Timelines

Freshman Year

  • Explore all that SA has to offer.
  • Read, read, read.
  • Try everything!
  • Get used to being in high school.

Sophomore Year

All Year

  • Take challenging courses and try something new. Now is the time to develop your interests.
  • Read, read, read! Write, write, write!

Fall

  • Take the PSAT in October. This is excellent practice. Your results will never be seen by any colleges.

Spring/Summer

  • Take SAT: Subject Tests in June, if appropriate. Talk with your teachers about these.
  • Use the summer to explore interests that my not be available or that you may not have time for during the school year.

Junior Year

All Year

  • Focus on classes and intellectual endeavors—this is a particularly important year in terms of college admission.
  • Choose and commit to your favorite extracurricular activities. Seek leadership roles when you can.

Fall

  • Take the PSAT in October. This year’s score is more important than last year’s as it may qualify you for the National Merit, National Achievement and/or National Hispanic scholarship programs. The score will also be a reflection of what your SAT might be.Meet with some of the college representatives who are visiting SA.

Winter

  • Have a family discussion about factors that may affect the college search, e.g., finances, proximity to home. Parents: if you are setting any specific parameters, now is the time to share them with your son/daughter!
  • Complete College Counseling Questionnaire.
  • Parents complete Family Report.
  • Plan and register for junior-year testing (ACT or SAT and SAT Subject Tests). It is recommended that you take both the ACT and SAT with no preparation as a junior and two or three SAT Subject Tests in May or June.
  • Begin to explore and research colleges using college search engines, college guidebooks and websites.
  • Research colleges to visit over spring break (collaborate with your parents).
  • Schedule a meeting with your college counselor after completing College Counseling Questionnaire. Parents are welcome, too, if they’ve completed the Family Report.
  • Write the Peer Recommendation if you’ve been asked to write one.

Spring

  • Make summer plans.
  • Spring break: a great time to visit colleges both near and far.
  • Continue to explore and research colleges.
  • Put yourself on mailing lists of any colleges of interest—most schools have that function on line or you can call, e-mail or send a note. Remember to include your full address, phone number, an appropriate e-mail address and school you attend.
  • Begin college counseling class in Connections.
  • Attend college informational meetings in the Bay Area (if you’re on colleges’ mailing lists, they’ll invite you).
  • Attend Bay Area Case Studies program.
  • Apply for summer programs/jobs/internships.
  • As you begin to wrap up your junior year, keep all of the papers that you wrote over the year. Some colleges ask for a graded paper as part of the college application, so don’t throw these things out!
  • If you plan to play a varsity sport in college, complete the NCAA Clearinghouse form.
  • Think about which teachers you’d like to have write your college recommendations and chat with them about it (plan on having two write on your behalf).
  • End the school year with a “working” college list of 15-25 colleges/universities.

Summer

  • HAVE A GREAT SUMMER—GET LOTS OF R &R!!!

Senior Year

August

  • Figure out if and when you are going to take the SAT/ACT/SAT Subject Tests and register for them.
  • Brainstorm personal statement ideas.
  • Make sure you’re on the mailing lists of all colleges/universities of interest.

September

  • Schedule a meeting with the college counselor.
  • Attend college counseling classes during Connections or Exploratory.
  • Attend informational meetings at school and off-campus.
  • Check-in with the teachers who are going to write your letters of recommendation.
  • Register for the CSS Profile if you plan to apply for financial aid.
  • Log on to the Common Application’s website www.commonapp.org and register. Do the first couple of pages—it’ll take you all of 15 minutes

October

  • Turn in college counseling questionnaire and peer rec on October 1.
  • If you are applying to any college or university EA/ED, you must notify your college counselor and teachers and give them the appropriate forms by October 1. Also, send your ACT/SAT/SAT Subject test results to the colleges/universities to which you are applying ED/EA.
  • Begin applications to any colleges with Rolling, Early Action and/or Early Decision admission programs.
  • Attend informational meetings at school and off-campus.
  • UC and CSU applications become available on-line.
  • Work on Common App, CSU & UC applications during Connections/Exploratory.
  • You and your parents should attend Financial Aid Night if you are applying for financial aid.

November

  • Finish any Rolling Decision applications.
  • November 1-30: Filing period for UC and CSU- applications. Do NOT wait until November 30th to submit.
  • November 1 or 15: typical Early Action and Early Decision application deadlines.
  • Work on college applications.
  • Submit and review final college application list with college counselor by the end of the month.

December

  • Mid-December: EA/ED notification.
  • Send your ACT/SAT/SAT Subject test results to the colleges and universities you are applying Regular Decision.
  • Finish your college applications. 

January and February

  • Submit the FAFSA, CSS Profile and/or any other institutional financial aid forms if you are applying for financial aid.
  • Write thank you notes to the teachers who wrote your recommendations.
  • Wait to hear from colleges.

March

  • March 1-30: UCs mail admission decisions.
  • End of March - April 1: College admission decisions are mailed/posted.

April

  • Decide where to go to college!!!

May

  • Send in your commitment deposit to the college which you plan to enroll by May 1 which is the National Reply Date. You may not send a commitment deposit to more than one college. End of college search/application process!!!
  • Fight off senioritis and finish out your high school career with pride and integrity.