You’ve almost completed the first year of high school and for some of you, the last thing on your mind right now is what college you hope to attend.

After all, you still have three years before graduation, so are you really thinking about attending college in 2010?

But the reality is, unless you start planning for college during your third year of high school, you might not get into the school of your choice, so to make life a little easier, The Royal Gazette came up with timeline starting to help you get all the necessary tests and applications in on time.

S3 Fall Semester:

[bul]Maintaining your grades during S2 is especially important. You should be doing at least two hours of homework each night and participating in study groups. Using a computer can be a great tool for organising your activities and achieving the grades you want.

[bul]Talk to your guidance counsellor (or teachers, if you don’t have access to a guidance counsellor about the following:

1. Availability of and enrolment in Advanced Placement classes

2. Schedules for the P SAT/SAT Reasoning Test/SAT Subject Test/ ACT, and AP exams (whichever are offered by your respective school)

3. Discuss why you should take these exams and how they could benefit you.

4. Determine which exams you will take. (You can always change your mind.)

5. Sign up and prepare for the exams you’ve decided to take.

6. Ask for a preview of your academic record and profile, determine what gaps or weaknesses there are, and get suggestions on how to strengthen your candidacy for the schools in which you are interested.

7. Determine what it takes to gain admission to the college(s) of your choice, in addition to GPA and test score requirements.

August 2008>

Obtain schedules and forms for the SAT Reasoning Test/SAT Subject Test/ ACT, and AP exams.

September 2008:

Register for the P SAT exam offered in October. Remember that when you take the P SAT in your junior year, the scores will count towards the National Achievement Program (and it is good practice for the SAT Reasoning TestB>

October 2008:

[bul]Take the P SAT. Narrow your list of colleges to include a few colleges with requirements at your current GPA, a few with requirements above your current GPA, and at least one with requirements below your GPA.

[bul]Your list should contain approximately eight to 12 schools you are seriously considering.

[bul]Start researching your financial aid options as well and find out about scholarships

[bul]Begin scheduling interviews with admissions counsellors. If possible, schedule tours of the school grounds on the same days.

[bul]You and your parent(s) may want to visit the colleges and universities during spring break and summer vacation, so that you do not have to miss school. Some high schools consider a campus visit an excused absence, however, so if need be, you may be able to schedule interviews and visits during the school year, without incurring any penalties.

November 20<$>

Review your P SAT results with your counsellor, in order to identify your strengths and to determine the areas that you may need to improve upon.

December 2:<$>

[bul]You will receive your scores from the October P SAT. Depending on the results, you may want to consider signing up for an SAT preparatory course. Many high schools offer short-term preparatory classes or seminars on the various exams, which tell the students what to expect and can actually help to boost their scores.

[bul]Visit the annual International College and University Fair!

January 2009:

Take campus tours online or in person if you can to further narrow your list of colleges to match your personality, GPA, and test sco.

February 2009:<$>

Register for the March SAT and/or the April ACT tests. Find out from each college the deadlines for applying for admission and which tests to take. Make sure your test dates give colleges ample time to receive test scores. It is a good idea to take the SAT and/or ACT in the spring to allow you time to review your results and retake the exams in the fall of your senior year, if necessary.

March 2009:

[bul]Take the March SAT Reasoning Test.

[bul]If you are interested in taking any AP exam(s), you should sign up for the exam(s) at this time. If your school does not offer the AP exams, check with your guidance counsellor to determine schools in the area that do administer the exam(s), as well as the dates and times that the exam(s) you are taking will be offered. Scoring well on the AP exam can sometimes earn you college crt.

April 2009:

[bul]Take the April ACT test.

[bul]Talk to teachers about writing letters of recommendation for you. Think about what you would like included in these letters (how you would like to be presented) and politely ask your teachers if they can accommodate you.

May 2009:

Take SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Test and APams.

June 2009:<$>

[bul]Add any new report cards, test scores, honours, or awards to your file. Visit colleges. Call ahead for appointments with the financial aid, admissions, and academic advisors at the college(s) in which you are most interested. During your visits, talk to professors, sit in on classes, spend a night in the dorms, and speak to students about the college(s). Doing these things will allow you to gather the most information about the college and the atmosphere in which you would be living, should you choose to attend. Some colleges have preview programs that allow you to do all of these; find out which of the schools that you will be visiting offer these programs and take advantage of them.

