9th Grade

• Create a four-year high school plan and work hard to do your best. Now that you’re a freshman, everything starts to “count.” Your grades will be used to determine your GPA and all your classes, grades and credits will now be part of your official transcript

• Start thinking about your life after school, including the types of jobs that might interest you

• Meet with your school counselor to discuss goals. This meeting will be scheduled during 1st quarter

• Participate in activities. Colleges and employers are looking for students who are active and involved in their school and community. They are also looking for students who have leadership abilities, unique experiences and an interest in community service (College Bound, woodburn press, p. 5)

• Explore summer opportunities (camps, volunteering, job shadows)

10th Grade

• Select upper school classes that are the best fit for you and will best prepare you for college considering Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment courses (11th and 12th)

• Maintain a 3.0 GPA with grades of A and B in high school classes because these grades turn into opportunities for college scholarships

• Meet with Mrs. Habacivch to discuss your career interests and the college major(s) that are associated with those interests. This meeting will be scheduled during 2nd semester

• All sophomores will take the PreACT in the spring, which will help students prepare to take the ACT during junior and/or senior year.

• Attend the Christian College Fair hosted by LCCS as well as other local college and career fairs. It's not too early to start familiarizing yourself with the process

• Participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, theater, music, clubs and community service activities

• Go on a few college campus visits to see what they are like and become familiar with what to expect from a college/university. Start with some of the local colleges such as Millersville, Elizabethtown, Franklin and Marshall, Lebanon Valley, etc.

11th Grade

September/October/November

• Attend college fairs including the Christian College Fair hosted by LCCS and the Lancaster County College Night at CVHS to pick up materials on potential colleges and sign up for their mailing lists

• Learn more about colleges by doing online research and talking with college reps that visit LCCS

• All juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT in October. This will help you prepare to take the SAT in the Spring

• Plan to visit your top choice colleges. Look on their websites to see when they are offering fall or spring open Houses and/or make an appointment for a campus visit

• Consider signing up to take AP exams if you are enrolled in AP courses

December/January

• Review your PSAT/NMSQT results with your school counselor. Top scores may be eligible for specific scholarships

• Choosing an area of study or a major is an important first step to post secondary planning. Think about your interests, values, and abilities

• Register to take the SAT &/or ACT test(s) in the spring at least one month prior to the exam date. Decide which test is a better fit for you or if you will take them both

• Start to narrow down your college choices

February/March/April 

• If you're taking an AP class, make sure that you are beginning to prepare for the test

• Create a college file to keep brochures, notes on college visits and other important information. See your school counselor for various college comparison forms

• Begin visiting colleges that interest you. Many colleges will have visit days primarily geared toward juniors so this is a great time to get on campus, meet with professors, and get a feel for the campus while students are still there. Students are permitted two excused absences for college visits.

• Meet with your school counselor to discuss your college/career plans and to set up a plan for the summer. This meeting will be scheduled during the second semester

• Ask for letters of recommendation from teacher you know you will want them from. This way, they will be done when you return in the fall

May/June/July

• If you are an athlete who plans on playing a sport in college, register with the NCAA Eligibility Center

• Find a full-time or part-time job, or participate in a summer camp/volunteer experience to help build your resume

• Create a resume to give to prospective references or see the LCCS counselor for a letter of recommendation form

• Visit college websites if you are unable to visit in person

• Visit college campuses throughout the summer to help narrow down choices to your top 6-8 schools

• Look into overnight or weekend college visitation programs

• Take note of upcoming SAT and ACT registration and test dates

12th Grade

September

• Schedule your senior interview with the college & career counselor

• Create a master list or calendar that includes: college application due dates, financial aid application forms required, and their deadlines

• If you would like to increase your score, register to re-take the SAT or ACT

• Visit websites for free test prep and practice exams for the SAT and ACT

• Visit college campuses

October

• Try to finalize your college choices and begin completing college applications

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after October 1; this is required to be considered for most federal, state, and college-based aid. The FAFSA serves as the application for the Pennsylvania State Grant Program. You can access the FAFSA online

• Visit the Guidance office to take advantage of the many useful resources

• Request recommendation letters from teachers, coaches, school counselor, and youth leaders. Give them at least 2 weeks to complete

• Request transcripts from your counselor. Allow 7-10 school days for your transcript to be sent to colleges even if you have applied online

• Meet with the LCCS counselor for your senior interview

• Attend local college fairs in Lancaster County, including The NACCAP Christian College Fair at LCCS

• Continue to meet with college admission representatives that visit LCCS

• Learn about college financial aid and FAFSA by attending the Christian College Fair

• If needed, take the SAT or ACT that you may have registered to take again

• Consider signing up to take AP exams if you are enrolled in AP courses

November

• For early decision or early action deadlines, your materials will be due between November 1 and November 15

• Complete at least one college application by Thanksgiving

• Be sure to send your college admission test scores to the colleges to which you are applying

December/January

• If the colleges you applied to require mid-year grades, let the counselor know

• Explore scholarship information online and check out the scholarship page of LCCS’s website

• Complete all college applications by Christmas break

• Contact the college’s financial aid office to see what student aid programs exist on a state or campus level

• Obtain any other financial aid forms that may be required by your target schools. Check with the financial aid offices to see if they have specific financial aid requirements and/or deadlines

• Continue to do your best for second semester – accepting colleges do look at your second semester senior classes and grades, which will be on your final high school transcript

February

• Submit all the necessary paperwork or applications for any private or outside scholarships you may have identified

• Be sure you have submitted all required forms: the college admissions application, the FAFSA, any private scholarships, and any state or school-specific forms required for financial aid

• Watch your email for your Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR is the U.S. Department of Education’s reply to your submitted FAFSA and summarizes your financial aid eligibility for federal programs

April-June

• By mid-April, you should have received your admission letters and financial aid packages

• Make a final enrollment decision and submit enrollment deposit, if requested

• If a school accepted you but you will not be attending, notify the school of your decision not to attend

By May 1

• You should send your deposit to the one college that you are attending

• If you are waitlisted, contact that school's admissions office to find out what you can do to strengthen your application

• Request the guidance office to send your final high school transcript to the college you are attending

• The deadline for the Pennsylvania State Grant (FAFSA Application) is May 1; check with the college financial aid office to see if they have specific FAFSA application requirements and/or deadlines

• Take any AP exams you signed up to take

June

• Don't forget to request your final transcripts. Your school needs to see these to verify your performance during senior year

• Plan for college orientation, transportation, and housing for the fall