College Planning
Your best online college planning resource is Naviance, which you can access through your Schoology account. Use this resource to explore and search for colleges, link to college websites, save your prospective college choices, explore majors and careers, compare your academic credentials with the GPA and SAT scores of admitted students at a particular college by viewing Scattergrams, register for college admissions office visits to the Career Center, and much more.
College Planning Timeline
Freshman Year
- Get to know your school counselor
- Aim for high grades; pay attention to your school work
- Get involved with extra-curricular activities and volunteer service
- Discuss your academic and career planning with your family
- Make course selections that suit your academic abilities and interests
- Start your activities list/resume
Sophomore Year
- Take the practice PSAT in October
- Start thinking and talking about your possible career interests
- Start the college exploration process; visit some campuses if possible
- Explore your interests, both during the school year and over the summer
Junior Year
- Register for and take the PSAT in October
- Attend college fairs, information sessions, and open houses as appropriate
- Participate in college visits to the Career Center in the fall
- Talk with your family about college costs; attend Financial Aid Night
- Take both the SAT and the ACT in the spring to see which suits you better
- Do your college research; visit colleges; narrow your list
- Discuss your plans for classes and college with your counselor and your family
- Ask your teachers for recommendation letters
Rising Seniors (summer)
- Plan for a meaningful summer job, internship, or volunteer activity
- Complete your senior packet forms
- Register (and prepare for) one last SAT or ACT to take in the fall
- Prepare your final list of colleges you plan to apply to
- Complete your college visits, if necessary
- Check the websites of your colleges for deadlines and requirements
- Get a jump on your college essays
Senior Year
- Return your senior packet materials to your counselor the first day of school
- Complete your spreadsheet/list of colleges with deadlines and requirements
- Follow up on your teacher recommendations
- Submit your transcript request form to your school counselor
- Send your official SAT/ACT scores to your colleges
- Submit your college applications well in advance of deadlines
- If you are admitted Early Decision, withdraw your other applications
- Review your acceptances and award packages in the spring
- Make your final choice and deposit to that college by May 1
- Complete your Senior Survey in May (where WSHS will send your final transcript)
- Enjoy Prom and Graduation!
Resources
- Bigfuture - This is the College Board college planning tool
- VA Wizard - Virginia Education Wizard college and career planning
- NACAC - See the schedule of the national college fairs (including visual and performing arts fairs) sponsored by the National Association for College Admissions Counseling
- CommonApp - Complete your Common Application online at this site
- NCAA - To play Division I or II sports at the college level, you must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse and meet the minimum requirements for scholar/athletes
- SCHEV - College planning resources from the Virginia State Department of Higher Education
- Academic Common Market - If your major is not offered at a Virginia public institution, you may be able to study at in-state tuition rates in another state
Resources for Students with Learning Disabilities
College Partnership
- CPP Online Application (must be logged into your FCPS Google Apps account)