Preparing For College: The Student Checklist
This checklist tells you what you should be doing each year at Elk Grove if you desire to attend the college of your choice!
Freshmen/Sophomore Year
- Attend a four-year plan meeting with your counselor and parent to plan for your high school career
- Take the most rigorous course load you can handle
- Attend Freshmen and Sophomore guidance activities to obtain valuable information about academic and college/career planning
- Explore your extracurricular interests, service clubs and outside interests that will help you develop your resume
- Explore leadership roles
- Participate in the Career Exploration Unit with Guidance Counselors (Sophomore year)
- Prepare for taking the PSAT (Sophomore year)
- Seek out social/emotional support when needed
- Start planning and exploring career and college options
- Keep open lines of communication with your parents/guardians
- Keep an open mind about your options
Junior year
- Take a rigorous academic curriculum
- Take a college admissions test (ACT/SAT)
- Meet with your counselor or college counselor
- Begin your college search:
- Develop a list of questions to ask
- Attend College Fairs
- Visit colleges
- Visit the EGHS College and Career Center
- Log into NAVIANCE and research schools
- Attend career nights
- Think about personal recommendations
- Start College Visits:
- Meet with college admissions counselor(s)
- Take a tour of the campus
- Sit in on a class
- Meet with professors in your academic area
- Talk with admissions reps.
- Talk with coaches/music directors/other activities people
Summer Before Senior Year
- Continue college visits
- Ask family and/or friends about their first year of college
- Organize and read the college literature you have received
Senior Year
- Continue rigorous college prep curriculum
- Develop your resume
- Retake ACT or SAT if necessary -- also take achievement tests (AP, SAT II)
- Apply to colleges early (consult with your counselor)
- Follow application procedures
- Submit your applications and fees
- Develop your essays (if required)
- Request high school transcripts (red folder)
- Be sure to send out your ACT/SAT scores to colleges
- Ask teachers and/or counselors to do recommendations
- Research scholarships
- Research financial aid
- Follow up and check that all materials have arrived at your colleges
- Visit with college reps and revisit prospective colleges
- Select your college by May 1st and send necessary deposit(s) and secure housing
- Notify the schools you did not select
- Attend Senior Guidance Activities
- Attend Financial Aid Night
- Fill out your FAFSA
- TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND RELAX! YOU CAN DO THIS!