College Counseling Planning Calendar: Freshman Year • Take the most challenging coursework offered and do well in those classes. Remember, colleges and universities look at your freshman year grades. • Get to know the college counseling staff, they are great resources. They will help you understand your GPA, choose coursework, activities, and help you to balance your academics with outside interests. • Attend Upper School evening programs with your parents. See school calendar for dates. • Become engaged in The Summit and larger community. Find extra-curricular groups of interest. It’s completely OK to go to one meeting and decide it’s not for you. Colleges want to see quality over quantity and want to see you are passionate about what you do. • Explore your talents and take advantage of opportunities to join a club, play a sport, and participate in art, music, theater, etc. • Organize your time and adopt good study skills. • In October, take the PSAT (Preliminary SAT). Review your score report along with your test book to learn your strengths and weaknesses as you prepare to repeat this test your sophomore year. • Take the PLAN (Pre-ACT) in the spring to help determine your strengths and weaknesses as you prepare to take the ACT in the future. • Consider taking the SAT Subject Test Math Level 1 after Algebra II. Please note: Some colleges require, suggest or recommend sending SAT Subject Test scores for admission. Summer Assignment: Plan worthwhile summer activities, such as college programs, volunteer work, a specialty focused camp or a summer job. Naviance Activity: • Investigate your learning style. • Explore your career interests. “If I had offered just one piece of advice for incoming freshman, I’d say go meet the people in the college counseling office — not like a formal meeting about college search, but as a general meeting to say, like, ‘Hi, I’m Alex. I like technology.’ They’ll look at you and say this kid likes technology, and they’ll look at colleges with you in mind and make recommendations. There is a very personal connection with the college counselors here at The Summit.” — Alex Marcellus ’13, Purdue University “Start planning as soon as the common application and individual essay topics are announced. During the summer, when you are bored with nothing to do, start writing outlines for the essays. It will make your life a lot easier during the fall of your senior year.” — Warren Hill ’13, Hampton University 4
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