[bul]Take the SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Test and the ACT tests.

If you go on interviews or visits, don’t forget to send thank you notes.

Summer Between S3 S4: <$>

[bul]Practice writing online applications, filling out rough drafts of each application, without submitting them. Focus on the essay portions of these applications, deciding how you would like to present yourself. Don’t forget to mention your activities outside of school.

[bul]Review your applications, especially the essays. Ask family, friends, and teachers to review your essays for grammar, punctuation, readability, and content.

[bul]Decide if you are going to apply under a particular college’s early decision or early action programs. This requires you to submit your applications early, typically between October and December of your senior year, but offers the benefit of receiving the college’s decision concerning your admission early, usually before January 1. If you choose to apply early, you should do so for the college/university that is your first choice in schools to attend. Many early decision programs are legally binding, requiring you to attend the college you are applying to, should they accept you.

[bul]Read your college mail and send reply cards to your schools of interest

September 2009:

[bul]Check your transcripts to make sure you have all the credits you need to get into your college(s) of choice. Find out from the colleges to which you are applying whether or not they need official copies of your transcripts (transcripts sent directly from your high school) sent at the time of application.

[bul]Register for October/November SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Test, and ACT tests.

[bul]Take another look at your list of colleges, and make sure that they still satisfy your requirements. Add and/or remove colleges as necessary.

[bul]Make sure you meet the requirements (including any transcript requirements) for all the colleges to which you want to apply. Double-check the deadlines, and apply.

[bul]Give any recommendation forms to the appropriate teachers or counsellors with stamped, college-addressed, envelopes making certain that your portion of the forms are filled out completely and accurately.

[bul]Most early decision and early action applications are due between October 1 and November 1. Keep this in mind if you intend to take advantage of these options and remember to request that your high school send your official transcripts to the college to which you are aying.

October 2009:

[bul]Make a final list of schools that interest you and keep a file of deadlines and required admission items for each school.

[bul]Take SAT and/or ACT tests. Have the official scores sent by the testing agency to the colleges/universities that have made your final list of schools. Register for December or January SAT Reasoning Test and/or SAT Subject -soning Test and/or SAT Subject Test, if necessary.

[bul]Continue thinking about and beginning writing (if you have not already started) any essays to be included with your applications.

Nover 2009:<$>

[bul]Submit your college admissions application!

Decer 2009:<$>

[bul]Early decision replies usually arrive between December 1st and December 31st.

[bul]If you haven’t already done so, make sure your official test scores are being sent to the colleges to which you are applying.

[bul]Schedule any remaining required interviews.

Spring Semester 2010:

January 2009:

[bul]Request that your high school send your official transcripts to the colleges to which you are applying.

[bul]Contact the admissions office of the college(s) to which you have applied to make sure that your information has been received, and that they have everything they neerom you.

February 2010:<$>

[bul]Complete your scholarship applications.

[bul]Contact the financial aid office of the college(s) to which you have applied to make sure that your information has been received, and that they have everything they need from you.

March/April 2010:

[bul]If you haven’t received an acceptance letter from the college (s) to which you applied, contact the admissions office.

[bul]Compare your acceptance letters, financial aid and scholarship offers.

[bul]When you choose a college that has accepted you, you may be required to pay a non-refundable deposit for freshman tuition (this should ensure your place in the entering fresn class).

May 2010: <$>Take Advanced Placement (AP) exams for any AP subjects you studied in high school.

[bul]You should make a decision by May 1st as to which college you will be attending and notify the school by mailing your commitment deposit check. Many schools require that your notification letter be postmarked by this date.

[bul]If you were placed on a waiting list for a particular college, and have decided to wait for an opening, contact that college and let them know you are still very interested.

June 2010: Have your school send your final transcripts to the college which you will be attending.

[bul]Contact your college to determine when fees for tuition, room and board are due and how much they will be.

Summer After Senior Year

[bul]Participate in any summer orientation programs for incoming freshmen.

[bul]Now that you know you will be attending college in the fall, it is a good idea to evaluate whether to get student health insurance in case of any unforeseen emergencies or whether your family’s insurance coverage is sufficient.

S1’s start looking at collegiate options soon!