YEARLY PLANNER FOR COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS
9TH GRADE CHECKLIST:
Student maintains good grades.
Student works closely with guidance counselor on four-year plan for high school courses
Student becomes involved/continues involvement in school organizations/clubs/sports.
Family and/or student volunteers in their neighborhood/school/church/community (keep track of volunteer hours/dates in Community Service Record).
10TH GRADE CHECKLIST:
Student maintains good grades.
Student works closely with guidance counselor on taking courses to prepare for college.
Student becomes involved/continues involvement in school organizations/clubs/sports.
Family and/or student volunteers in their neighborhood/school/church/community (keep track of volunteer hours/dates in Community Service Record).
Student registers for the PSAT test in September.
Student takes the PSAT test in October.
Student discusses results from the PSAT test with counselor.
Student & parent attend Career Fairs in the Houston area (watch the local newspaper).
11TH GRADE CHECKLIST:
Student maintains good/excellent grades.
Student works closely with guidance counselor regarding optimal course selection for senior year.
Student selects challenging courses that will help prepare student for college-level Math & English.
Student & Parent attend College Day in the fall. Student sends reply cards to universities and colleges.
Student registers/takes PSAT in the fall for the second time & discusses results with counselor.
Student researches colleges/universities though: internet, checking out materials from the College/Career Center, calling/writing colleges to request an admissions packet.
Student and Parent begin checking into admission requirements, tuition, housing and scholarship opportunities for each college/university the student possibly wants to attend.
Student begins listing ideas for possible “majors” in college.
Student obtains list of scholarships websites at the College & Career Center website or from other sources. Student becomes familiar with these sites to see if juniors may apply and/or to fill in their “Scholarships Opportunities” folder for when they are seniors.
Student takes an SAT prep course in the fall.
Student registers for and takes the SAT and/or ACT in the Spring.
Student continues involvement in school organizations/clubs/sports. Student should try to become an officer in at least one club.
Family and/or student continue volunteering in their neighborhood/school/church/community (keep track of volunteer hours/dates in Community Service Record)
Student should think of “innovative” ways that THEY can make a difference in their community/world and consider acting on their idea(s).
Student & Parent attend Career Fairs in the Houston area (watch the local newspaper).
Parents are cautious of scholarship frauds by phone and mail!!!
SUMMER BETWEEN 11TH AND 12TH GRADE CHECKLIST:
Student & Parent tour college/university campuses.
Student practices completing college admission, based on last year’s application & essay topics.
Student begins listing people they want to write their letters of recommendation and completes the “Information for Letter of Recommendation” form.
Student continues to research college & scholarship opportunities via the Internet.
Student verifies that courses selected for senior year will meet college admission requirements and help prepare for college-level math and English.
Parents are cautious of scholarship scams by phone and mail!!
12TH GRADE CHECKLIST:
Student maintains good/excellent grades during their senior year.
Student works closely with their guidance counselor.
Student requests letters of recommendation to be written by teachers, counselor and/or other non-family members. Student must allow 2-3 weeks for letters of recommendation to be completed.
Student compares their GPA and SAT/ACT scores to the college admission requirements for the school they hope to attend.
Students wanting to improve their SAT and/or ACT score: Register to retake the test in the fall and have the scores sent directly to the colleges.
Student attends College Day. Try to concentrate on a few colleges/universities that offer your major.
Read the senior newsletter and check the Senior Calendar and Scholarship Opportunities online at the College & Career Center website.
Apply for Scholarship Opportunities. Obtain updated information on the website!
Student decides the colleges/universities to which they will apply. Student sends all the necessary paperwork: application, fees, SAT and/or ACT scores, official transcript, essay(s) and letters of recommendation. Colleges favor those who send the applications in early!
Students have their essay(s) proofread by their English teacher BEFORE mailing the essay with their application.
Student goes to the website(s) for the colleges/universities to which they are applying: look for Open House dates, designated scholarship opportunities, special events for incoming freshmen.
Students keeps a calendar listing important deadline dates: application deadlines, financial aid deadlines and scholarship deadlines.
Parent and student complete and submit the FAFSA and other financial aid papers by mid-February. Financial aid is offered on a “first come-first need” basis.
Student makes sure that the Financial Aid office at each college has received all necessary information.
Student receives acceptance letters in spring. Student decides with college/university to attend and mails non-refundable freshmen tuition deposits.
Student checks with counselor to see if they are COMPASS exempt. If student is not exempt, student registers and takes the COMPASS test in the spring.
Parents are cautious of scholarship scams by phone and mail!!