8th Grade
Transition to Upper School meeting
9th Grade
+ Get involved in school & community activities
+ PreACT practice test
10th GradeOctober+ PSAT practice test
November+ PreACT practice test
+ Continue pursuing school & community activities
+ Consider summer job or meaningful summer activity
Spring Semester+ College Counseling student meeting to register with Scoir
11th Grade
Summer before
+ Continue pursuing paid/volunteer work or meaningful summer activities
+ Determine which ACT and SAT testing dates work best with your extra-curricular schedule. If you have not done so, register for standardized testing collegeboard.com and ACT.org.
August
+ Take the SAT or ACT if you have not already done so. Every student needs to have taken the test at least once before January of 11th grade year.
September
+ Meetings with students and parents.
+ Parents are encouraged to begin filling out Net Price Calculators available on every college webpage.
+ Class meetings with the college counseling office: an informal introduction to some of the components of the admission process and an overview of the college trip.
+ Visiting College Representatives: Juniors are encouraged to attend information sessions held on campus with college representatives throughout the fall. These sessions provide an excellent opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with the admission process and particular institutions.
+ Attend Birmingham Area NACAC College Fair: BJCC
+ Take the SAT or ACT if you have not already done so. Every student needs to have taken the test at least once before January of 11th grade year.
October
+ Project Week: College Trip
+ Register for Advanced Placement Exams
+ PSAT: Juniors are automatically registered to take the PSAT. All students will take it. The PSAT is, in part, a practice round for the SAT I and also serves to qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship competition.
+ Take the SAT or ACT if you have not already done so. Every student needs to have taken the test at least once before January of 11th grade year
November
+Take the SAT or ACT if you have not already done so. Every student needs to have taken the test at least once before January of 11th grade year.
December +Take the SAT or ACT if you have not already done so. Every student needs to have taken the test at least once before January of 11th grade year
January
+Individual student meetings with the College Counseling Office
February+Individual family meetings with the College Counseling Office.
+Begin to formulate a preliminary list of schools that interest you. The spring and summer of the junior year is an ideal time to research different types of schools, focusing on size, location, selectivity, and academic offerings.
+If possible, arrange to visit colleges during spring break.
March
+Individual family meetings with the College Counseling Office
+College Visits during spring break
+Talk with College Counseling Office about whether taking SAT Subject tests is right for you.
April
+Individual family meetings with the College Counseling Office.
+Speak with teachers who will write letters of recommendation for you in the fall. Fill out and give them “Teacher Student Response Form.”
May
+Student Athletes should register with the NCAA Clearinghouse; applies only to Division I and Division II
+Advanced Placement Exams
+Speak with teachers who will write letters of recommendation for you in the fall. Fill out and give them “Teacher Student Response Form.”
June
+SAT II Subject Tests: test is in early June
+Campus Visits: The summer is a good time to arrange official college visits. Contact admissions offices to learn about their visitation programs. Student athletes should attempt to arrange meetings with coaches. Plan ahead, and honor the appointments that you make.
July – August
+Summer activities
+Register for any last standardized tests you may need to take testing collegeboard.com and ACT.org.
12th Grade
August
+College application workshop
+College Planning Meetings as needed
+Turn in College Counselor Student Response Form
+Turn in Parent Response Forms
September+Update college list
+Complete college applications: Pay attention to application deadlines, especially ED and EA
+Visiting College Representatives: Seniors are encouraged to attend information sessions held on campus by visiting college representatives. These sessions provide an excellent opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with the admissions process and particular institutions.
+Attend Birmingham Area NACAC College Fair
+Official campus visits; Overnight if possible for those students applying ED I or II.
+Visit the College Counseling Office regularly!
October
+Complete college applications: Pay attention to application deadlines, especially ED and EA
+Students applying for financial aid should file the FAFSA and the College Scholarship Service Profile ®
+Retake the SAT I, SAT Subject Tests, and/or the ACT if needed
+Visiting College Representatives: Seniors are encouraged to attend information sessions held on campus by visiting college representatives. These sessions provide an excellent opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with the admissions process and various institutions.
+Official campus visits; overnight if possible for those students applying ED I or II.
+Visit the College Counseling Office regularly!
November
+Complete college applications: Pay attention to application deadlines, especially ED and EA
+Visit the College Counseling Office regularly!
December
+Complete college applications: Pay attention to application deadlines +Wait for Early Action and Early Decision letters
+FAFSA should be completed by January 1.
+Exams! Your grades still matter!
January – March
+Complete college applications: Pay attention to application deadlines
+Your grades and attendance still matter!
April
+Regular Decision announcements, on or around April 1.
+Please read carefully: Mail only one deposit to a school. We do not allow students to double deposit.
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