Do you have a poor grade that needs to be retaken?
Attend College Planning / Financial Aid programs locally.
Develop a filing system for college materials. A paper trail is important. Throw nothing away until you have decided on a college.
Take Honors, AP or IB courses when possible. Challenge yourself!
Gather college information and applications.
Think about the qualities you feel best fit you, i.e. location, size, public, private, or Christian college. Do some soul-searching; compile lists and charts.
Use a college search program on the Web, such as CollegeSearch.com or CollegeBoard.com.
Talk with valuable college resources at your school, such as your counselor, the College Resource Center, your teachers, and/or coaches and recent graduates from your high school.
Meet with college admission representatives who visit your campus. Read college catalogs, and viewbooks.
Attend college nights, local college fairs, and Christian College Fairs.
October
Visit and tour college campuses.
Preview Day #1, October 16 & 17, 2008. Register online!
Develop a list of your interests, educational priorities, special talents and abilities, needs, preferences and personal qualities. Use these to match to colleges.
Take PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholars Competition) or PLAN.
Pay attention to what this year’s seniors are doing…especially the scholarships they are applying for.
November
SAT’s (we recommend taking now and again in spring). Or, you might consider taking the ACT.
Preview Day #2, November 13 & 14, 2008. Register online!
December
Carefully go over your PSAT/NMSQT scores and use the information in “Report of Student Answers” to interpret and understand your scores and to prepare for the SAT.
See your counselor if you have questions or concerns.
January/February
Attend college planning classes when available.
Consider using computer software to assist you with the SAT.
Register for March SAT’s (or register for a spring ACT).
Begin to make specific lists of colleges according to the research you have already concluded.
Review applications for colleges in which you are interested. Know what they will require from you.
Explore financial aid options. A helpful website is: www.finaid.org.
March
Westmont College Preview Day #3, March 5-6, 2009. Register online!
Meet with your counselor and parents to discuss the college selection process, classes, GPA, & class rank.
You should take either the SAT or ACT at least once sometime in April, May or June. If possible, take the SAT or ACT twice.
Register to take any SAT II tests necessary while course materials are still fresh in your mind.
Westmont accepts a score of 500 on SAT II for the Writing Competency requirement.
Request viewbooks, catalogs, and application forms from the colleges you’ve selected on your list. These can also be accessed online.
Start your plan for a financial aid package or how you will pay for college.
Visit colleges take tours, speak with admissions counselors, professors, other offices of interest, housing, financial aid.
Plan a strong senior year both semesters. A poor second semester in your senior year may be harmful!
Last chance to register for ACT, SAT I & II’s.
April/May
Help your family with college expenses; get a summer job. Consider doing an internship in something that interests you. Colleges like this.
If your ACT/SAT scores are low, summer is a good time to strengthen your skills.
Consider attending a college preparatory summer program offered by many colleges. See your counselor for details.
Continue to visit colleges.
Read!! Practice essay writing, be creative, use your own words and style!
Decide which application process you want: Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision (be sure you understand the responsibilities of each). (Westmont has Early Action and Regular Decision only.)
Summary
This is your last summer before packing for college!!
Continue working.
Be involved in activities that are impressive.
Have frank discussions with your parents about college possibilities and limitations.
