Elder

SUMMER

Start visiting and researching colleges
Participate in a summer job and/or summer sports, community service, activities, clubs

SEPTEMBER

Attend a college fair ~ The National College Fair is usually in mid-October at the Cincinnati Convention Center
Visit the Guidance Resource Center
Meet with your counselor ~ your counselor is there to help you personally as well as educationally, so visit when there is anything on your mind that may be important to you, or if you have questions regarding college, careers/jobs, etc.
Research colleges, careers, scholarships, and financial aid
Sign up to attend one of the College Representative Visits in the Guidance Resource Center during the school day
Continue to work hard at your grades ~ get the year off to a good start

OCTOBER

You will automatically be registered to take the PSAT/NMSQT ~ which will be given in mid-October ~ this test counts for qualification in the National Merit Scholarship ~ so do your best!!! Every year 50,000 academically talented Juniors are recognized as National Merit Commended students ~ this year we had 2: George Siebel and Jonathan Herr ~ this is determined by the score that they receive on their PSAT. 15,000 of those students become National Merit Semi-finalists who have the opportunity to advance to the Finalist level and be awarded with a National Merit Scholarship. Approximately 7,900 Seniors are award a scholarship each year.
Sign up to attend one of the College Representative Visits in the Guidance Resource Center during the school day
Continue to keep up the good grades ~ these are often the grades that potential colleges will be looking at ~ when you apply to college, you will not have many, if any, of your Senior year grades
Re-take Ohio State Proficiency Tests if needed

NOVEMBER

Sign up to attend one of the College Representative Visits in the Guidance Resource Center during the school day
Get SAT/ACT information
Continue researching colleges

DECEMBER

JANUARY

Begin planning your Senior year schedule
Make college visits to different schools
Continue to keep up the good grades ~ these are often the grades that potential colleges will be looking at ~ when you apply to college, you will not have many, if any, of your Senior year grades ~ this 2nd semester set of grades is going to tell colleges who you are

FEBRUARY

Register for the SAT/ACT to take in April and/or May ~ Practice materials are available in the Guidance Resource Center and online at www.collegeboard.com and www.act.org
Schedule for your Senior year ~ it is important for you to schedule the "best" courses possible for you ~ Colleges and employers are going to look at the types of classes and difficultly level that you are taking
If ROTC or the U.S. Military Academies are in your future, you need to start this process in the spring of your Junior year ~ see Mr. Moeller for military information

MARCH

Re-take Ohio State Proficiency Test if needed
Continue to visit and research colleges
Begin working on a list activities and achievements that describe you ~ you will need to include this information in many college applications

APRIL

Take the SAT and/or ACT test ~ Do your best !!!
Start to narrow your college choices down to 3-6 colleges
Start looking for a summer job ~ use the board in the Guidance Resource Center or visit www.elderhs.org/guidanceweb/part-timejobs.htm
Write to college and universities and ask for admissions materials, financial aid, and scholarship information ~ check out the college's web site for easy submission of requests and to ease your search

MAY