Senior Year Timeline

By the summer before senior year, students should have already accomplished the following:

• Meet with college counselor to discuss college choices.
• Sent for college view books and applications.
• Attended the College Selection Night, learning about factors for choosing colleges.
• Attended classes during junior year, learning about researching colleges, interviews, essays, and applications.
• Researched some colleges by visiting, reading, attending information sessions and/or utilizing other resources.

Although many of you will be busy during the summer, you will need to do the following during the summer or early fall:

• Think about which teachers you would like to write your teacher recommendation(s).  You can ask them in the fall, after school begins.
• Review your transcript and activity list (on the back) when it is sent home at the end of the summer.
• Think about possible essay topics – write a rough draft.
• Come in to Barrack any time to work on or review your application, review or discuss your essay with me, or have a practice interview.
• Start to finalize your list of colleges where you wish to apply.  Request applications for any colleges where you might apply.  (You can also start to download applications from the Web if you prefer.)
• Make up a chart of what is due and when for each college – many colleges provide a checklist.
• Register for the SAT, ACT and/or SAT II’s if needed.

During early fall of senior year:

• Continue to meet with me about your college list.  It is our dual responsibility that every student has a list of schools that includes “safe, level and reach” schools.
• Attend, with your parents, the “College Application Night”, which will give you details on EVERYTHING you need to know about college application specifics, and the accompanying forms.  This meeting will be held on September 10th at 7:30 p.m.
• Start applying to any rolling admissions schools.  Continue to review applications, essays and procedures with me.
• Visit with the college representatives who will be coming to Barrack in the fall (you will receive a schedule of visits when you attend the meeting on Sept. 10).
• Your parents should create a checklist for financial aid deadlines and requirements.  (We will have a Financial Aid Night in November for all parents.)

We will talk in greater detail about what to do next when we meet in September.  Your greatest priority for the summer should be setting goals, researching and assessing colleges, and beginning to put together your list of schools.  And remember, I’m here to help you.  Have a wonderful summer!