Timetable for College Admissions - 10th Grade

            Preparation for college is a four-year job.  Each year you will have different talks which you must do in between writing papers, completing projects, studying for tests, doing your homework, participating in extracurricular activities, and working.  You won’t have too much to do during the ninth and tenth grades; however, there are important things that you must do almost every month during the eleventh and twelfth grades.
            The college planning calendar that follows will help you organize your time so that the admissions process will run smoothly for you.  The calendar lists the steps you should be taking every year.  Read through the calendar for an entire school year at the start of the year to get an overview of what you will need to do.  Then during the year check off each step as you complete it.  If a step does not apply to you, check it off. 

Tenth grade    During this year, you will need to start thinking more seriously about college.  It is time to discuss financing your college education with your family and to select a few colleges that might interest you.  It is also the time to begin concentrating on just a few activities so that you can make an important contribution in those activities.  If you are just beginning to use this calendar, make sure that you have completed all the steps that should have been taken in the ninth grade so you won’t miss any important step in the admissions process.

August-September
_____Make sure that your course selections meet the requirements for high school graduation and for the colleges you may wish to attend.  
_____ Discuss with your counselor the advisability of taking the PSAT for practice this year.

September-December
_____ Take the PSAT in October, if advised to do so.
_____ If you have not already passed it, take the TCAP test in October.  
_____ Take the PLAN in November.  
_____ If you are interested in attending Governor’s School, and rank in the top ten percent of your class, complete a Governor’s School application in November.  The deadline for applications will be early December.
_____ Encourage your parents to attend Open House and Parent-Teacher conferences so they will become familiar with your class schedule, teachers, and school.
_____ Begin to concentrate on a few extracurricular activities.
_____ Begin to consider possible careers.
_____ Prepare for semester tests because colleges are interested in your grades.

January-May
_____ Discuss your PLAN scores with your counselor and use the scores to guide your college plans.
_____ If you have not already passed it, take the TCAP test in February.
_____ Become better acquainted with your counselor as you review your college and career goals.
_____ Select courses for the next school year that are compatible with your goals.
_____ Prepare for second semester tests.

June
_____ Save samples of your work, newspaper clippings, and copies of your grades and place them in the permanent record you are keeping.

Summer
_____ Complete your summer reading assignments and continue reading to increase vocabulary.  
_____ If you have not already passed it, take the summer administration of the TCAP  test.
_____ Visit colleges and take tours.