Introduce yourself to your dean & get to know him/her well
Plan a four-year high school program of college prep courses, and
don't forget the arts and humanities
Attend Enrollment Night in January at Mounds View
High School
Apply yourself in school - freshman and sophomore grades weigh heavily
in your class rank
Follow up on Career Units in Social Studies and Health by
investigating activities such as Explorers, volunteer opportunities,
hobbies, interest groups
Keep journal/records of your activities - it will help you later on to
have them in writing
Consider on-campus summer college institutes, language camps, travel,
throughout high school
Take the PSAT for practice and then make a plan to improve any deficiencies
you discover
Take the PLAN (pre-ACT) test
Take the SAT II if you have finished your last course in an
appropriate subject - see your dean for more details
Extend special skills and talents with out-of-school lessons,
experiences (e.g. zoo school, orchestras, etc.)
Improve your ability to balance your time between academics and
extra-curricular activities
Strengthen your outside reading commitment - do more than what is
assigned for class
Investigate scholarship possibilities in Career Center
every year
~ JUNIOR YEAR ~
Attend as many college conferences as time allows (reps in Career Center, College Fair, evening
meetings, campus visits)
Browse through college catalogs (available in Career Center
and the Internet)
Take PSAT in October
Prepare for spring ACT and/or SAT (master content in current
classes, refer to books in Career
Center, prep courses
also available in community)
Talk to college students about college
Continue in-depth pursuit of meaningful extra-curricular activities
and extension of interests
Accept leadership responsibilities within interest groups
Attend Military Academy Information Night at MVHS - learn the
application process
Encourage your parents to attend Junior Parent Night
Take spring ACT and/or SAT I
If considering highly selective college, take SAT II
List 10-12 colleges for research and possible visits.
Tour college campuses, prepare good questions ahead of time and make
notes after each visit
Develop list of criteria important to your selection (e.g. curriculum,
size, location, faculty, research opportunities, environment, internships,
cost, safety, etc.)
Continue to read BEYOND classroom assignments
PARENTS: help, assist, supervise, coach your son or daughter.
~ SENIOR YEAR ~
Continue to apply yourself - avoid the "senior slide". It has negative
consequences
If needed, retake the fall ACT and/or SAT I or II
Continue to make college visits and see representatives through Career Center, evening visits, Campus
tours etc.
Attend the National College Fair, if needed
Be sure you understand implications of Early Decision/Early Action
Develop a final list of colleges to which you will apply, being sure
to include a "sure thing"
Request applications from admissions offices, Career Center
and online, plus note all deadlines
Submit applications according to Student Services deadlines
Select recommendation writers if needed, and make contact early
Arrange college interviews, if needed
Refine essays, if required
Make copies of applications and mail according to deadlines
Research financial aid options through Career Center
Have parents attend Financial Aid Night in January
Apply for FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
Submit 7th semester transcripts to colleges, if needed
Continue to develop your leadership and time management skills
Decide which college to attend, notify all admissions offices of
your decision
Submit deposits, as required, to confirm admission in college where
you have been accepted
Apply for the Local Scholarships for seniors
For an even more complete month-by-month checklist, please see the Planning Calendars for each grade located on the Grade Level Info pages. Grade Level Info pages are located under Student Services in the left navigation menu.
