1. Junior Year The College Planning Process1

2. Factors to Consider Major Location Home Away How far?
Urban/Suburban/Rural
Size
# of students
Competitiveness
Cost
Support Services

3. Reach, Target, Safety Schools
Reach Schools (1-2): These are colleges that present an admissions challenge for you, because their admissions criteria exceed your profile.
Target Schools (3-5): These are colleges whose student qualifications closely match yours.
Safety Schools (1-2): These are colleges where your academic profile exceeds the academic profile of the students accepted at the college.

4. Researching Colleges and Careers
Make sure you activate your account.
The “Planning Your Future” booklet is a comprehensive
guide to assist in planning for college and the world of work. This booklet is available online at

5. College Entrance Examinations
SAT Examinations ( at least twice
SAT Examination Dates
March 11
May 6 (HHS)
June 3 (HHS)
August 26
ACT Examination Dates (
April 8
June 10
You can send SAT to 4 schools for free if you send at the time of testing. See your counselor for advice regarding sending .
Competitive colleges also typically require 2 subject area tests

6. NCAA Eligibility
If you plan to play Division I or Division II sports, register with the NCAA

7. Letters of Recommendation
You should request 2 teacher letters of recommendation by June
You may also ask coaches, employers and/or community leaders for character references. These letters, however, do not REPLACE teacher letters, and need to be sent separately.
Counselors write letters of recommendation if requested and IF you fill out the survey on Naviance .
The College Recommendation Survey and Life Plan Survey must be completed on Naviance.

8. Early Action vs. Early Decision
Both require that applications are sent early, usually by November 1 or November 15
OUR DEADLINE FOR BOTH MID-OCTOBER
Early Decision: It is BINDING
Early Action: NOT binding.

9. The Common Application
Common Application—apply and pay on-line; accepted by most schools
The application opens over the summer, generally in early August.
Start working on it over the summer, before you get busy with senior year school work. You will be glad you did . Trust us!!

10. The College Essay
Write from “the heart”. Speak in your own voice using your own vocabulary.
Ask your parents, a friend, an English teacher and your counselor to read and critique your essay.
Essay should be complete by end of summer

11. APPLICATIONS for college are due to the guidance office
By NOVEMBER 1
If you want to ensure that they are sent by winter recess!!!!

12. A Completed Application Includes:
High School transcript
Teacher letters of recommendation
Counselor letter of recommendation
Senior program of classes
Hicksville High School Profile
Essay
Activity Sheet
SAT/ACT scores: Schools require that test scores are sent directly by the College Board and/or ACT— most schools will not accept our photocopies as official score reports

13. Financial Aid
FAFSA – (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the required form for any financial aid.
File beginning on October 1st at
CSS Profile – This is an additional financial aid form REQUIRED by some schools. Check with colleges for verification of required forms. Find this
Financial Aid Night- plan to attend this informative evening event with your parents.

14. Scholarships and Financial Aid
HEOP/EOP are financial assistance programs for students who are educationally and economically disadvantaged. See your counselor for details.
Questbridge is a program to help high achieving, low income students to attend very selective colleges. Deadline is in September. Visit their website and see your counselor for details.

15. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU MEET ALL DEADLINES!!!!
Consider not only Early Action and Early Decision but also “Priority” deadlines in your planning.
November 1 is the deadline for all apps that you need sent before winter break!!!