Timeline

Contents

Introduction

1 Timeline 2 Counselor, Student, And Parent Responsibilities 5 Choosing A Country 7 Researching Colleges And Universities 11 Financial Aid And Scholarships 17

Building Your List Application Limit 18 20

Admissions Tests (SAT/ACT, TOFEL/IELTS)

21 How Decisions Are Made 26 Application Options (Early Decision, Early Action) 31 Improving The Odds 33 Applying To Schools 39 Interviews 41 Admission Decisions 43 After You Apply 45 Applying To The United Kingdom 46 Appendix United Kingdom Timeline 49 United Kingdom Glossary 50 Non-U.K. Document Request Form 52 U.K. Document Request Form 53

TIMELINE Second Semester - 11th Grade

• Attend College Seminar classes. • Attend the 11th Grade College Night Presentation. • Attend individual meeting with college counselor. • Complete the "Counselor Recommendation questionnaire" and email it to your college counselor prior to your individual meeting. • Attend family meeting once individual meeting has occurred. • Develop a testing plan and register for standardized tests (SAT, ACT, TOEFL,etc.) • We recommend that every 11th grader take the ACT or SAT at least once in the second semester of 11th grade. • Research prospective colleges during College Seminar classes and with your family. • Update list of prospective colleges and add to MaiaLearning under "Considering". • Create a resume and upload to MaiaLearning. • Begin a draft of your personal statement or Common Application essay. • Meet with college admission representatives who visit LCS in the spring. • Request letters of recommendation from two 11th grade teachers and provide those teachers with a completed "Teacher Recommendation questionnaire". Upload the requests into MaiaLearning by May 15. • Carefully review your transcript and submit edits to the counseling office assistant. • Plan to visit college campuses (if possible) or explore virtual online tours.

Summer

• Visit campuses (if possible), research schools of interest, research essayprompts. • Prepare for required standardized test SAT or ACT, Subject Test, UCAT, BMAT, TOEFL or

IELTS

First Semester - 12th Grade

• Meet with your college counselor by Sept 15 to update college list and deadlines. • Update your list of college you plan to apply in MaiaLearning including level of interest. • Attend the scheduled College Seminar classes. • Register for any additional standardized tests you would like to take in the fall of 12th grade. • Explore admissions websites for the schools you are considering and check requirements. • Create application accounts (e.g. UCAS, Common App, school-specific applications, etc.) • Read the daily announcements regarding universities visiting LCS. Attend these sessions and college fairs held at LCS or in Accra. • If using the Common Application, link it withMaiaLearning. • Finalize your essays. • If you are applying to Oxford, Cambridge, or medical dental veterinary in the UK you should submit your UCAS application and supplements by October 1. • By mid-September you should notify your counselor if you plan to apply Early Decision (ED), Early

Action (EA),colleges with October 1 - November 15 deadlines.

FIRST SEMESTER (cont.) - 12th Grade

• Submit Document Request Forms (DRF) to counseling office assistant three weeks before the college application deadline. • Send your official standardized tests (SAT, ACT, TOFEL, etc.) • All "rolling" and priority applications should be completed by October15 • Consult financial aid requirements and deadlines for each school where you plan to apply.

These deadlines may differ from college application deadlines. • Keep your college counselor up-to-date on your college plans. • Continue to meet college representatives visiting LCS. • December 1 All applications with a deadline between Dec 15 and January 15 must be submitted to the universities by December 1. This is to ensure that all documents are received from LCS before the holiday break. • Review your "status" on the college websites and check that all supporting documents have been received.

• Login to MaiaLearning and make certain the colleges you’ve applied to are all listed. • Mid-year transcripts will automatically be sent to all US and Canadian colleges in late December.

Final transcripts will be sent in June • If you are accepted Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED), please let your college counselor know. If you have been accepted ED, you must immediately cancel any applications you have sent to other school.

SECOND SEMESTER - 12th Grade

January and February

• Complete the FAFSA financial aid form if you are a US citizen and will be requesting financial aid. Your parents must figure their US taxes (but they do not need to file their taxes) to complete this form. • Continue to check the status of all your applications. Check that all supporting documents have been received.

February, March, and April

• As you receive each decision, please notify the counselor and update your results in

MaiaLearning. • ForUSuniversities you have until May 1 to decide. You must pay the enrollment deposit by May 1 to hold your place. • If you are placed on a waitlist, see your counselor to review your options. • Once you’ve made your decision, notify other schools you will not be enrolling. • Keep your grades up. Your acceptance is contingent upon the successful completion of 12th grade. If your grades drop, your acceptance could be withdrawn. • Ifyouneed avisa toattendcollegeyoushouldcontacttheuniversityorlocalconsulate regarding the visa application process.