Guide by Grade

• Log on to Naviance and complete the following assessments (see your counselor if you do not have your login information): Learning Style Inventory.
• Attend at least 2 college visits at JSerra. You can find a list of colleges coming this fall on Naviance.
• Visit at least one campus. We have fantastic local schools you can visit to get a sense of what a college is like. You can start to formulate what you would want in a college the more colleges you see.
• Get involved! Attend the Activities Fair and begin building your resume on Naviance.
• Log your Christian Service hours onto x2VOL. Twenty per year is required. For your login information, please email Mr. Eckert at zeckert@jserra.org.
• Course selection meetings begin in March. In the Fall, start researching classes in our Course Catalog — including AP and Honors courses — that you would like to take the following year. Be sure to pay special mind to the prerequisites.
• Get the best grades you possibly can! Colleges will look at grades starting in the 9th grade.
• Continue to build your study habits, meet with teachers during office hours, and set goals each semester.
• Download "The Empowered Student" file below to learn how to be more organized in all aspects of your life.

• Log on to Naviance and complete the following assessments (see your counselor if you do not have your log in information): Do What You Are and MI Advantage.
• Start researching colleges you like.
• Visit with college representatives throughout the Fall.
• Attend at least 5 college visits at JSerra. You can find a list of colleges coming this fall on Naviance.
• Visit at least two campuses. Try to diversify the types of schools you visit: large, small, public, private, in state, out of state, etc.
• Get involved! Continue to build your resume on Naviance.
• Log your Christian Service hours onto x2VOL. Twenty per year is required. For your login information, please email Mr. Eckert at zeckert@jserra.org.
• Course selection meetings begin in February. In the Fall, start researching classes on our Course Catalog— including AP and Honors courses — that you would like to take the following year. Be sure to pay special mind to the prerequisites!
• Attend all Sophomore College Readiness events.
• Get the best grades you possibly can! If you had a rough freshman year, that's ok! Colleges like to see an upward trend in grades aka improvement over time.
• Take the PSAT and PACT and utilize free test prep through Khan Academy (SAT) and Kaplan (ACT).
• If you are in Algebra 2 or higher, you should consider test prepping over the summer.
• For recommendations on test prep, see your Academic and College Counselor.
• Download "The Empowered Student" file below to learn how to be more organized in all aspects of your life.

• Start researching colleges you like and take notes on Naviance of the specifics you like about schools.
• Visit with college representatives throughout the Fall.
• Attend at least 5 college visits at JSerra. You can find a list of colleges coming this fall on Naviance.
• Visit at least two campuses. Try to diversify the types of schools you visit: large, small, public, private, in state, out of state, etc.
• Get involved! Continue to build your resume on Naviance.
• Log your Christian Service hours onto x2VOL. Twenty per year is required. For your login information, please email Mr. Eckert at zeckert@jserra.org.
• Course selection meetings are during 2nd semester. In the Fall, start researching classes on our Course Catalog — including AP and Honors courses — that you would like to take the following year. Be sure to pay special mind to the prerequisites!
• Attend all Junior College Readiness events.
• Get the best grades you possibly can! If you had a rough start in high school, that's ok! Colleges like to see an upward trend in grades aka improvement over time. For most colleges, this will be the last year to submit grades to colleges when you apply in the fall of your senior year.
• Take the PSAT (in the fall) and register for an official ACT or SAT in the spring. You can utilize free test prep through Khan Academy (SAT) and Kaplan (ACT).
• If you are in Algebra 2 or higher, you should consider test prepping over the summer.
• For recommendations on test prep, see your Academic and College Counselor.
• Download "The Empowered Student" file below to learn how to be more organized in all aspects of your life.

• Attend your individualized college planning meeting and small group meeting.
• Sign up for the College Application Bootcamp in the summer or the College Seminar in the Fall.
• Write your essays, work with your counselor to get the best letter of recommendation, and follow all instructions given to you by your Counselor.
• Continue to get the best grades you can! Even though you've applied to college in the fall, many colleges still want to see that you are maintaining good academic standing.
• Consider taking some challenging classes. It doesn't help your college readiness to take an easy schedule the year before attending college. Plus, colleges take into consideration the rigor of senior year.
• Download "The Empowered Student" file below to learn how to be more organized in all aspects of your life.

EMPOWERED STUDENT GUIDE

Senior College Prep List

FALL

• REQUEST letters of recommendation from your teachers & counselors in person and in Naviance
• COMPLETE the counselor and teacher letter of recommendation surveys of Naviance
• CREATE your resume in the "About Me" section of Naviance
• REGISTER for NCAA if you plan to play a Division I or II sport in college
• FINALIZE your college list of 8-12 schools
• WRITE your essays and personal statements
• RESEARCH and apply for scholarships
• REGISTER for the SAT and/ or ACT

WINTER

• REGISTER for the Common Application and complete the Common App account matching in Naviance (opens August 1)
• BEGIN filling out college applications: UC opens August 1., Cal States open October 1
• MEET with college representatives that visit JSerra
• REQUEST transcripts on Naviance
• ENTER teacher recommendations in Naviance
• EMAIL you letter of recommendation request to your counselor
• COMPLETE and turn in the yellow Counselor School Report form by October 1
• APPLY early action if applicable
• SEND your test scores from collegeboard.org or actstudent.org
• FILE your financial aid forms: the FAFSA and CSS Profile (if applicable) beginning October 1
• ATTEND the JSerra College Fair and go on college visits
• SUBMIT application to Cal States (October 1-November 1) and UC's (November 1-30)
• READ college emails, follow all instructions for opening school-specific portals, and respond to all college requests
• CELEBRATE and bring in your acceptance letters to your counselor
• BREATHE and enjoy your last year as a high school student

SPRING

• REQUEST 7th semester transcripts/mid-year reports (if required)
• APPLY for scholarships
• VISIT colleges you've been admitted to
• SEND thank you notes to college representatives and recommenders
• CELEBRATE and bring in your acceptance letters to your counselor
• MAKE your college decision by May 1
• REQUEST your final transcript to be sent to the college of your choosing and the NCAA (if applicable)

Don't forget to come ring the college acceptance gong because you're "gong" to college!