College Planning Calendar

Welcome to the Upper-School! Now that you’re here, it’s time to start thinking about college!

During 9th grade, students and their parents should be sharpening their focus on the student’s interests; Identify academic strengths, consider future aspirations, and begin thinking about available higher education options. In addition, begin to determine the activities – leadership, athletics, the arts – that the student might like to pursue.

  • Focus on getting good grades and honing your study skills
  • Get involved with as many clubs and organizations as you can
  • Get to know your teachers
  • Try everything (sports, art, plays, yearbook, and academic clubs)
  • Introduce yourself to the college counselor

Buckling down!

10th grade students should continue to build academic and extracurricular strengths, gaining an increasing sense of the direction they would like to pursue – both inside and outside the classroom. Students should also begin preparing for standardized tests, particularly the PSAT. This year is important in learning to balance priorities and time demands.

  • Take the PSAT in October
  • Nurture academic strengths and seek help for areas of weakness
  • Think about what activities, subjects, and sports you find most fulfilling
  • Visit local colleges, or colleges that your siblings, friends attend
  • If applicable, take the AP history exam in May
  • Check in with the college counselor

Pressure is on…

Junior year is a critical and busy time for researching and identifying target colleges. Students should be preparing for and taking standardized tests, and starting the application process, without neglecting their grades. If this time is used wisely, it will take much of the pressure in senior year off.

Fall

  • Visit the college counseling office
  • Take the PSAT October 17th
  • Work on making good grades in the most challenging classes you can handle
  • Develop good working relationships with your teachers
  • Select club activities that you can pursue in depth
  • Meet with college representatives who visit Oakcrest School

Winter/Spring

  • Attend College Night for Juniors
  • If you have the opportunity, plan to visit colleges during spring break
  • Complete College Corner Questionnaire
  • Take a college entrance exam:
  • Take APs in May
  • Create an e mail account this is more professional before you start e mailing colleges
  • Heavily research colleges via the web (http://connection.naviance.com/Oakcrest), brochures, view books, college catalogs, parents and friends. Start to develop a list of possible college choices

Summer

  • Start working on college essays
  • Prepare, and register, for early Fall college entrance exams
  • October 6th SAT (register by September 10)
  • September 15th ACT (register by August 10)
  • Visit colleges
  • Narrow down list of colleges
  • Request applications from colleges
  • This is a great time to interview at colleges!

Getting it Done!

In senior year you should be meeting regularly with the college counselor. Focus on completing applications early in the year; be aware of all deadlines; dedicate time to raising SAT scores if necessary, and keeping grades up! Parents should be prepared to visit colleges and try to assist in the application process where appropriate.

September

  • Meet with college counselor within the first three weeks of school
  • Register to take the October SAT/ACT
  • Register to take the December SAT or ACT
  • Make sure all SAT/ACT scores have been sent directly to the colleges
  • Write for applications ASAP or start your application on line
  • Hand out all teacher recommendation and school report forms to the appropriate persons
  • Register to take the TOEFL (if English is not your first language)
  • Continue visiting colleges

October

  • Take SAT or ACT
  • Continue working on applications (Remember the College Corner requires that all paper applications are turned into the college counselor 1 week prior to the application deadline)
  • Meet with College Counselor again
  • Register for the December SAT
  • Ask teacher for recommendations if you have not yet done so (deadline to ask teachers is this month!)

November

  • Complete and submit applications BEFORE Thanksgiving!