Sophomore Year

  • Become familiar with college entrance requirements and how your high school grades and extracurricular activities will be viewed.
  • Learn about the different types of colleges and universities.
  • Begin to plan what schools you would like to visit.
  • Consider what characteristics are important to you as you are looking at a college; things like large or small, public or private, location, facilities, academic offerings, etc.
  • Consider taking the PSAT 10 in the Spring.

Junior Year

  • Maintain good study habits.
  • Participate in extracurricular activities.
  • Identify career interests.
  • Identify locations for community service activities.
  • Take Advanced Placement courses, prepare for AP exams.
  • Take the PSAT.
  • Prepare for the SAT or ACT.
  • Begin the college search process (identify colleges, seek scholarship information, etc.).

Spring of Junior Year

  • Select senior year courses. Remember to continue challenging yourself academically.
  • Consider or plan to visit colleges spring semester.
  • Register for upcoming SAT and/or ACT tests.
  • Look for and attend college fairs.
  • Begin thinking about summer plans
  • Take appropriate AP exams.

Summer of Junior Year (Rising Senior)

  • Work – save money for college.
  • Complete community service hours.
  • Consider taking a summer course, such as SAT prep or essay writing.
  • Visit colleges that interest you.
  • Athletes: Find out if you need to register with the NCAA Clearinghouse.

Senior Year

  • Maintain good study habits.
  • Participate in extracurricular activities.
  • Take Advanced Placement courses, prepare for AP exams.
  • Complete the college application process.
  • Research financial aid at colleges.
  • Take SAT and/or ACT, SAT II and other required tests. 

Fall of Senior Year

  • Check your course schedule with your guidance counselor. Make sure you are taking all required courses and review your transcript.
  • Develop college application plans with your parents and counselor.
  • Identify colleges that you would like to apply.
  • Familiarize yourself with the CV Application Process
  • Begin working on college applications; take note of all deadlines.
  • Keep track of all correspondence with colleges.
  • Bring in your "College Application Checklist" allowing 10 school days for processing
  • Register for any additional ACT, SAT or TOEFL exams.
  • Check Naviance and listen to the announcements for scheduled visits of college representatives.
  • Plan campus visits and interviews, or take “virtual tours” and make appointments to have interviews locally.
  • Look for and attend college fairs, including the CV College Fair in October. 
  • Request letters of recommendation from your teachers and counselor.
  • Prepare your student resume.
  • Continue preparing and finalizing college list.
  • Continue meeting college reps, visiting colleges (if possible) and interviewing.
  • If applying Early Decision, prepare application, request all necessary documents.
  • Begin researching financial aid and scholarships.
  • Begin drafting college essays. Review the essay with your counselor, English teacher and parents.
  • Apply for ROTC scholarships, if interested.
  • November 1st and November 15th are the deadline dates for many colleges. 

Winter of Senior Year

  • Register for and take the ASVAB, for military aptitude if interested.
  • Regular Decision admission deadlines are often December 15th or January 1st – watch your deadlines.
  • Submit college applications with January deadlines two weeks before winter break.
  • Complete financial aid form (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
  • Attend Financial Aid Night here at CV. 
  • Submit your completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. Keep a copy for your records.
  • Begin requesting scholarship applications.
  • Consider, plan, and register for Advanced Placement exams.
  • Continue looking for scholarship money.
  • Respond to requests from colleges for any additional information needed.

Spring of Senior Year

  • Begin receiving financial aid award letters from the colleges you have applied to, and make comparisons.
  • Investigate payment options with each college.
  • Accept all or part of the financial aid offered; sign and return acceptance letter.
  • Most schools will require commitments to attend by May 1st; deposits will be required.
  • Final transcripts are sent to colleges based on the Graduation Survey information. Complete this in your Family Connection > About Me > Graduation Survey

  • GRADUATE!
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