Student Time Line
What you should be doing to prepare for your future.
Ninth Grade | Tenth Grade | Eleventh Grade | Twelfth Grade
Freshman Year
- Enjoy high school. Begin the year with a positive attitude!
- Study hard and work towards getting the best grades possible.
- Get to know your counselor.
- Get involved in at least one extracurricular activity.
- Build strong academics by taking challenging courses.
- Become familiar with the literature in Student Services
- Begin surfing the web for college and financial aid sites. Our web site is a great place to begin!
- Check out what types of high school courses colleges require.
- Research career possibilities.
- Read, Read, Read. The more you read the better your vocabulary will become.
- Know the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) requirements if you want to play sports in college.
- Attend College and Career Readiness Workshop at 7 p.m. on September 21, 2011 at Olentangy Liberty High School
Sophomore Year
- Concentrate on keeping your grades up.
- Continue to be involved in co-curricular or extracurricular activities.
- Take the PLAN test on October 12 during school.
- Look for volunteer activities to develop your interests.
- Continue to research colleges!
- Keep studying!
- In February, see your counselor for advice on course selection for next year.
- Attend the Suburban College Fair at Otterbein University on September 18, 2010
Junior Year
This is the year you need to begin the college selection process. Attend the college representative sessions in school, college fairs, and visit college campuses.
- Begin your year with great study habits! Your cumulative GPA at the end of this year will be the GPA you will be using for college applications.
- Stay involved with extracurricular or co-curricular activities.
- Make sure you are meeting NCAA requirements if you want to play sports in college.
- Sign up for the college representative sessions in Student Services. You are allowed to attend three.
- Attend the Suburban College Fair at Otterbein University on September 18, 2010
OCTOBER
- Take a PSAT/NMSQT on October 12 during school.
- Attend the college representative sessions.
NOVEMBER
- Keep your grades up!
- Three visits are allowed per junior/senior year to visit college campuses. You must submit a "College Visit Form " form to the main office in advance.
- Continue to be involved in school activities/community service.
DECEMBER
- PSAT scores should be arriving before winter break. Look over your score report to assess your strengths and weaknesses. This is an informative tool in preparing for the SAT.
- Begin researching when you plan on taking the SAT and ACT. You should take them at least once, possibly twice during your junior year.
JANUARY
- Study for exams.
- Begin researching possible college if you haven't already. Check on what you need to be doing to increase your chances of getting admitted.
FEBRUARY
- If interested in a military academy, begin inquiring about this process.
- Scheduling for next year will begin this month. When selecting your senior courses, be sure to pick challenging but realistic courses.
MARCH
- Between March 3 and December 31, if interested in a military academy, you must request a nomination from our state's congressperson(s) or other designated nominator. You must also request the Pre-candidate Questionnaire.
- If applicable, consider taking certain SAT IIs in June. Not all students will need to take these subject matter SATs for college admission purposes. You can take up to three tests at a time. Check with your counselor if you have questions about this.
APRIL
- Continue to evaluate colleges.
MAY
- Be sure your senior courses are correct.
- Take AP Exams, if appropriate.
- Study for exams.
JUNE
- Visit college/tech schools over the summer.
- Any athlete hoping to play college sports at a Division 1 or 2 college must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. Submit the preliminary transcript and final transcript release forms to Student Services.
- Have official test scores sent to NCAA.
- Enjoy your summer!!!
Senior Year
SEPTEMBER
- Register for Senior Seminar.
- Review your Senior Handbook. Read the information on "How Do I Submit My College Application".
- Make a chart with all deadlines for your college applications/scholarships and financial aid.
- Begin your college applications for college admissions and financial aid. Most colleges have these applications available on-line.
- Be sure to print a copy of your application
- Many applications require letters of recommendations. Be sure to give your teachers AT LEAST TWO WEEKS notice to complete your recommendation.
- Register for ACT, SAT I and SAT II (if needed).
- Sign up to talk to college representatives in Student Services.
- Continue to visit colleges.
- Attend the Suburban College Fair on September 18 at Otterbein University.
OCTOBER
- Apply NOW for Early Action or Early Decision. Keep a copy for yourself.
- Have official test scores sent to colleges on your list.
- Bring your transcript requests/counselor forms to Student Services at least two weeks before the deadline.
- Be sure to obtain the scholarship list from Student Services
- Keep your grades up!
NOVEMBER
- Continue completing your applications and following deadlines.
- Keep current with the scholarship list.
DECEMBER
- If you will be completing the FAFSA form on-line, apply for a pin number so you will be ready for financial aid. (www.fafsa.ed.gov)
- FAFSA forms should be available in Student Services this month.
- Make it a goal to turn your applications in before Winter break. Just remember to allow enough time to process your applications.
- Keep current with the scholarship list.
JANUARY
- Get ready for exams. This may be the last set of grades which colleges will be using for your admission decisions.
- Parents and students should complete their income tax forms as soon as possible. You need this in order to complete the FAFSA.
- Complete the FAFSA. (www.fafsa.ed.gov) if you are interested in qualifying for any financial aid, work study, scholarships, grants or loans
- Keep current with the scholarship list.
FEBRUARY
- Look over your deadline sheets and make sure you have all your necessary forms in.
- Continue to complete scholarship applications.
- If your FAFSA was not completed last month, complete it this month.
MARCH
- Don't get senioritis!
- Continue to complete scholarship applications.
APRIL
- You will hear of your college admissions status by April 1st.
- Review your financial aid packages very carefully.
- You have until May 1st to make your final decisions.
- Again, keep current with scholarship applications.
MAY
- By May 1st you need to send in your tuition deposits and housing contracts.
- Notify the colleges where you were accepted, that you have decided to go elsewhere. Your spot may go to someone else!
- This is the month of AP Exams.
- Be sure to turn in your final transcript forms.
JUNE
- Final transcripts will be sent to your colleges this month.
