Upper School Counseling Center

This is the year to explore academics, clubs and activities, interests, and service.  The emphasis is on acclimation to high school, building relationships with peers and faculty, becoming involved in extracurricular activities, developing good study habits, and becoming aware of your strengths, interests, and goals.

Semester One:

• class counseling meetings in large and small groups to discuss academics, interests & goals
• set up Naviance account and begin recording your resume
• PSAT given for practice to build awareness and familiarity with the SAT
• Pre-ACT given for practice to build awareness and familiarity with the ACT

Semester Two:

• set your projection of high school courses with your counselor
• continue to add to your resume of activities, leadership, service, awards
• individual counseling meetings for course placement and to discuss test results
• investigate summer programs of interest to you

This is the year to expand and accelerate your academic pace and investigate your extracurricular opportunities.  Take advantage of rigorous courses (honors and AP) to build your transcript.  Participate in clubs and activities and areas of interest to you and build your resume.  Further your commitment to service. 

Semester One:

• continue to consider your academic plan and goals and anticipated coursework
• PSAT given for practice to build awareness and familiarity with the test
• Pre-Act given for practice to build awareness and familiarity with the test
• begin the “college” conversations with your parents (what’s do-able; what’s expected; what do you want to pursue….)
• keep in mind that colleges are not looking for long lists of short-lived activities and commitment; they are looking for long-term involvement and commitment to several activities

Semester Two:

• explore your career interests by taking the Naviance Career Interest Profiler and discuss with your counselor one-on-one
• continue to explore and participate in summer programs in areas of interest to you (Tennessee Governor’s School; college summer programs and pre-college programs; leadership programs)
• attend college fairs whether they are held in person or virtually
• update your resume
• begin to make your college entrance test plan
• consider test prep during the summer
• plan visits to college campuses or take virtual tours
• further discuss your college goals with your counselor

This is a defining, important year for college application readiness. This is the year to solidify your transcript and resume because your sixth semester transcript and your resume as of the end of your junior year are your first introductions to college admission offices in the fall of your senior year.

You are now beginning your college admissions calendar:

Fall

• take PSAT for possible National Merit consideration
• finalize your plans for taking the ACT and/or SAT with your counselor and begin registering for college entrance testing; you and your counselor will discuss your timetable based on what classes you have already taken
• step up your college search; visit college websites; take virtual tours through college websites; explore colleges through Naviance;
• concentrate on your academic performance
• continue and enhance your activities, leadership, service
• continue to update your resume
• become familiar with the college scholarship search engine FastWeb
• continue to explore your career interests (nextmove.org is a good interactive tool for this)
• attend college fairs (in person or virtual)
• Road to College #3 Meeting with Mrs. Rice, Director of Counseling and College Counselor
• consider test prep for college entrance tests
• follow your ACT/SAT test taking plan as you and your counselor have devised

Winter

• finalize plans for ACT and/or SAT and begin taking these college entrance tests
• individual meetings with your counselor to discuss PSAT score results and your course placement for senior year
• begin to create the list of colleges in which you are interested
• register with NCAA eligibility if you are interested in playing college athletics

Spring

• continue taking college entrance tests based on your testing plan
• consider summer activities and programs (Tennessee Governor’s School; Girls’ State; summer pre-college programs on college campuses; leadership programs)
• attend college representative meetings at our school when reps come to campus
• continue to explore FastWeb and other scholarship opportunities that your counselor suggests

This is a year of ACTION! This is the year to work closely with your college counselor to finalize your college list and coordinate your college applications. It is important to continue to work hard toward academics and resume-building throughout your senior year. 

Fall Semester

• finalize your college list and input this information into Naviance
• be sure your resume is updated on Naviance
• Road to College #5 Meeting with Mrs. Rice, College Counselor
• parents work on  the FAFSA, opens October 1
• parents work on  the CSS Profile, if required by college
• meet with your college counselor one-on-one often to discuss colleges, the kind of applications you will use, deadlines, what recommendations you will need, whether you qualify for scholarships or honors colleges
• pay attention to your college counselor’s emails and Power Learning Page for up-to-date, timely information you need to know
• meet with faculty whom you are asking to write recommendations for you
• attend college representative meetings to continue to build relationships with your college reps and to ask your questions and be known
• take college entrance tests if you are trying to raise your scores for admission/scholarship
• create your Deadline Calendar: deadlines for admission applications, scholarship applications, housing applications, honors programs applications
• have your parent attend the College Financial Aid that we jointly host with CBHS and the Director of Financial Aid at CBU -- usually occurs late September/early October
• visit college using your “excused college visit days”
• concentrate on your academic performance, as colleges require a 7th semester transcript mid-yr
• get input and advice and especially proofreading from your counselor or English teacher on your college essay and personal statements… do not ever submit an essay or personal statement without having someone trusted to review it for you
• begin filling out and submitting applications
• turn in Transcript Request Forms to your college counselor for transcript submission through Naviance
• be sure to meet deadlines

Spring Semester

• parents finalize and submit the FAFSA in January
• parents finalize and submit the CSS Profile (if needed)
• request a Mid-Year Report from your college counselor for all colleges that require one
• note scholarship application deadlines that you may still need to meet
• investigate if your parents’ employers offer scholarships to employee’s children for which you may qualify
• review the financial aid package extended to you by colleges and make appointments to talk to or visit financial aid officers at colleges at which you would like to request more
• submit letters of acceptance and scholarship awards to your college counselor
• arrange interviews if required and/or permitted (most will be with local alum and not at the college)
• re-visit any colleges you need to see again to help you make your final decision
• submit housing applications and deposits
• let your college know of your acceptance by May 1, which is considered the official candidate response date