College Preparation

Freshmen   Sophomore  Junior   Senior

Senior year: Important Deadlines:  Sept.-Oct.  Oct.-Dec.   Jan.  Feb.-Mar.  Apr. 

Determining IB Friendly Colleges   Download Information   College Links  Admission Testing  Test Preparation  College Reference Books

Freshman Year

  • Become an active participant in your classes so your teachers can get to know you.
  • Choose extracurricular activities with the idea of participating for four years. Colleges like long-term commitments. Try for 2 to 3 activities with three to four years of commitment to those activities.
  • Work on developing good study habits and organizational skills for success in later years.
  • During your spring break, buy a SAT II prep book or check one out from the public library. Review and prepare for the test you should take toward the end of the year. I suggest Biology, if you have taken a Biology class as a freshman. Choose score choice for your results.
  • Look at a summer learning experience. A one-month or two-week summer program can offer you the opportunity to pursue a subject that you might not have had time for in school. A collection of summer opportunities is kept in the counseling office. Summer employment or a volunteer summer experience can substitute for a summer program and is extremely valuable.
  • Read, read, and read some more. There is no substitute for improving yourself academically, and this is by far the best preparation for the verbal section of the SAT and the reading/written language sections of the ACT test (an academic student should be doing free reading book at all times). Do not put this personal goal off.

Start a personal resume to keep track of activities and awards with the intention of adding to this each year. A sample resume format can be obtained from your counselor.

Sophomore Year

  • Keep reading challenging texts in your spare time. Read a variety of materials.
  • Take the PLAN (a pre- ACT test) and the PSAT tests for the experience of developing test familiarity and preparation for the SAT and ACT.
  • If you choose to change your extracurricular activities, this is the time to do it.
  • Keep up with your schoolwork. If you are disappointed with your performance in a particular class, ask your teachers for feedback.
  • By spring break, evaluate the classes that you are taking. Choose two additional SAT II tests at the end of this school year (perhaps US History and Chemistry). Choose score choice for your results.
  • Continue reading into the summer, increase your vocabulary and reading comprehension before your junior tests.
  • This is a good summer to get a job. You might want to try to line up something that is commensurate with your academic skills (ex. computer store job or volunteer at a veterinarian clinic).
  • To avoid junior panic, try to fit in three to five college visits over the summer in June and July- not August when every other student in the country is visiting. Sit in an informational session and take a tour of the campus. The up side of this is that you do not miss school to do visits, the down side is that you do not get to see the college when it is in session.

Junior Year

  • Testing: A big year for testing- Take the PSAT test which may qualify you for the series of National Merit Corporation scholarships. Take the ACT and/or SAT test between December and the end of the year. Take one or two more SAT II tests towards the end of the year (Math and Writing Skills). This will give you 5 or 6 SAT II test scores to choose from when you apply to college (many selective colleges require 3). If you have done these as described, you would have taken them when the information from your courses was still fresh in your mind.
  • Academics: This is also the hardest year academically for students. Colleges know this and will look at your grades during this demanding year (with a critical eye). This is a year where you will want to impress your teachers (some of whom you might ask to write a letter of recommendation for you). Excel in all your classes and continue to pursue interests outside of classes.
  • Summer: Either attend a good summer academic program, if possible, or continue to work. Both will look good to selective colleges.
  • College Visits: Visit colleges in the summer has the advantage of not missing any high school days, but you will not get the feel of the college when it is in session. Your choice.
  • Narrow your long list to a short list: Narrow down your college list and request applications during the summer. Check online applications and the mega-applications like Common Application (www.commonap.com) or APPLY (www.apply.com).
  • Early Decision/ Early Action: Think about applying Early Decision or Early Action if you have a first choice college. At some competitive schools, your chances of getting into the college are increased if you apply in this fashion and you will usually know around December 15 if you have been accepted. Read ED and EA policy at the specific school for which you apply. There are important ethical considerations at stake here that the student and parent should understand and adhere to if this path is taken.

