TIPS FOR PREPARING FOR COLLEGE Students and their parents often wait until the senior year to begin planning for college. Successful planning should begin during the student's ninth-grade year. Some suggested tips to help students adequately prepare for college follow: Ninth Grade Review college catalogs and/or write to colleges in which you are interested and inquire about academic admission requirements. Based on your findings, plan your high school schedule accordingly. Become involved in extracurrcular activities. Choose the activities you enjoy most and strive toward leadership positions in later years. Be sure not to take on more activities than you can handle. Develop study skills and time management skills. Be aware of NCAA and university requirements. Attend college and career fairs when possible. Explore careers. Increase reading. Obtain summer employment or volunteer your services. Update your four-year plan. Tenth Grade Review college catalogs and/or write to colleges in which you are interested and inquire about academic admission requirements. Based on your findings, plan your high school schedule accordingly. List colleges and majors of interest. Take the PLAN test to help prepare for the ACT. Use ACT or SAT study guides. Possibly take the ACT or SAT. Attend college or career fairs. Update your four-year plan. Eleventh Grade Narrow the number of colleges you are considering to those having what you desire in courses, location, and extracurricular activities. Check college catalogs for information, visit colleges, and research. Strive for excellence in grades. Attend college fairs and use the school's career exploration link. Develop financial plans with parents. Research scholarships. Take the PSAT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test). Check colleges for ACT or SAT preference. Athletes register with the NCAA Clearinghouse--May 2007 Send for college applications--Summer 2007 Update your four-year plan. Twelfth Grade September: Consider signing up for an ACT preparation class. Bevill State Community college often offers such classes. October: Take the ACT this fall. Select schools to which you will apply, send for application forms, scholarship information, and financial aid papers. Check with the guidance office for scholarship information. Update resume with list of honors and extracurricular activities. Attend College Planning Night at WCHS with your parents. November: Complete college applications. Obtain written recommendations from counselors, teachers, and individuals in the community. The first deadline for early admission for many colleges is in November. Register for the December ACT test if necessary. Schedule campus visits. December: Continue to mail applications, transcripts, recommendations, aid requests, and scholarship applications to colleges. January: Pick up financial aid applications in guidance office. Have parents complete appropriate financial aid applications. Parents will need their income records for the previous year in order to complete these forms. Completed financial aid applications should be submitted as soon as possible to the appropriate agency for evaluation. Call admission offices of colleges to which you have applied and ask if they have received all necessary materials to process your applications for admission or for scholarships. Most colleges will send confirmation that all materials have been received. Februrary--April: Continue to study diligently and make good grades. Complete applications for admission, scholarships, and financial aid. May--Request a final transcript to be sent to your chosen college. Your file cannot be completed, and you will not be allowed to register for college course until your final transcript is received. Other: Apply EARLY!!! Watch for deadlines posted on the WCHS Web site & daily announcement sheet. Visit colleges to find out more about majors and scholarships. READ, READ, READ! Write essays. And, most importantly--watch out for SENIORITIS!!! |
|
