White Mountain School :: Planning Calendar

Though most colleges and universities consider your grades from all four years of high school, it is especially important that your junior and senior year grades reflect the best work of which you are capable. Work hard, continue involvement at home and in the White Mountain communities, and follow this calendar as a guideline for your college search.

Junior Year

September – December
If possible, attend a few sessions with college representatives to begin to become "aware."

October
Take PSAT/NMSQT exam in October (no fee or sign-up necessary as this is done for you by the college counselor at WMS).

December
Share results of PSAT/NMSQT with your parents and study results to find specific areas which need improvement.

February

Begin weekly college counseling workshop with the college counselor.
Register for March SAT I by February deadline.
Familiarize yourself with the resources available in the college counseling office.
Familiarize yourself with the college admissions jargon.

March

Register for May SAT I by March deadline.
Take SAT I in March if registered.
Complete preliminary questionnaire and college model worksheet.

Begin researching your summer options. If you aren't planning to work, many different kinds of enrichment programs are available (at other boarding schools, colleges, travel abroad, etc.). See the college counselor for help.

April

Learn how to run CollegeView college program on WMS network.
Work independently using handbooks, viewbooks, CollegeView, and videos.
Firm up your summer plans so that you have something productive lined up.
Prepare for May SAT in workshop and on your own by taking the practice SAT in the SAT bulletin and by reading through the test-taking tips offered by the College Board.

May

Meet with the college counselor one-on-one to begin defining academic interests, geographical, and housing preferences.
Take SAT I in May if registered.
Compute your cumulative grade point average in workshop.
If you are considering applying to an art school , get together with the art faculty before you leave for the summer so you can begin working on your portfolio during summer break. This is essential in order to have a portfolio ready for application in the fall.

June

Do as well as you can on your final exams, as your junior year grades will be important in the admissions process.
Begin researching schools that interest you by looking at guidebooks, viewbooks, catalogues, and videos from colleges.

Senior Year

September

Meet with the college counselor within the first 2 weeks of school to discuss where you are in the process and how you should proceed.
Send for applications not yet obtained and begin to narrow your list to 6-10 schools.
Begin asking teachers for letters of recommendation.
By September 20: Decide if you are applying Early Decision/Early Action.
Register for October SAT I by September deadline.
Register for October ACT by September deadline.
Register for November administration of SAT I or SAT II with the college counselor by September deadline.
Begin scheduling campus visits to schools of greatest interest (preferably stay overnight on campus).
If you are considering applying to an art school , be sure that you attend the Boston National Portfolio Day to have your portfolio reviewed by admissions professionals from art schools around the country.
If you are applying for an ROTC scholarship , you will need to have your applications in very soon.

October

Determine final list of colleges by October deadline.
Register for December SAT I or SAT II with the college counselor by October deadline.
Schedule campus visits to colleges on your list.
Continue to work on applications/essays.
Be sure that you have asked teachers for letters of recommendations.
Prepare for October or November SAT I or SAT II in workshop and on your own by taking the practice SAT in the SAT bulletin and by reading through the test taking tips offered by the College Board.
Take SAT and/or ACT in October if registered.
If applying for financial aid, file the PROFILE form as soon as college list is finalized.

November

Take SAT I or SAT II in November if registered.
Register for December ACT by November deadline.
Continue work on applications/essays.
During interim, each senior will be scheduled for a three-hour afternoon workshop with the college counselor .
If you are applying for financial aid , file the PROFILE form as soon as your list is finalized.

December

Take SAT I or SAT II and/or ACT if registered.
Complete all applications due by January 1 before leaving for vacation and leave them with the college counselor so they can be processed and sent on time.
Work on remaining applications during vacation and discuss your post-secondary plans with your parents during vacation.
If you are applying for financial aid , file the PROFILE form as soon as your list is finalized. Also, gather all financial documents during winter vacation so you can send the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1.

January

If you are applying for financial aid: File FAFSA after January 1 and before February 1. If you need to file PROFILE, you should have already done that. If you haven't, request and pay for the rush service.
Continue to work on applications. The college counselor will be available two afternoons per week for you to work on them. ALL applications should be finished by January 31.
Begin second semester on a strong academic note. Remember that any significant signs of "senioritis" in your second semester grades can result in the college that you are planning to attend rescinding their offer of admission (colleges reserve the right to do this if your grades drop significantly in second semester).

February

If you are applying for financial aid , FAFSA is due at most colleges by February 1. (Remember that many schools require you to complete the FAFSA, the PROFILE and institutional financial aid form.)
If you are applying for financial aid , find out what other documents are required by the colleges to complete your financial aid application (usually this will mean income tax forms).

March
FAFSA and PROFILE must be filed with appropriate agency by March 1.

April

April 15 is the date by which colleges must announce decisions if your application was submitted on time.
Work on making your final college choice. Work with the college counselor and with your parents on making this decision.
If you are applying for financial aid , review your financial aid awards carefully to determine if they are manageable for you and your family.

May

May 1: Candidates Reply Date , when you must respond to all colleges/universities to which you were accepted. Send the appropriate deposit to the school of your choice. You may send a deposit to only one school (this is in accordance with the "Statement of Students' Rights and Responsibilities" published by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling).
If you applied for and received financial aid , sign your financial aid award letter and any other items requiring your signature and return them to the school by May 1. You will also need to sign the SAR (Student Aid Report) you received as a result of filling out the FAFSA and send it to the college where you will enroll.
You should write a thank you note to all of the colleges where you were accepted but decided not to enroll. This is particularly important at schools where you were offered a scholarship or financial aid. Let them know where you will be attending and thank them for considering your application and for accepting you.
Find out about any summer orientation programs you must attend at the school where you will enroll and make your summer plans accordingly.
Arrange with the school for housing and a meal plan, if necessary (this is usually only necessary at larger schools which don't have enough housing for all students).
Attend the evening session with the college counselor on survival strategies for your first year in college.