College Essays: Start working on your college essays early so that you don’t have to dash them off in a hurry. Write several essays and several drafts to produce your best work.

Senior Year (The College Application Process (Month by Month))

Important Deadlines:

     November 1 - Last day to submit information to teachers and counselors for Nov. 15 application deadlines.

     November 21 - Last Day to order transcripts that you need until after Thanksgiving

     December 6 - Last Day to submit information to teachers and counselors for applications that are mailed out prior to Winter break.

     December 16 - Last Day to order transcripts before Winter Break

September- October (Finalizing your selection of Colleges that you will apply to)

  1. Narrowing your "Long List" (College of interest to you) to a "Short List" (Colleges that you will apply to).
  2. Important College Nights (Attend if you need to) See the bulletin board in the Post Graduate Center at Palmer
  3. Send for applications or check for common applications that apply to your list or checking to see if there is an on-line application. Make an application plan.
  4. Evaluate your testing scores and how do they compare to college on your short list. Make a plan to retake the ACT, SAT, SAT II if necessary.
  5. Visiting colleges on your short list while they are in session. Have a tour, interview with both an admissions officer and/or a financial aid officer, talk to students, eat a cafeteria meal, and stay the night if possible.
  6. Scholarship information is posted on our website.

October- November- December (Applying to College)

Applications should be sent by winter break.

  1. Apply using common application forms at www.commonapp.org, www.apply.com, www.collegeboard.com etc. to save time and effort. Neatness counts and all online and PDF formats give you neat, typed applications.
  2. Students are responsible for:
    1. Meeting all deadlines in a timely manner. You might want to make a senior "Going to College" Calendar with important dates listed.
    2. Packaging their college applications and sending them in a timely fashion. Request a transcript and pay the $2.00 fee. Package your application, transcript, essay, and any other supporting data in a manila envelope and send it together. The school report from the counselor and teacher forms will be separately in the stamped addressed envelopes that you will provide to your teachers and counselor. Transcripts will not be processed on November 25, 26, December 16 through 20 due to the Holidays.
    3. Making copies of all materials sent- these can and do get lost in admission offices. Protect yourself.
  3. Letters of Recommendation- In state colleges do not request letters of recommendation and they should only be sent if you are a "marginal" applicant (most IB students are not). Complete the Student Profile (thoroughly) located in this book, any relevant forms (teacher or school report forms and I suggest that you waive your right to privacy on these) and include a stamped addressed envelope to the college (with a blank return address) prior to giving them to your teachers and counselor. Staff needs a minimum of two weeks to write the letter. Check for completion close to the two-week time.
  4. Retake the ACT, SAT I, or SAT II.
  5. Watch Deadlines!! Send applications prior to due dates. This demonstrates and eagerness to attend their college.

January (Applying for Financial Aid)

Fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1. Parents must fill out their tax forms to complete the FAFSA. All financial aid (college scholarships, grants, loans and work-study) is based on results from this form. Be sure to get your information in by the colleges stated deadline. The FAFSA online (www.fafsa.ed.gov) gets to the college 2 weeks earlier than the paper and pencil one. The PROFILE is a supplemental financial form required by some colleges and can be accessed at www.collegeboard.com or call 1-800-778-6888.

February- March

 (Second guess all your college applications while you wait and wait)

April (Decision Time)

Acceptance, Wait-list and Rejection letters should arrive near the beginning of April. Financial Aid packages should arrive with acceptance letters or by the middle of April. Notify and send your deposit to the college of your choice around the first of May. Notify other schools of your intent not to enroll.

Determining IB Friendly Colleges

Most colleges in North America and many colleges around the world recognize the International Baccalaureate program. Many of the US colleges award credit for IB Diploma or for the individual exam scores earned. These policies change and are too numerous to list. I suggest that students check the IB website for current credit policies. Go to www.ibo.org then click on Diploma Programme and then click on Services and then on University Recognition Policies.

Download PDF files of this information:
     Freshman and Sophomore
     Junior and Senior

valid xhtml and css