College Planning Timeline

Freshman Year

• Take courses appropriate to your abilities and get the best grades possible
• Get involved in activities that interest you
• Develop good personal and spiritual habits
• Create a resume in Naviance, keep track of community service hours, extra-curricular activities

Sophomore Year

• Continue to take courses appropriate to your abilities and get the best grades possible
• Stay involved in activities that interest you
• Continue to develop good personal and spiritual habits
• Take the PSAT in October and review results
• Update your Naviance resume

Junior Year

• Continue to take courses appropriate to your abilities and get the best grades possible
• Stay involved in activities that interest you, consider getting a part-time job
• Continue to develop good personal and spiritual habits
• Take PSAT in October and review results
• Update your Naviance resume
• Attend the “Financial Planning Workshop” in October to get a head start thinking about paying for college
• Meet with college reps when they visit Eastern Christian
• Visit college campuses
• Attend college fairs
• Attend “College Admissions 101” in Jan/Feb for an overview of the college admissions process
• List 10 Colleges in Naviance under “Colleges I’m thinking about”
• Meet with Mr. Struck or Mrs. Lim during the spring semester to discuss postsecondary plans
• Take SAT or ACT at least once by the end of junior year.

Senior Year

Summer

• Visit college campuses
• Update your “Colleges I’m thinking about” list as needed
• Get a head start and begin writing your college essays
• Consider getting a part-time job, attending a summer program, and preparing for or taking the SAT or ACT

Fall

• Continue to take courses appropriate to your abilities and get the best grades possible
• Complete the Senior Questionnaire
• Request letters of recommendation as needed
• Retake the SAT or ACT if it will help with admission and scholarships
• Attend the “Financial Planning Workshop” in Sept/Oct 
• Attend “College Application Night” in Sept/Oct for a close look at the application process from the admissions side of the desk
• Meet with Mr. Struck or Mrs. Lim during the fall semester to continue discussing postsecondary plans
• Update your Naviance resume
• Finalize your college list in Naviance under “Colleges I’m applying to”
• Decide if you will apply early to any schools, make a calendar of deadlines and be sure to inform Mr. Struck or Mrs. Lim
• Meet with college reps when they visit Eastern Christian
• Visit college campuses
• Attend college fairs
• Complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile
• Apply for scholarships
• Complete all applications and essays
• Request transcripts to be sent at least two weeks before the application deadline
• Send SAT or ACT scores to colleges

Spring

• Apply for scholarships
• After decisions come back, rank your top choices
• Make a plan to visit your top choices (stay overnight if possible)
• Discuss with your parents and pray about your decision
• Make your decision and send your deposit by May 1
• Communicate with all schools that accepted you
• Update Naviance with all admissions decisions on the “Colleges I’m Applying To” list and indicate the college/university you are attending.”
• Write thank you notes to teachers, coaches, or counselors who wrote recommendation letters for you
• Celebrate, you did it!