College Planning Timeline

College Planning - Freshman Year

  • Develop a solid work ethic, which includes good study habits and time management. Freshman year grades do matter!
  • READ! READ! READ!  This is great preparation for future SAT/ACT tests.
  • Take the PSAT in October.
  • Review your PSAT Score Report and visit www.collegeboard.com/quickstart.
  • Get involved in life at CCES and in your community.
  • Explore new interests, both academically and in your extra-curricular activities.
  • Attend the Making the Most of High School Seminar, sponsored by the College Counseling Office.
  • Visit colleges with your family during summer months or school breaks.

College Planning - Sophomore Year

  • Enroll in challenging academic courses that are appropriate for you. Now is the time to add an honors or AP class, if recommended by your teachers.
  • Be the best student you can be!
  • Take the PSAT in October.
  • Review your PSAT Score Report and visit www.collegeboard.com/quickstart.
  • READ! READ! READ!  This is great preparation for future SAT/ACT tests.
  • Attend the Early College Planning Seminar, sponsored by the College Counseling Office.
  • Meet with college admission representatives who visit CCES.
  • Attend the Greenville County College Fair to become familiar with colleges.
  • Assess your involvement in clubs, sports, and activities at CCES and in your community. This is also a good time to begin to look for leadership opportunities.
  • Visit colleges with your family during summer months and school breaks.

College Planning - Junior Year

     August - December

  • Take the PSAT in October, make sure to do some review in advance!
  • Attend the Greenville County College Fair.
  • Review your PSAT Score Report and visit www.collegeboard.com/quickstart (see PSAT letter sent to your home in December for instructions on how to use My College QuickStart).
  • Attend the monthly College Counseling Seminars held at CCES.
  • Register for your first SAT and/or ACT (winter or early spring).
  • Remember to visit colleges during Fall Break and on weekends.
  • Take on leadership roles at school and in your community.
  • Be the best student you can be. YOUR GRADES MATTER!

     January

  • Attend the College Meeting for Juniors and Families held at CCES.
  • Review your first semester academic performance and continue to focus your efforts on academic excellence. Remember to keep working to enhance your study skills.
  • Schedule an individual appointment with your college counselor.
  • Conduct a serious self-assessment (interests, strengths, talents, and goals).
  • Review critical reading, writing, and math SAT preparation material.
  • Sit for the January SAT Reasoning Test (recommended, not required).
  • Attend the January College Counseling Seminar at CCES.
  • If not currently involved, identify one or two extracurricular and/or community activities of interest and become actively engaged. This is a good time to explore new interests, develop your talents, and make a serious commitment to your activities.

     February

  • Schedule an individual parent-student appointment with your college counselor.
  • Review critical reading, writing, and math SAT preparation materials (take the practice tests).
  • Register for the March SAT Reasoning Test.
  • Attend the February College Counseling Seminar at CCES.
  • Register for the April ACT with Writing Test.
  • Read your College Counseling Handbook!

     March

  • Spring Break is a great time to visit colleges!
  • Sit for the March SAT Reasoning Test (if appropriate for you).
  • Research colleges and request information to get your name on college mailing lists.
  • Schedule an individual appointment with your college counselor, continue to build your preliminary college list, and explore college suggestions from your counselor.
  • Attend the March College Counseling Seminar at CCES.
  • Register for the May SAT Reasoning or Subject Tests.

     April

  • Schedule an individual appointment with your college counselor.
  • Sit for the April ACT Test at CCES.
  • Easter Break is a great time to visit colleges!
  • Attend the April College Counseling Seminar at CCES.
  • Continue to gather information from specific colleges by writing or e-mailing for materials.
  • Discuss various colleges with friends, parents, teachers, siblings, and alumni to gain insight.
  • Select senior courses and review with your advisor and college counselor. Remember to choose the strongest courses possible and to be sure that your senior courses are academically challenging and commensurate with your abilities.
  • Begin thinking of teachers who might write your academic recommendation letters.
  • Begin to research rewarding and meaningful summer activities.

