GRADE 10
● Prioritize getting good grades in the most challenging classes you can handle.
● Take the PSAT/PLAN for practice.
● Hone in on 2-3 activities that you like best and think about how to pursue them in greater depth throughout high school. Step up and engage!
● Make a plan for your community service hours so that are productive and don't look like you are checking off a list. It’s more fun and rewarding doing it this way too!
● Plan your summer: relax and have fun but think about doing something productive as well:
o Summer camps
o Volunteer
o Summer academic programs
o Take a class
o Explore an interest
o Work
o Practice your sport or special talent
● If you are an athlete and want to play college sports, you may want to start reaching out to coaches now, depending on your sport.
● If you want to pursue the visual arts, fashion, or any degree that might require a portfolio, start saving pieces for your portfolio now.
● Don’t stress; make it fun and commit to what you love to do.
GRADE 11
● Same as grade 10, and …
● If you think you might be interested in a specific college degree program as a direct admit freshman, such as business, engineering, architecture, computer science, nursing, physical therapy, etc., research what the requirements are and make sure you have taken the highest-level courses in the relevant subjects. Explore extra-curriculars and electives that offer insight into these areas of study, or shadow a professional.
● If you will be applying to selective colleges, or Honors Colleges within a large university, make sure your classes match the requirements, such as foreign language, 4 years of lab science, etc.
● Attend college fair programs in Seattle.
● Attend college representative meetings at your school.
● Show demonstrated interest to colleges you think might be on your list.
● Start thinking about what you are seeing and hearing and what is important to you. What are your values? What kind of academic and social environment aligns with your values?
● Start visiting school campuses and explore different kinds of campuses. You do not need to travel to do this. For instance, Seattle University is modeled similarly to other Jesuit universities. Their mission and approach to education is similar throughout. UW is similar to other state, flagship, research universities. University of Puget Sound is a great example of a small, liberal arts education.
● Build relationships with teachers so that they know you when you ask them for recommendations. Ideal time for asking for recommendations is at end of Junior year.
● Decide if you want to test and, if so, decide which test, ACT/SAT, is better for you. Register early to take the tests (they fill up!)
● If you need accommodations for standardized testing, apply for them months in advance. It can take 10 weeks to get approval.
● Prepare for ACT/SAT (on own or test prep), take first test in Feb/March.
● Other exams: AP, IB. Consider timing so that all testing isn’t happening at the same time.
● Don’t stress: you WILL find a best fit college for you!
● Summer: make it productive, and begin your applications! Have drafts of your essays completed by start of Senior Year. It will alleviate a lot of stress and anxiety.
GRADE 12
● Continue to take challenging courses and don’t let your grades fall.
● Make decisions regarding ED, EA, Regular Decision and Rolling Decision.
● Finalize your essays, activity lists, brag sheets into counseling office, teacher recommendations, etc. Your first application deadlines will likely be the beginning of November.
● Re-take ACT/SAT if needed/wanted.
● Arrange to have standardized test scores and high school transcript sent to colleges by their deadlines.
● Financial aid forms (FAFSA and PROFILE) can be submitted as early as October 1.
● If you have accommodations, make sure your testing and evaluations are current within three years.
● Do not slack off after submitting or getting acceptance letters. Colleges can rescind these offers and often will put students on notice if their grades fall off.
● Plan to visit colleges between April 1 and April 31 if you will be needing to make a choice, or between January and April if you were accepted Early Action.