FRESHMAN YEAR:

• Build schedule of classes based upon career and academic goals
• Explore your future options based on your likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses
• Take challenging courses – 9th grade courses are as important as 10th, 11th and 12th grade courses
• Take career interest inventories to explore career interest (go to guidancedirect.com). Meet with your counselor to discuss your results
• Get involved – join extracurricular activities and community service organizations
• Start building your student activity sheet/resume. This is a great tool to have when completing scholarship, college, job applications and when requesting letters of recommendation
• Get to know your guidance counselors, teachers and upper classmen and use them as resources for information about high school classes, college and careers.
• Be fully prepared to take the required N.Y.S. Regents exam(s) (i.e. Earth Science)

SOPHOMORE YEAR:

• Re-evaluate your course selections to make sure that you’re meeting the requirements for your college/career goals. Be sure to continue taking challenging classes.
• Begin to explore college/career options using guidancedirect.com, internet search tools, college catalogs and websites.
• Continue discussions with your guidance counselors, teachers and upper classmen regarding college/career options
• Continue participation in enrichment activities such as volunteer work, community service, summer jobs, school and community activities and clubs.
• Continue building your student activity sheet/resume including awards, honors, leadership positions and athletic information.
• Begin visiting college campuses and attending college fairs
• Be fully prepared to take the required N.Y.S. Regents exam(s) (i.e. Global History, Biology, Spanish/French and Math A)

JUNIOR YEAR

• Re-evaluate your course selections to make sure that you’re meeting the requirements for your college/career goals. Be sure to continue taking challenging classes
• PSAT - prepare for and take the PSAT exam in October to help prepare you for college entrance exams
• Discuss your PSAT results with your counselor
• College entrance exams - prepare for and take the appropriate college entrance exam(s) in the spring (i.e. SAT I, SAT II, ACT)
• Plan senior course selections to enhance your college admission chances – Do not slack off your senior year! Colleges admissions counselors look favorably upon students who continue to take a full load of challenging courses
• Maintain your grades. Many colleges will be basing admission decisions on your cumulative GPA at the end of your Junior year.
• Parents and Juniors – Attend College Information Night at FMCC in October
• Continue your college search by comparing specific criteria such as, college size, location, cost, available majors and sports, admissions requirements, etc.
• Develop a list of colleges that meet your criteria and then narrow the list to five or six realistic choices.
• Continue visiting college campuses and attending college fairs
• Begin your scholarship search by using your local library, internet search sites, guidance office, etc.
• Continue participation in enrichment activities such as volunteer work, community service, summer jobs, school and community activities and clubs.
• Continue building your student activity sheet/resume including awards, honors, leadership positions and athletic information.
• Prospective College Athletes - NCAA Clearinghouse Eligibility – check out the requirements at ncaaclearinghouse.net or see your counselor– If eligible must apply early in senior year
• Be fully prepared to take the required N.Y.S. Regents exam(s) (i.e. U.S. History, Chemistry, Math A, English )

SENIOR YEAR

• Re-evaluate your course selections to make sure that you’re meeting the requirements for your college/career goals. Be sure to continue taking challenging classes.
• Keep your grades up – DON’T get senioritis!
• Prepare for and take the appropriate college entrance exam(s) in October and/or November (i.e. SAT I, SAT II, ACT)
• Narrow down your list of colleges you will apply to. Feel free to have a couple “reach” schools, but be sure to also include “safe” and realistic schools.
• Apply on-line or request applications early from specific college websites.
• Early Decision/Action - keep in mind application deadlines are usually as early as October. Plan accordingly!
• Begin working on completing college applications. Some important reminders include:
  
   - When requesting teacher/counselor recommendations, please be sure to
  give at least two weeks time for preparation – plan accordingly. Also, be sure to provide a copy of your student activity sheet/resume so your recommendation can be personalized. Providing a self-addressed, stamped envelope is a nice gesture.
  
   - Be sure to check college applications for required forms (i.e. secondary school report form, teacher evaluation forms) and distribute to counselor/teachers at least two weeks before you want them sent.
  
   - Meet each college’s deadlines for receipt of applications and supplemental materials (i.e. transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, etc.)
  
   - Be sure to keep copies of everything before they are mailed.
  
   - Don’t wait until the last minute! The earlier you apply, the better.
  
   - A thank you note to people who wrote recommendations would be a nice gesture
   
• Be sure to notify the guidance office of all colleges that you apply too and provide them with a copy of your acceptance letters
• Be sure to follow up with your college application packets - contact the colleges to make sure they have all of your information.
• Students interested in the military should contact a recruiter to discuss options. See your counselor for more information
• Parents and Seniors – Attend College Information Night at FMCC in October
• Parents and Seniors – Attend Financial Aid Night in December
• Complete FAFSA form and also the CSS Profile form, if required.
• Please remember the FAFSA cannot be filed until after January 1st, but then should be filed as soon as possible. The form may be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov (preferred method) or mailed.
• Scholarships – Continue searching for scholarships. Visit the guidance office or the FFCS website at www.fondafultonvilleschools.org every two weeks to check on availability of new scholarships.
• Be sure to review the FFCS scholarship booklet for scholarships that are available through your guidance office
• Review the college notification letters that you receive – you may want to re-visit your top choices
• Choose a school that fits your needs. Review financial aid packages and talk with the financial aid officer from each college
• Notify the college of your decision to attend and send required deposit
• Notify colleges that you did not chose so that they can admit others
• Attend orientation programs that are offered by your college

<back