     May

  • Meet with your counselor to further refine college selections.
  • Sit for the May SAT or Subject Tests (discuss options with your college counselor).
  • Register for the June SAT Reasoning or Subject Tests.
  • Register for the June ACT Test.
  • For non-native English speakers, schedule an appointment to take the TOEFl iBT Exam in the summer. You can register at www.toefl.org.
  • Advanced Placement exams are scheduled in May, make sure to study appropriately.
  • Begin to review for year-end exams.
  • Continue researching colleges as you begin to narrow college choices based on interests, abilities, and preferences.
  • Identify at least one teacher whom you may ask to write letters of recommendation and place request before summer break.
  • Begin your scholarship search by registering with several free, online scholarship services.

     June - August

  • Sit for the June SAT Reasoning or Subject Tests and/or the June ACT Test.
  • An individual appointment with your college counselor may be scheduled over the summer and we encourage your parents to attend the meeting.
  • Review college literature and prepare for visits. You should maintain a file for each school you are considering.
  • Plan summer visits to colleges. Make sure to call in advance to arrange your visit, schedule campus tours, information sessions, meetings with faculty and coaches, and/or personal interviews. Send thank you or e-mail notes to college admission officers (also send to coaches, tour guides, professors) after each interview.
  • Engage yourself in meaningful summer activities (work, study, community service, etc.).
  • Continue to research colleges and narrow down your list of college selections.
  • Write college application essays for those colleges to which you know you will be applying. College counselors recommend that you return to school in the fall with TWO essay drafts!
  • Complete the demographic portion of the Common Application (name, address, school name, etc.), as well as for any non-Common Application schools to which you will apply.
  • Complete your activities profile/résumé (9-12 grade activities), as discussed with your college counselor.
  • READ, READ, READ!

College Planning - Senior Year

     September

  • Attend required College Counseling Seminar with respective college counselors.             
  • Each senior is expected to return to school with a preliminary college list  (10-12 schools that have been well researched) that represents a range of selectivity (likely, possible, reach categories) appropriate for that student.
  • Individual meetings with college counselors should be held to discuss senior year, assess testing needs, finalize college lists, begin applications, etc.
  • College Counseling Seminars are held monthly throughout the fall to discuss the application process, essays, recommendations, etc.

     October                      

  • SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests are offered.
  • ACT is offered on campus.
  • PROFILE registration information (for financial aid applicants) is available in the College Counseling Office. Note: For Early Decision/Early Action (ED/EA) applications, some colleges require the family to register by November 1. Go to http://profileonline.collegeboard.com to register.
  • If you are applying for financial aid, this is the time to secure your electronic PIN number in order to file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in early January. Go to www.pin.ed.gov for more information.
  • The deadline for several Early Answer/Notification Applications is October 15.
  • Fall Break is an appropriate time to visit colleges.
  • ED/EA applicants must request teacher recommendations at least four weeks prior to application deadlines.
  • College lists should be formed by the end of the month. Parents are encouraged to review their child’s college list to ensure the list is balanced.

     November

  • Deadlines for most ED and EA Round I applications are usually either November 1st or 15th.
  • Submit applications with rolling deadlines.
  • SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests are offered.
  • Final college lists are due to the college counselors by month's end.                              

     December         

  • All seniors must complete an Application Processing Sheet in the college counseling office for each school they are applying to (this initiates transcript requests) in early December.
  • SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests are offered.
  • ACT is offered.
  • Deadlines for most ED Round II applications are usually January 1st or 15th.
  • ED/EA Round I candidates are notified (usually late December) of admissions decisions.

     January              

  • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available online in early January. Most colleges require the form to be filed by January 15 -February 1 for regular decision applicants. You can complete this online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
  • The deadline for most Regular Decision applications is usually January 1st.                 
  • SAT Reasoning and Subject Tests are offered. This is the last chance for senior scores to reach colleges in time for admission review.
  • Deadline for most financial aid forms to be filed is January 15th. Additional deadlines are available for Regular Decision applications.
  • ED Round II candidates are notified of admissions decisions in January and February.

     March                        

  • Spring Break is an appropriate time to re-visit colleges.                   
  • Most colleges notify students of admissions decisions.

     April                 

  • Easter Weekend is the last opportunity for college visits prior to the Candidate Reply Date of May 1st.

     May                         

  • Candidate Reply Date is when most colleges require students to accept or decline their offer of admission by May 1st.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exams are offered.
  • Graduation!
  • Wait List candidates begin to receive final decisions from colleges during May, June, and July.