To request your transcript, we must have this form signed and returned to our office.

Senior College Planning Timeline

Adapted from recommendations by NJSCA

August/September

• Continue to challenge yourself academically and remain/become involved in school and community activities such as student counsel, sports, service learning, theater and arts.
• Meet with your counselor and ensure that you're meeting the correct requirements for graduation and admission to the colleges of your choice.
• Create a plan to ensure you're maintaining/improving your grades as needed. Use a planner to schedule activities and study time.
• If you haven't already, make a list of things you're looking for in colleges to which you'll apply and create a list of questions to research. Continue researching colleges/careers of interest. Aim to apply to 2-3 dream or "reach" schools, 2-3 schools for which you feel well-prepared, and 1-2 back-up schools. Review college admission requirements and discuss potential schools with your school counselor if you're unsure as to what schools might fit these categories.
• Register for the fall SAT and/or ACT. Visit the counseling office or website for testing and registration dates as well as preparation guides. You can register online for the tests at www.collegeboard.com. You may also access preparation materials through the website. Kaplan and Princeton review also offer preparation materials. Most bookstores offer such materials, and resources are also located online.
• View the financial aid and scholarship sections of this website. Register for scholarship information through websites such as Fastweb and Finaid.
• Review application deadlines and required application materials for colleges to which you're interested in applying. Develop a schedule based on this information for applying to colleges. Remember to allow yourself ample time for obtaining application elements such as letters of recommendations and transcripts.
• Consider teachers from whom you may request a letter of recommendation. Make a list of attributes and accomplishments to assist teachers and mentors in writing your letters.

October

• Continue to focus on your academics and maintain high grades. Discuss your progress with teachers and school counselor if struggling or unsure of your performance.
• Continue to remain involved in school and community activities.
• Visit local college fairs and talk with college representatives visiting the school throughout October. Check the website frequently or visit the counseling office to find out about such events and visits.
• Continue researching colleges and careers of interest as you work on applications for schools you've already selected.
• Set up times for college visits and interviews. Begin visits.
• Begin finalizing your list of schools to which you apply and their applications requirements and deadlines. Look for early decision deadlines and deadlines for potential scholarships offered through the school. Continue work on your applications keeping these deadlines in mind.
• Request letters of recommendation if you haven't already done so. Give teachers 2 - 3 weeks to complete a letter of recommendation. It's your responsibility to plan ahead and request letters early.
• Continue to review the school website for updates on college visits, information sessions and scholarship opportunities.

November

• Submit Early Decision or Early Action applications.
• Submit college applications due December 1 early in the month.
• Continue to monitor your grades. Seek tutoring and assistance from teachers and the school counselor if there are concerns.
• Continue to visit schools. Schedule tours and interviews ahead of time.
• Continue developing your "tool kit" for college applications. Add materials as needed. For information on what to include in your "tool kit," see junior year planning tips.
• Continue to study for the SAT/ACT's. Take the exams this month or next month.
• Take the SAT/ACT this month or next.

December

• Submit college applications due January 1 early in the month.
• Talk to your parents about preparing information for the FAFSA (see "financial aid for more information). The FAFSA should be filed in January.
• Continue to perform well academically and stay involved in school/community activities.
• Continue to visit schools.
• Continue to look for and apply for scholarships.
• Continue visiting schools.

January

• Call schools to which you've applied to ensure they've received your applications and supporting documents. It is sometimes possible to verify this information online. When necessary, send your semester grades to these schools.
• File your FAFSA.
• Send applications due in February.
• Continue to visit schools. Investigate the possibility of overnight visits and attending classes in your top choice schools.
• Continue to maintain high grades and stay involved in school and community activities.

February - June

• Dedicate time to searching for and applying for scholarships. Continue to check with your school counselor, review your high school website, the websites of colleges to which you're applying and general scholarship websites (see links on financial aid/scholarship page) for further scholarship opportunities.
• Continue to maintain high grades and stay involved in school and community activities. Look for leadership opportunities when possible.
• Continue to research career information and information on choosing a major if you're undecided. Get involved in activities that might aid in your decision such as related volunteering and service learning opportunities.
• In May take your AP Exams if applicable.
• Send your final transcripts to schools where you've applied.

