1. TIMELINE FOR THE COLLEGE BOUND
Junior Year
Please use this timeline to help guide you through the college preparation/selection
process. Be sure to refer to the more detailed college selection materials that are available
from the guidance office, and to tap into your counselor's knowledge/experience with this
process.
Eleventh Grade: Fall/Winter
1. Take as rigorous an academic program as you can handle.
2. Resolve to earn the best grades possible.
3. Prepare for, register, and take the PSAT’s. The PSAT’s will assist you in preparing for
the SAT’s. Qualifying scores of juniors are eligible for National Merit Scholarships and
many other national scholarships.
4. Start looking through the college guides for information about colleges. College guides
are available in the guidance office and online.
5. Attend college fairs. See your guidance counselor for dates, times and locations. Be
sure to attend in grades 11 and 12.
6. Continue to talk with family, friends, counselors and teachers about college
experiences and what college might be right for you.
Eleventh Grade: Spring
1. Take advantage of any programs where you can meet college representatives and gain
additional information about colleges.
2. Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss your college placement
opportunities/interests.
3. Visit colleges on your list that may be hosting Open Houses on weekends in the spring.
4. Prepare for and take the SAT-I. Your Guidance Department recommends you take the
SAT-1 twice in the spring of your junior year.
5. Try to obtain summer employment that relates to your intended major.
6. Narrow the list of colleges that you are interested in attending to five, but certainly not
more than ten.
7. If you have completed an advance level course, plan to take the SAT-II test in that
subject area.
8. If you are considering early admissions, be sure to:
a. Check the criteria needed in that school
b. Discuss your decisions with your counselor and parents.
c. Send for applications and necessary materials as soon as possible.
9. Contact the colleges requesting applications, catalogs and other descriptive admissions
information.
10. Check this college information for deadlines and to find out if any SAT-II tests are
required. Many colleges require these tests. Create a "to do" schedule to meet your
school's deadline requirements.
Eleventh Grade: Summer
1. If an essay is required in the applications that you receive, begin writing and outlining

2. that essay for further refinement during the early part of your senior year.
2. Continue to refine your list of colleges.
3. Try to take advantage of special summer school programs for high school students
(i.e., college classes).
4. Continue to visit some of the colleges you are considering. Many colleges offer
informational tours during the summer. Seeing a college is one of the most important
factors in deciding which college to attend.
5. Begin to explore scholarship opportunities.