planningcalendar

Ninth Grade

•   Meet with the college counselor or academic advisor to discuss course selection over the next four
    years to assure academic rigor
•   Design a four year academic program that builds on your child’s natural abilities and personal
    interests
•   Encourage your child to get involved in leadership roles and extracurricular activities that build on
    strengths and interests
•   Select 10th grade courses that are most rigorous in areas of strength; ask if there are any SAT II
    tests that should be taken in the spring
•   Plan summer enrichment such as a language program abroad, community service, camp, or a
    summer job

Tenth Grade

•   Encourage your child to take the PSAT or P-ACT in early October as a practice exam to identify
    areas of strength and weakness
•   Make sure you child is focusing on doing a few activities well and not trying to do too much; the key
    is depth of commitment
•   Plan courses for the junior year and determine what (if any) standardized testing should be done in
    the spring
•   Explore taking the Highlands Ability Battery to get a clear picture of your child’s personal style,
    cognitive strengths, and learning style

Eleventh Grade

•   Make sure you child is taking the most rigorous courses in areas of strength
•   Have your child review for the PSAT or P-ACT ; take the test in early October; these scores
    determine the National Merit winners
•   Meet with the college guidance counselor to review your child’s test results in December to decide
    which standardized tests to take in the spring; be sure to have a clear sense of the dates to take the
    SAT I or ACT and the SAT II
•   Explore having your child take the Highlands Ability Battery to get a more comprehensive profile of
    innate talents and learning style
•   Attend College Night to get an overview of the college process
•   Meet with the college guidance counselor to review your child’s academic profile and begin to put
    together the preliminary college list
•   Research financial aid (if appropriate) and learn about the difference between the CSS Profile (non
    federal financial aid given by colleges) and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid);
    research merit scholarships
•   Begin to plan college visits based on the preliminary college list
•   Research summer programs offered at different colleges, study abroad, community service
    opportunities, internships and jobs
•   Complete the college visits during the summer with the idea that your child can return to visit
    colleges in the fall when they are in session
•   Encourage your son or daughter to prepare any videotape. audiotapes, or art portfolios, if appropriate

Senior Year

•   Finalize college list: decide whether to apply early or regular decision
•   Have your child complete any additional standardized testing in the fall
•   Make sure that your son or daughter attends meetings with the college representatives who visit the
    school during the fall
•   Make sure that your child is “on schedule” for completing the application to meet all deadlines
•   Register and file for the CSS/ Financial Aid PROFILE form (if appropriate) for nonfederal financial
    aid (www.collegeboard.com)
•   Complete FAFSA form with estimated numbers; forms can be updated after taxes are filed and
    submitted any time after January 1^st;
•   Make sure that all application materials have been received by the colleges, including the two
    teacher recommendations.
•   Plan to visit colleges that have offered letters of acceptance. Students need to make a final
    decision and submit the Reply Card and deposit to this college on May 1^st. This completes
    the college process

“GAP” Year Resources for Taking Time Off before College

    Books

    Planning Your Gap Year by Nick Vandome
    The Gap Year Book by Joe Bindloss
    The Gap Year Advantage: Helping Your Child by Karl Haigler
    Taking Time Off by Colin Hall (Princeton Review)
    Your Gap Year by Susan Griffith
    Taking A Gap Year by Susan Griffith
    Work Your Way Around the World by Susan Griffith

    Web Sites

    www.thinkingbeyondborders.org
    www.RealGap.com
    www.Projects-Abroad.org
    www.gapyear.com
    www.planetgapyear.com
    www.LeapNow.org
    www.Catholicgapyear.com
    www.interimprograms.com

    GAP Program Planners

    Center for Interim Programs www.interimprograms.com
    Time Out Associates www.whereyouheaded.com
    Gabbitas Educational Consultants www.gabbitas.co.uk