What To Do When

College Counseling

What To Do When

PLANNING FOR SENIORS

Click here to view "Planning for Juniors."

FALL

• Attend talks with college reps at MA (over 100 will visit the school).
• Make an appointment with your college counselor to finalize plans.
• Discuss list of 10-15 colleges with parents, friends, teachers, and counselors.
• Understand that your first semester could be a definitive factor. Doing well with a strong schedule can make a difference.

August

• August 12 - Registration deadline for September 13, 2008 ACT Test

September

• September 3 - Senior College Night East Bay.
• September 4 - Senior College Night MA.
• September 9 - Registration deadline for October 4 SAT I & II tests.
• September 13 - ACT Test
• September 19 - Registration deadline for October 25 ACT Test
• September 26 - Registration deadline for November 1 SAT I & II tests.
• Schedule an appointment with your college counselor.
• Write to admissions offices (lots of them) for information and an application.

October

• October 4 - SAT I & II tests.
• UC & CSU applications available online.
• October 21 & 22 - UC Application Workshops.
• October 25 - ACT Test
• Have SAT test scores sent to colleges, MA does not send scores.
• If applying Early Admission, finish essays, give recommendations to teachers and college counselor, complete application, arrange for interview (if necessary).
• Work on essays in English class -- write final draft of UC essay.
• Talk to teachers who you would like to write recommendations for you.
• Reduce list of colleges to those you are fairly interested in (no more than 10).
• Submit PROFILE for Financial Aid.

November

• Decide to which UC and CSU campuses you will apply.
• November 1-30 - UC & CSU application filing period.
• November 1 - SAT I & II Tests.
• November 5 - Registration deadline for December 6 SAT I & II Tests.
• November 7 - Registration deadline for December 13 ACT Test
• November 15 - Early Decision deadline for many colleges.
• November 30 - UC & CSU filing deadline.
• Finalize list of colleges to which you plan to apply.
• Continue working on application essays.
• Secondary School Recommendations to College Counselor (sometimes called Counselor's Report or School Report) at least 1 month in advance of deadline.
• Recommendation forms to teachers at least 1 month in advance of deadline.
• Arrange interviews (if necessary).

Complete applications for selected out-of-state public institutions. These might include University of Oregon, Univ. of Washington, Univ. of Colorado at Boulder, and Univ. of Michigan.

December

• December 1 - Early Admission deadline for some colleges.
• December 6 - SAT I & II tests.
• December 13 - ACT Test
• December 15 - Earliest private college application deadline (regular decision).
• Mid-year Reports to a college counselor.
• BEGIN SENDING ALL APPLICATIONS FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
• HAVE TEST SCORES SENT FROM EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE TO ALL OF THE COLLEGES ON YOUR LIST.
• Do well on final exams - it's important!
• Financial Aid forms available in College Counseling Office.
• Review scholarship opportunities in College Counseling Office.

January

• Finish private college applications. (January 1st and 15th are common deadlines.)
• Mid-year Reports sent to colleges from College Counseling Office except for UC schools, which do not require mid-year grades.
• January 1 - February 1 - Send Financial Aid forms. Submit GPA verification forms to the College Counseling Office.

SPRING

• February 1 - April 15 - Replies from Admissions Offices will be sent.
• May 1 - Deposit deadline for most colleges.
• Let the College Counseling Office know what college you have sent your deposit to. We need to know where to send your final grade report.

Be sure to visit the MA College Counseling Center (Foster Hall, Room 205) often. It has a tremendous amount of college information: College applications; SAT registration forms; test prep organizations; brochures; videos; 2 IMAC computers for students to use and much more. Parents are always welcome too.