Middle School
Freshman year is when students lay the foundation for their high school career. While a student's interests may change, we want them and their families to make informed decisions about the transition to high school and what classes to select as they begin this journey. Many students will enter high school with credit already earned at the middle school level (in math, foreign language, or computer science). These courses and grades will stay on your transcript and be seen by colleges (unless you request to remove them the fall of your freshman year in high school).
For more information and tips, view the PowerPoint for our rising freshmen orientation and informational session for students and their families. You will also be able to see a copy of our Rising 9th Grade Course Request sheet posted below.
Freshman year is when students lay the foundation for their high school career. While a student's interests may change, we want them and their families to make informed decisions about the transition to high school and what classes to select as they begin this journey. Many students will enter high school with credit already earned at the middle school level (in math, foreign language, or computer science). These courses and grades will stay on your transcript and be seen by colleges (unless you request to remove them the fall of your freshman year in high school).
For more information and tips, view the PowerPoint for our rising freshmen orientation and informational session for students and their families. You will also be able to see a copy of our Rising 9th Grade Course Request sheet posted below.
Freshman Year
- Start making the most out of high school by getting involved on campus
- Challenge yourself by taking different classes
- Start thinking about your end goal and what you want to do after graduation
- Become familiar with college entrance exams and class requirements
- Join extracurricular activities
- Attend summer camp at a college to experience a college-like atmosphere
- Research college costs
- Continue/start saving for college
- Meet with your college/career counselor at least twice this year
- Explore careers on the Internet
Sophomore Year
- Continue to challenge yourself academically
- Continue to meet with your college/career counselor
- Think about what kind of education/training different careers require
- Start collecting college information
- Visit colleges and talk with college students (many sites offer virtual tours too)
- When visiting, be ready with a list of questions to ask on your campus visit
- Start comparing and contrasting different colleges
- Continue/start saving for college
- Consider your reasons for going to college and how they relate to your career interests
- Join/continue extracurricular activities like a club, sports team, musical cast, etc.
Junior Year
- Continue to meet with your college/career counselor
- Continue to challenge yourselve academically
- Keep your grades up
- Join an academic club, perhaps one of the Honor Societies
- Prepare and register for the SAT or ACT (you will take the ACT or SAT in the spring at school)
- Talk with your parents and high school counselor about colleges that interest you
- Continue to visit colleges and talk with college students
- Visit with admissions counselors who come to our College Room in the Counseling Office
- Attend a college fair
- Start narrowing your list of colleges
- Start or update an academic resume
- Start thinking about essay or personal statement themes. Write a rough draft.
- Consider putting together a portfolio that highlights your special skills and talents
- Continue saving for college and thinking about financial information
- Investigate scholarship opportunities
- Volunteer for activities and clubs related to career interests
- Participate in work based learning like a part-time job or internship in a profession that interests you
Senior Year
Senior year is finally here, and it's full of things to do to get ready for life after graduation. Every senior should complete at least one college application, even if not interested in attending college. It's always best to keep all options open.
Follow the below timeline to help you keep track of your progress and upcoming deadlines for applications, testing, admissions, and financial aid.
August
Senior year is finally here, and it's full of things to do to get ready for life after graduation. Every senior should complete at least one college application, even if not interested in attending college. It's always best to keep all options open.
Follow the below timeline to help you keep track of your progress and upcoming deadlines for applications, testing, admissions, and financial aid.
August
- Sign up for the SAT or ACT (if you didn't take it as a junior, or if you aren't satisfied with your score, or if you've learned a lot since you first took it.) Make sure the test you sign up for allows you to get your scores before college application deadlines
- Finalize your list of colleges and begin looking up their application requirements
- Create a schedule of application due dates
- Visit with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements
- Start strong and keep working hard all year as second semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility
- Start your college applications:
- Ask for personal references from teachers, school counselors, or employers early in the year or at least two weeks before application deadlines.
- Create an account with Parchment so you can begin sending transcripts to colleges
- Begin your college essay(s) and have a teacher or other adult provide feedback
- Attend AC Flora's College Application Day in the Media Center for help with completing applications from counselors, teachers, and admission counselors
- Visit with admissions counselors who come to your high school
- Attend the District's College Fair
- If you need it, begin seeking help to complete the FAFSA
- Be on the lookout for, and research, scholarship opportunities
January – May
- Log into Parchment to request mid-year transcripts (with first semester grades) be sent to schools where you applied. In May, they will need to log back in and send final transcripts to the college you will attend
- Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll
- Decide which college to attend, and notify the school of your decision
- Keep track of and observe deadlines for sending in all required fees and paperwork
- Notify schools you will not attend of your decision
- Continue to look for scholarship opportunities
- Keep track of important financial aid and scholarship deadlines
- Compare financial aid packages from different schools
- Sign and send in a promissory note if you are borrowing money
- Notify your college about any outside scholarships you received
- Attend AC Flora's Signing Day to report which college you will attend in the fall