during a family vacation or trip.
  • Make your summer meaningful. Summer experiences are invaluable for personal growth and add depth to a resume.
  • Work on your community service hours. Many colleges and scholarship applications focus on community service.
  • Study!  Study!  Study!

11th Grade - Junior Year

  • Focus firmly on grades. This is the last year to acquire a strong GPA for college admissions applications next fall.
  • If your 10th grade PSAT test scores show potential for National Merit consideration, consider taking a PSAT prep course.
  • Talk to college representatives and begin to establish contact with various schools of interest to you.
  • Talk with college representatives when they visit the school.
  • Attend college information sessions on the Yavneh campus and throughout the metroplex.
  • Take the PSAT in October. National Merit Scholarship Competition is determined from the 11th Grade PSAT.
  • Use your 11th Grade PSAT as a baseline score from which to prep for next spring’s SATs and ACTs.
  • Consider an SAT/ACT prep course after receiving PSAT scores in December. PSAT scores can be used as SAT predictors within approximate ranges. They can also indicate areas of strength or weakness that students can work on before taking the first SAT or ACT in the spring of the junior year. You can retest in the fall of the senior year.
  • Take the practice ACT or SAT.
  • Meet with college counselor second semester.
  • Check with your counselor for additional application forms if you regularly use and will need special testing accommodations.
  • Take the SAT Subject Tests at the end of your junior year if appropriate based on your future college plans.
  • Continue to work on your community service hours. Consider running for leadership positions during your senior year.
  • Get on the internet and investigate college websites.
  • Visit college campuses. Begin to narrow choices.
  • Make your summer meaningful. Consider internships, enrichment programs on college campuses, work experiences, travel to Israel, etc.
  • Begin to develop your resume.
  • Complete the junior project & resume.
  • Begin to explore financial aid policies, procedures and net price calculators.
  • Narrow college list.

12th Grade - Senior Year

  • Sign up again for the SAT or ACT. Continue test prep if appropriate.
  • Make plans to visit college campuses of interest to you.
  • Visit the writing lab for help with essays.
  • Attend senior seminar with the counselor for admission tips and to review the college application process.
  • Attend various rep. visits both online and on campus.
  • Become aware of application deadlines. Meet with your counselor to finalize college application choices.
  • Follow application directions for each college and submit electronically all applications on time.
  • Apply for scholarships from local and national organizations.
  • Check on the financial aid and scholarship process at the colleges you are considering. Do any schools require that you submit the CSS Profile? Meet application deadlines.
  • Apply for need-based financial aid in January.
  • Finish the senior year strong.
  • Choose final college by May 1.
  • Enjoy your senior year! You’ve earned it!