• Take Challenging courses.  Plan to take courses in these subject areas for the next four years.
  • 4 years of English
  • 3 years of Social Studies (4 years for Honors Diploma)
  • 4 years of Math (Alg. 2)
  • 3-4 years of Science (Lab Sciences- Chemistry and/or physics)
  • 2-4 years of Foreign Language in the same language
  • 1 year of Fine Arts
  • 1/2 credit Financial Literacy

October

• Get involved in extra-curricular and club activities
• Join an Explorers Club to gather information about careers and interests – See counselor
• Attend a College Credit Plus meeting

January

• Study for  semester exams
• Take part in career interest inventory with your counselor

March

• Finalize courses for next year.  Have a conversation with your parents and current teachers about honors or AP courses.

April

• Register for summer school, summer workshops, and enrichment programs
• Meet with counselor about planning for college or attend a college planning
• Attend the NACAC college fair

May

• Study for final exams!!!

Summer Months

• Visit colleges, volunteer for community service, begin job shadowing.
• Work and save money for college

September

• Get involved in extra-curricular and club activities.
• Register for the PSAT/NMSQT, especially if you are in honors or AP courses.
• Attend the Suburban College Fair at Otterbein College

October

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT
• Attend a College Credit Plus meeting

January

• Review transcript and cumulative grade point average.
• Review results from the PSAT/NMSQT
• Create College Board account

March

• Research ACT/SAT prep courses
• Review class selection for next year
• Possibly register to for ACT/SAT

April

• Pre-register for summer school;  workshops/enrichment programs
• Attend 10th Grade College Planning meeting
• Attend NACAC College Fair

May

• Study for exams

Summer Months

• Visit colleges
• Possibly take ACT/SAT
• Community Service
• Job Shadowing or work
• Save money for college

September

• Sign up for extra-curricular and club activities
• Sign up and attend sessions with college reps who visit at your high school (List is in Naviance)
• Think about goals, reasons for attending college and career plans
• Register for the PSAT/NMSQT
• Attend the Suburban College Fair at Otterbein College
• Attend Financial Aid meeting

October

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT
• Sign up and attend sessions with college reps who visit at your high school (List is in Naviance)
• Attend the 11th Grade College Planning meeting
• Get early financial aid estimate.  Go to:  www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
• Attend a College Credit Plus meeting

November

• Begin to choose important factors in choosing a college:  two/four year, location, cost, atmosphere, majors available, etc.

December

• Do practice questions for ACT/SAT

January

• Review PSAT results with counselor.
• Review updated transcript with cumulative grade point average
• Register for ACT/SAT
• Take ACT

February

• Search college websites
• Plan college visits
• Register for ACT/SAT

March

• Review classes for next year.  Continue to select challenging classes and that meet college requirements.
• Review transcript and courses requested for following year to make sure all graduation requirements will be met.
• Create a file for each college that you may be interested in.
• College visit during spring break

April

• College search – college visits
• Pre-register for summer school, workshops, etc.
• Create community service opportunities for summer
• Attend the 11th Grade College Application meeting
• Attend NACAC College Fair

May

• Prepare for exams
• Take SAT
• Compare schools you have collected information about.

Summer Months

• Narrow down college options to 5 -7 schools.  Try to visit schools
• Take ACT
• Save money for college/ Do community service
• Schedule a meeting with the College Counselor

September

• Create your Common App account – Match the Common App to Naviance
• Register for ACT/SAT
• Know financial aid and college deadlines
• Sign up and attend sessions with college reps that attend your high school – Sign up in Naviance
• Ask teachers and counselors to write letters of recommendation – Request in Naviance
• Attend the Suburban College Fair @ Otterbein University
• Search for scholarship information (MeritAid.com, FastWeb.com, PrincetonReview.com, Ohio Board of Regents website)
• College Visits
• Attend a financial aid meeting (FAFSA meeting)
• Attend 12th Grade College Planning meeting
• Continue to fill out college applications – Submit when finished!!

October

• Apply for Admission
• Turn in your “Transcript Request/Authorization” form – Give counselors time to complete
• Sign up and attend college reps visits at your high school (sign up in Naviance)
• Begin to fill out FAFSA – go to:  FAFSA.GOV
• Register to get a FSA ID – Student and one parent must have one.  Go to:  FSAID.ed.gov

November

• GOAL:  TURN IN ALL APPLICATIONS!!!
• Be aware of early application deadlines
• College interview (some college require an interview)

December

• Research National scholarship list (Fastweb.com)

January

• Request mid-year reports to be sent to colleges (if required)
• Research local scholarships – List can be found in Naviance

February

• Review SAR Report (Student Aid Report)
• Review all financial aid report from colleges; loan programs
• Collect local scholarship applications (in guidance office)

March

• Review financial packages sent from colleges;  communicate with the financial aid office at the university

April

• You will hear from most colleges this month.  Accepted? Denied?  Wait listed?  Familiarize yourself with you options.

May

• Respond to colleges.  Typically the deadline to notify colleges is May 1 if you plan to enroll.
• Notify the Guidance Office of decision.
• Request for final transcript to be sent to your college of choice.