College Timeline for the Class of 2017 JUNIOR YEAR Your post-secondary planning really kicks into high gear during your junior year. This is the time you should, if you haven t already, really begin to focus on the options you have after graduating from WNHS. These options include college, both two and four year, technical school, travel, or entering the workforce. You have many resources to support you-parents, friends, relatives, employers, and most importantly your counselor. Below are some suggestions and recommendations for you to follow during this important year. WINTER 2015/16 Review your high school coursework and school activities with your counselor to be sure that you're proceeding according to plan. If you took the PSAT talk to your counselor about your PSAT scores. This will help you understand your strengths and give you the chance to identify areas that may need improvement. You still have plenty of time, so make the effort to work on your skills now. Think about what would be your ideal college. Consider attributes like size (number of students AND size of campus), location, degrees and programs offered, educational and recreational facilities, cost, social/cultural environment, etc. Put your thoughts on paper and discuss them with your counselor during your Junior Conference*. Your counselor can help you identify schools that fit the profile you created. Compile a list of colleges that interest you in Naviance under Colleges I m Thinking About If necessary, begin looking into ACT/SAT prep options Research college costs and financial aid; look into requirements for private student aid and scholarships. * Junior Conferences consists of an individual meeting between counselor and student. The primary focus of the conference is to discuss plans for the rest of this year, review schedule for senior year, explore college, career, and future options, highlight testing calendar, and review Naviance tools.
SPRING 2016 On Tuesday, April 19th, all juniors are tentatively scheduled to take an official ACT test with the Writing component that WNHS will administer. This ACT test is free of charge and registration will take place during school sometime in early April. If you like, register for another ACT or the SAT for the first time. Test dates are scheduled throughout the spring, so you can choose the date that works best for you. Talk to your counselor if you re unsure on whether to take another test. If you plan to take Advanced Placement (AP) exams, register in February in the Counseling Center. If possible, begin scheduling visits to schools that are on your Colleges I m thinking about list. Make sure to include a campus tour and meetings with the admissions representative and financial aid counselor. Spring Break is a perfect time for college visits Begin to create a resume. Naviance has great resume building tool under the About Me tab Begin attending upcoming college fairs (see Important Dates) If applicable, take AP exams Begin considering people to ask for recommendations-teachers, counselors, pastors, employers, etc. SUMMER 2015 Earn and save money for college with a part-time or summer job. Volunteer in the community. Visit colleges that interest you. Don't forget to call or register online ahead of time to schedule a campus tour. Weigh pros and cons of prospective colleges. If necessary, check the registration deadline for the September ACT WAIT TO TALK TO YOUR COUNSELOR IN THE FALL BEFORE SUBMITTING ANY COLLEGE APPLICATIONS. Counselors return to school on Monday, August 8th.
SENIOR YEAR 2016/17 This is it! This is where you wanted to be-senior YEAR! Now what? During this year you will be making many important decisions about your future. The Counseling Office is here to assist you in taking these important steps. As always, your counselor is available to work with you throughout the year as you plan for your future planning. If in doubt, do not hesitate to stop by the Counseling Office anytime to schedule an appointment with your counselor. We are here to help! SEPTEMBER Counselors speak to all senior ACCESS classes If necessary, sign-up to retake ACT and SAT exams in October Parents attend Financial Aid Night If you haven t done so already, ask for letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, counselors, or employers. Remember to pick up Green Teacher Recommendation form in the College & Career Center Discuss final college interest list in with counselor during your Senior Conference Turn in Blue Falcon Brag Sheet to counselor. Sheet is available in the Counseling Center and is designed to help your counselor write a stellar recommendation for you If necessary, attend Common Application Workshop in the Counseling Center Visit college websites to set up accounts to begin completing online applications Continue visiting campuses Make a master calendar of admission & financial aid deadlines Begin working on college essays OCTOBER Attend College Fairs (COD, National/Navy Pier, and Christian) Parents gather previous year s tax information and begin completing the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Complete final application essays. Be sure to have a teacher, parent, or counselor review and edit before submitting Complete online applications for admission and give transcript requests to counselor at least ten days before deadline o November 1 st priority deadline applications due to counselor by Oct. 18 o November 15 th priority deadline (ISU and NIU) applications due to counselor by Nov. 1
NOVEMBER If needed, retake ACT and SAT exams Priority deadline for several colleges is November 15 th Final deadline for many colleges is December 1. Transcript requests for these colleges should be turned into counselor no later than a week before Thanksgiving Break DECEMBER Final deadline for many colleges is December 1. Transcript requests for these colleges should be turned into counselor no later than a week before Thanksgiving Break Attend Financial Aid help sessions Check the Monthly Scholarship Bulletin in the College and Career Center or online at www.wnhs.org College & Career Resources Scholarships & Financial Aid Happy Holidays! JANUARY If you have not done so already, begin housing process, mail in request for residence hall and roommate assignment o Remember, you can submit housing applications to more than one school. Just be sure to pay attention to refund policies and dates Plan to complete solid academic classes this last semester Continue to check the Monthly Scholarship Bulletin in the College and Career Center or online at www.wnhs.org College & Career Resources Scholarships & Financial Aid o Pick up Local Scholarship Application, which is one application for up to fourteen scholarships from local agencies and groups Give counselor "Midyear" grade reports, if required by college. This is only for non-common App schools. Counselors will automatically send out mid-year reports to all Common App schools.
FEBRUARY Continue to apply for financial aid-check wnhs.org and Counseling office for the Monthly Scholarship Bulletin. Turn in Local Scholarship Application to the Counseling Office (normally due around the end of the month. Check application or specific date) Narrow down choice of colleges to 2-3 and make final campus visits, if necssary Register and pay fees for AP tests in the College and Career Center KEEP COPIES OF ALL FORMS YOU SUBMIT MARCH Continue to check the Monthly Scholarship Bulletin in the College and Career Center or online at www.wnhs.org College & Career Resources Scholarships & Financial Aid Rank your finalized list of colleges APRIL Keep up your grades! Watch the mail for college acceptance letters. Compare all financial aid awards you receive. Compare the amount of grants received to the amount of loans received-do not just look at the bottom line figure. Continue to check Monthly Scholarship Bulletin in the College & Career Center MAY Make decision on which college you will attend by May 1 st and notify college Rescind all other colleges where you were accepted Begin housing process, if you have not done so already, mail in request for residence hall and roommate assignment. Take AP tests Finalize summer school or summer job plans Complete Senior Exit Survey during graduation practice. This survey will tell the registrar what college should receive your FINAL TRANSCRIPT. Graduate!!!