Check with your TrinityScholar counselor to plan your college admission tests strategies and find out which SAT II test is appropriate for you. Also, see guidelines in the College Entrance Testing section of this handbook. You should make appropriate academic choices and maintain your academic average (or improve upon it). Volunteer, get involved with school activities, and start a list of the things you’ve done in high school. This will come in handy when you fill out applications in your senior year. Make initial college visits during the summer before junior year. These visits are a great opportunity to see what kinds of different schools are out there. ​

Junior Year

Junior Fall

• Keep working hard in the classroom and staying involved on campus and in the community services. 
• Take PSATs – (many of your college office will register you for this October test).
• Pick up practice exams in your school’s college counselor office or contact your TrinityScholar counselor for sample tests.
• May of your schools will hold college admissions representatives throughout the fall - If you don’t have class and would like to meet with them to learn about their schools, come by for a visit.
• Work on your own resumé (activity list).

Winter and Spring of the Junior Year

• Buy a good college guide. For example, Barron’s or Peterson’s has just about all the nuts and bolts. The Fiske Guide to Colleges gives more in-depth, narrative—and also subjective—accounts of about 100 popular colleges and universities.
• Meet with your TrinityScholar counselor initially and then schedule a follow-up meeting. At this time you will build a list of colleges that appeal to you. Constantly refine this list as your research grows. Look for patterns in your list – athletic interests, geography, etc. 
• Complete your resumé (activity list).
• Check out school web pages on the Internet. Write/e-mail/call colleges and ask to be placed on their mailing list.
• Register for ACT, SAT I & II and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). 
• Visit a few campuses in March. Be sure to get a business card of anyone you meet:  Follow up with a thank you note, and you may use long weekend in the spring to visit a few more colleges.
• Find out what your social security number is and have it memorized!
• Attend college fairs in April/May. 
• Take the SAT, SATII and ACT in May and June..

Spring and Summer before Senior Year

• If you haven’t already done so, you should write colleges on your list for information and applications.
• Continue to research colleges on your list and speak with currently enrolled students. Use the Internet as an important research tool.
• Take a TOEFL exam in August if necessary. 
• Prepare for the Fall SAT.    
• Work on Common Application over the summer. 
• Community service hours - volunteer over the summer!
• Summer employment, reading, travel–keeping engaged and active–all are important!
• Start working on your essays.
• Visit more colleges-again, make sure you follow up with anyone you make contact with at a college.

Senior Year

Fall of Senior Year

• Check College Office deadlines for turning in Secondary School Reports to your college counselor-usually two weeks before the deadline.  
• Make sure you know when the application deadlines are for each college.
• Mail rolling applications ASAP.
• Apply in September to large state universities and service academies in order to get your housing preference set and early acceptance locked up.
• Create a chart with deadlines, admission requirements, coach contact, etc.
• Meet with your College Counselor to review your applications. 
• Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse, if playing athletics at Division I or Division II level (Log on to www ncaaclearinghouse net).
• Arrange final campus visits and interviews, if necessary.
• Retake SATI if necessary. The deadline for the October test is early-right around the time school starts. Note: Register before returning to school.
• Continue taking SATII Subject Tests. Be sure to send your scores directly from the testing agency to the colleges, if you are testing in November or December.
• Know the specific requirements of each of the schools you wish to apply to. 
• Attend information sessions with college representatives in the Fall.
• Continue to narrow your list of colleges until you reach the number of schools you wish to apply to. Check admission requirements, application, scholarship, and financial aid deadlines.
• Fill out applications and MAKE COPIES 
• Meet with college counselor to review applications.
• Make sure you have checks to attach to your applications when you mail them.
• Obtain financial aid forms from the College Office in December. The College Scholarship Service PROFILE and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are both available online as well. 
• Study, Study, Study!!!
• Early Decision applicants receive notification in mid-December.

Winter of Senior Year

• Arrange interviews as necessary and required.  
• Maintain a strong academic average because colleges will request to see winter grades.
• Report additional honors and achievements to admission offices. (Most College Counselors will help with this communication.)
• Keep up coach contacts and work with college counselor regarding “official” visits.
• Financial Aid deadlines-file on time!

Spring of Senior Year

• Stay in touch with your TrinityScholar counselor.
• Admission decisions begin arriving. You must reply to all admissions offered by May 1st. Money can only be on deposit at one college after May 1st. 
• Send appropriate letters regarding: Letter to Withdraw Application, Letter to Decline Admission, Wait-list Follow-up Letter and Offer of Admission Reply Form.