Junior College Planning Timeline

Adapted from recommendations by NJSCA

August/September

• Review graduating requirements and make sure you’re on track. Review the admissions requirements of colleges you might consider to make sure you’re taking the necessary high school coursework.
• Maintain high grades! Your junior year grades are crucial because they are your last chance to influence the GPA that will be indicated on your college applications and transcripts.
• Continue visiting the school website for updates on college planning and college visits. You’ll want to visit colleges and be present for visits from colleges your senior year, but you can also participate in these activities junior year.
• Research colleges and careers of interest. Create a place where you can keep information on schools of interest. Keep these materials organized.
• Develop a “tool kit” for college applications. This is a binder, portfolio or jump drive that contains college information, applications, financial aid and scholarship information, letters of recommendation, honors, awards, records of your extracurricular activities, resume, and transcripts. Eventually, you may want to include a calendar or timeline for college preparation and turning in applications. You will not have all of this information at this time but will continue to add to the file. A file such as this can also be useful in applying for jobs.

October

• Meet with your school counselor to discuss college and career options and review your progress towards graduation.
• List post-graduation goals and interests as well as things you’re looking for in a college.
• Research colleges that might be a good fit for you. There are links for college searches on this site.

November

• Obtain ACT and SAT practice tests. Set aside time each day or each week to prepare for the exams.
• Continue to research schools of interest.
• Continue to maintain high grades and stay involved in school and community activities.
• Visit the testing page on this website or the counselor’s office and find out when the SAT and ACT will be offered in the spring. Pay special attention to the registration deadlines. You can sign up for either test at www.collegeboard.com.
• Explore potential careers through reading, searches, interest inventories, course selection and volunteer and service opportunities. Explore the NJSCA Career website: www.njsca.org.

January

• Rededicate yourself after the winter vacation to achieve better grades. Evaluate your study habits and organization, making changes where necessary.
• Continue reading outside of class assignments.
• Register for the spring SAT and/or ACT and possibly the SAT Subject Tests. Check to see if your potential colleges of interest require the SAT subject tests.
• Prepare for the SAT and ACT by using their study guides and taking their practice tests. SAT preparation books and CD’s by Princeton Review, Kaplan and other test prep companies may also be helpful.

February - June

• Begin planning your course selection for the following year. Be sure your four year course selection plan reflects your future interests and includes the courses you need for colleges to which you’ll apply.
• Review your grade progress and seek assistance as needed.
• Continue to research colleges and attend college and career fairs. Arrange summer visits to colleges of interest.
• Register for potential scholarship information on financial aid websites.
• Continue involvement in school and community activities.
• Continue adding to you tool kit.

Summer

• Read non-assigned books and other reading material in addition to any work assigned for next year’s courses.
• Continue to prepare for the SAT and ACT tests.
• Be involved in summer activities including sports, work, hobbies and community and volunteer services.
• Save money for your college or technical school fund.
• Visit potential colleges/schools. Make careful notes and take pictures so as to remember the visit and information you gain.
• Update the sheet you’ll provide to teachers writing your letters of recommendation.

Freshman and Sophomore College Planning

Adapted from recommendations by NJSCA

• Review the junior and senior timelines to gain an understanding of what you'll be doing in subsequent years. The more college and career research you can do ahead of time, the easier the process will be your junior and senior years.
• Meet with your school counselor and create a four-year graduation plan. Make sure you're not only meeting graduation requirements, but are also taking courses necessary for colleges both in state and out of state. Check the application requirements of schools to which you may apply for further information.
• Maintain high grades.
• Read non-assigned material to continue improving your reading skills and vocabulary.
• Become involved in extracurricular activities such as volunteer work, service learning, student counsel, arts, and sports (there are opportunities within the community to be involved in sports).