There are different ways of creating a four-year high school plan by various experts in the field of college counseling. The primary ways are to approach preparing for college chronologically and categorically. I prefer the chronological approach, simply because it seems easier for students to consider the question, What do I need to be doing right now? rather than What are all the things I have to do to get into my college of choice? Further, for the majority of students, letting the activities they participate in and the classes they choose to take each year drive the college list leads to a happier, healthier, more productive student than having the “dream school” drive the activities and classes. There are exceptions to every rule, however, and each family and student should set their values and priorities accordingly--ideally with the assistance of a qualified private or high school counselor. My personal philosophy is that the high school experience should not be overshadowed by the college application process. High school students are still developing and they are going to grow and change tremendously over the next eight years. I emphasize a mindful and chronological approach, not a pressured approach.
Freshman year:
With the help of your guidance counselor, this is the year you should map out a basic, flexible four-year plan for your high school academic career. Be prepared for it to change, but it is still worthwhile to create some general expectations for yourself and know where you would like to plan to take your more challenging courses.
This is also the year you should also be looking for meaningful activities outside of the classroom. This can range from babysitting siblings and accepting additional, meaningful responsibilities at home to support your family, to employment, clubs, athletics, and/or volunteer work. Find something that makes you happy and get involved!
Sophomore year:
Continue making mindful choices in your course load, extra-curricular activities, and volunteer work. You should take the time to reevaluate whether or not the activities and classes you have chosen continue to be fulfilling and that your schedule is appropriately challenging.
Junior year:
If you have not yet taken an AP class and want to apply to selective colleges, you should begin doing so this year. This guidance is given, however, with the caveat that you take classes where you can maintain an acceptable GPA. Colleges and universities will typically report their freshman class profile, which will tell you not only the average GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also the number of AP classes taken by the typical accepted freshman. Ideally, a strong candidate will fit within a college’s median range. This can be as low as two AP classes and as high as 10-12 AP classes.
This is also the year when you should be attending NACAC college fairs and college visits to your schools of interest. You should be learning about various schools, programs, majors, and extracurriculars offered at each individual institution. The summer between junior and senior year is an ideal time to invest significant time into these activities, but take time to visit with admissions reps and visit college websites during your junior year, as well. It is an important component of demonstrating interest to the schools you wish to attend.
A note of warning here: If the college application process begins with too much intensity too early, there is a significant probability you will burn out. Junior year is typically the most academically rigorous year. It is also the final year for grades that will appear on the transcript sent with the initial college applications. Parents and students should watch stress levels, grades, and time management during this year.
Senior year:
There is so much to do in the fall of your senior year! Not only must you maintain your grades and activities, but you must also begin the college application season in earnest. Many college counselors will advise students to finalize their college lists over the summer and even begin working on their essay as soon as the common application opens in August. I agree! Whenever you can get a jump start on the process, you should. It will make your senior year so much more enjoyable to have the college application ground work completed.
You will need to request transcripts from your high school counselors through your high school’s designated process. This can take time, so don’t procrastinate! Early decision and early action deadlines can pop up as early as mid-October and November, but most schools will have regular decision deadlines in January with a few as late as February. You should be aware, however, that application deadlines are not the only deadlines you will need to meet. Student housing, scholarship deadlines, and FAFSA/CSS deadlines could be earlier. Making a calendar of important deadlines is incredibly useful during this process. It will help remind you to make requests of counselors and requests for letters of recommendation from teachers in a timely and respectful manner. You cannot rush through your essay and expect it to be the best essay you could have written. Similarly, you cannot expect a high school counselor or teacher to do their best work on short notice.
During this year, you must also remember that your grade transcripts will be sent at various times during the year. Many colleges require a mid-year report and all colleges require a final transcript to verify graduation. If you allow your grades to drop significantly, colleges and universities reserve the right to rescind an admission offer.