COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE
Preparing to apply for college begins in the ninth grade and continues through graduation. To see a timeline for each grade level, click on a link below.
9th Grade
10th Grade
11th Grade
12th Grade
- Sign up for strong classes and make studying your number-one priority.
- Work up to your potential—the grades you earn become part of your Grade Point Average (GPA).
- If you qualify for Special Education or 504 accommodations and will need those on the PSAT, you must see the Headmaster in late August or early September of the freshman year to apply for them. Application deadline is usually around September 10. A student must be “using the accommodations on a regular basis in the classroom” to meet College Board guidelines for special testing.
- Participate in extra-curricular activities.
- Begin to work on your chesed hours requirement for graduation.
- Make your summer meaningful. Consider summer school, a part-time job, volunteer work, or other enrichment opportunities.
- Sign up for strong courses for 10th grade. Do you need to go to summer school?
- When on vacation, drive through and walk around college campuses just to get the feel of different types of schools.
- Take strong courses and continue to work to your full potential.
- Be a self-advocate, attend tutorials, and do not let yourself fall behind in your classes. Meet with teachers when needed to review course work, tests, and other academic work to “learn from your performance.”
- Begin to consider the various types of colleges available and the types of programs they offer.
- Take the PSAT in October. You do not need to take a preparatory course for this test in the sophomore year.
- Use the results of the PSAT to determine strengths and weaknesses in writing, verbal, and math skills.
- Begin to visit colleges informally whenever you are near one during a family vacation or trip.
- Make your summer meaningful. Summer experiences are invaluable for personal growth and add depth to a resume.
- Be your own best advocate.
- Work on your chesed hours. Many colleges or scholarship applications have major sections or focuses on community service.
- Study! Study! Study!
- Focus firmly on grades. This is the last year to acquire a strong GPA for college admissions applications next fall.
- If your 10th grade PSAT test scores show potential for National Merit consideration, consider taking a PSAT prep course.
- Apply in early September for special test accommodations if you regularly use them in class and need them for the PSAT.
- Talk to college representatives and begin to establish contact with various schools of interest to you.
- Talk with college representatives when they visit the school. They can eventually be your “best friends” at the college admission selection table when applications are reviewed.
- Take the PSAT in October. National Merit Scholarship Competition is determined from the 11th-grade PSAT.
- Use your 11th grade PSAT as a baseline score from which to prep for next spring’s SATs and ACTs.
- Consider an SAT/ACT prep course after receiving PSAT scores in December. PSAT scores can be used as SAT predictors within approximate ranges. They can also indicate areas of strength or weakness that students can work on before taking the first SAT or ACT in the spring of the junior year. You can retest in the fall of the senior year.
- Check with your counselor for additional application forms if you regularly use and will need special testing accommodations.
- Take the SAT IIs at the end of your junior year if appropriate based on your future college plans.
- Continue to work on your chesed hours. Consider running for leadership positions during your senior year.
- Get on the internet and investigate the college home pages.
- Visit college campuses. Begin to narrow choices.
- Make your summer meaningful. Consider internships, enrichment programs on college campuses, work experiences, travel to Israel, etc.
- Begin to develop your resume.
- Sign up again for the SAT, ACT, or SAT IIs if necessary. Continue test prep if appropriate.
- Make plans to visit college campuses of interest to you.
- Attend the senior group meeting with counselors for admission tips and to review the college application process.
- Become aware of application deadlines. Meet with your counselor to finalize college application choices.
- Follow application directions for each college and mail in or electronically submit all applications on time (preferably by December 1).
- Check on the financial aid and scholarship process at the colleges you are considering. Meet application deadlines.
- Finish the senior year strong. College admission is based on “successful completion of high school.”
- Enjoy your senior year! You’ve earned it!
