College Admission Timeline

The following is a check list of items Pointer Families want to consider throughout the High School Journey.  These items aren’t in any particular order.  (courtesy of Clayton Ballard, AP Incentive Program Coordinator, Pt. Loma High School)

Freshman Year

o         Meet with your school counselor in September to make sure child’s classes and Four Year Plan are in line with college & career aspirations

o         Discuss with your counselor the opportunity to take rigorous high school courses

o         Take practice admissions exams; the PSAT (College Board) or the EXPLORE (ACT).  These help identify your strengths and weaknesses early in you high school career

o         Encourage your child to get involved in extracurricular activities

o         Research college cost and talk to your child about the options for paying for college.  Start a savings plan together

Sophomore Year

o         Continue taking challenging college prep classes

o         Start gathering information about colleges through local college fairs, tours, and the internet

o         Build a list of colleges that interest your child and review them with your school counselor

o         Take the PSAT or the PLAN (ACT) and review the results with your counselor, teacher, and parent/guardian

o         Attend Summer Enrichment Programs (e.g. science, engineering, math, leadership, etc..)

Junior Year

o         Begin a calendar of test dates.  It is recommended that juniors take the SAT/ACT during the Spring Semester

o         Talk to a School Counselor to make sure your student is registered to take the PSAT/PLAN

o         Continue to visit colleges

o         Enroll in SAT/ACT prep workshops

o         Investigate scholarship opportunities

o         Check with colleges to determine if your student needs to take the writing portion of the SAT/ACT

o         Help your child to narrow down a list of potential colleges

o         Make sure the courses your child is planning take senior year meet college entrance requirements

o         Register for the Spring semester SAT/ACT

Senior Year

o         Resister for the SAT/ACT.  Make sure your child takes these exams no later than OCTOBER of the calendar year.  This will ensure our families meet deadlines for the more selective schools

o         Help your child begin a checklist of college application requirements and deadlines

o         Find out if you need to fill out a CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE

o         Meet with your counselor to go over your final list of colleges

o         Have your child get personal recommendations from school faculty.  Please give school staff 3 weeks to complete the recommendation

o         Help your child to complete the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible

o         Colleges send out acceptance and financial aid letters in April.  Read and compare any financial aid offer carefully

o         Help your child decide which college to attend, accept any aid offers and mail a deposit check

o         Check to see if you missed any final pieces to the college admissions process and send in any paperwork.