Freshmen Year College Planning Timeline
Welcome to High School! While it is a bit premature to begin the college planning process, it is not too early to begin thinking about life after graduation from high school. To make the best decision about attending college you must know something about yourself, your interests, your abilities, and your dreams and goals. The first step of this process is self-reflection. You are a unique individual with your own needs, values, talents and interests. Spend some time this year thinking about which courses you enjoy the most as well as which courses you find easiest or most difficult and why? What activities interest you the most and why? It is time to think about what YOUR goals are for your education and for your life.
The first semester of high school is about making adjustments to new teachers, new schedules, new activities and new friends. It is a time to sharpen your study skills and habits and to work to your best potential. After your first term report card, you will meet with your school counselor to evaluate your progress both in and out of the classroom and to design your Four Year Plan. At the beginning of second semester you will begin planning your courses for sophomore year, in keeping with your graduation requirements and your future goals.
Early in freshman year, it is important for you to learn more about the standardized testing that is required at many colleges and universities such as the SAT and the ACT. Detailed information regarding standardized testing can be found at: STANDARDIZED TESTING in the College Information tab of the Guidance webpage.
Counselors will meet with small groups of freshmen during the months of March and April to introduce you to a computer program called Naviance where you will create a personal Naviance account. You will begin to create an Activities Resume, documenting your sports, clubs, activities and academic honors for freshman year. You can return to Naviance as often as you like to keep your Activities Resume up-to-date and current. In Naviance you will also answer a survey entitled, Understanding Your Learning Style and considering how it plays into future planning.
When we ask seniors what they wish they realized in freshman year their replies come quickly. They want freshmen to understand it is important to work to potential as it is harder later to try to make up for lack luster grades! They would listen to, and consider, the advice of parents, teachers and school counselors and, they would take better advantage of extra help from teachers. Most of all, seniors want freshman to know that the four years of high school passes quickly, so they encourage freshmen to work hard, both in and out of the classroom, and to enjoy every minute.
