College Planning Tool
Freshmen
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Get involved in extracurricular activities. Colleges look for more than just grades.
Begin to develop a list of extracurricular activities, awards, volunteer experiences, and any other
accomplishments that are relevant to you. Throughout your high school career, you should add to this list so
you will have a resume to send to colleges when the time comes. St. George’s provides students with a profile
form via e-mail for them to complete.
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Take the PSAT in October on campus.
Start saving for college. Ask your parents to establish a college savings account and contribute as much as
you can to that.
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Begin researching colleges that interest you. Check out www.eCampusTours.com to do virtual tours of over a
thousand college campuses.
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Create a list of careers that interest you. Visit www.kuder.com to assess what careers you would enjoy and
explore your career options. If you are a Tennessee resident, go to http://tn.kuder.com.
Sophomores
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Make an appointment with Mr. Boelte.
Get on college mailing lists.
Attend college fairs, parent nights, and financial aid workshops.
Read college catalogs and visit college websites to gather information about colleges of interest to you.
Take the PSAT in October on campus.
Get involved in extracurricular activities. Participating in sports and clubs will allow you to meet new people
and help you develop leadership and teamwork skills that colleges look for in students.
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Create a list of your extracurricular activities, awards, and volunteer activities if you haven’t already done so.
Throughout your high school career, you should add to this list so you will have a resume to send to colleges
when the time comes. Update the profile form we e-mailed you last year.
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Research colleges of interest to you. Check out www.eCampusTours.com to do virtual tours of over a
thousand college campuses. Also, check out college opportunities on-line at www.nacac.com.
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Create a list of careers that interest you. Visit www.kuder.com to assess what careers you would enjoy and
explore your career options. If you are a Tennessee resident, go to http://tn.kuder.com.
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Consider purchasing a College Handbook (College Board publication).
Consider taking the SAT-II test.
Juniors
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Schedule an appointment with Mr. Boelte at the beginning of the school year.
Continue to focus on your grades. Junior-year grades are very important in the college admissions process.
Attend junior class meetings on college admissions.
Take PSAT/NMSQT in October on campus.
Compile a list of colleges that interest you. Utilize an in-depth website: http://preparingforcollege.usc.edu.
Update the profile form and email a copy to Mr. Boelte.
Attend college rep meetings on our campus.
Attend college fairs and gather information on colleges you might want to attend.
Make plans to visit college campuses over your holiday break.
Start researching scholarships. Scholarship opportunities can be found in many places including financial aid
offices, libraries, local civic organizations, your (or your parents’) employer, local businesses, your high school
guidance office, or the Internet. Visit www.eCampusTours.com to perform a free scholarship search.
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Join school clubs or try out for a sports team. Colleges look at more than just a GPA.
Create a list of your extracurricular activities, awards, and volunteer activities if you haven’t already done so.
Keep adding to this list over the next two years so you will have a resume to send when writing for college
admission and scholarship opportunities.
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Research colleges of interest to you. Check out www.eCampusTours.com to do virtual tours of hundreds of
college campuses.
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Create a list of careers that interest you. Visit www.kuder.com to assess what careers you would enjoy and
explore your career options. If you are a Tennessee resident, go to http://tn.kuder.com.
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You are required to take at least one ACT and one SAT test in the spring.
In the summer between the junior and senior year, consider attending college summer opportunity programs,
military academy seminars, leadership forums and internships in law offices, medical clinics, etc.
Seniors
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Consider retaking your SAT and ACT early fall.
Consider interviewing at colleges where you may be applying.
Make sure you have two safe colleges that that you would like to go to, several probable colleges, and one or
two reach colleges.
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Finish applications and essays. Go over them with your counselor and teachers.
Keep Mr. Boelte informed about changes in your college choices or majors.
Submit college admissions applications. Many applications for early action/early decision are due in late
October and early November.
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Have official test scores sent by the testing agency to colleges on your list.
Request that your transcripts be sent to your college choices.
Check financial aid priority deadlines. Some colleges have varying financial aid deadlines. Go on-line for the
application for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which is also needed for the TN lottery’s
Hope Scholarship: www.fafsa.ed.gov
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Discuss college costs with your parents.
Obtain financial aid applications from your high school guidance office or college financial aid administrator.
These applications should be submitted as soon as possible after January 1.
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Remember if you are male you must register with the Selective Service by your eighteenth birthday to be
eligible for federal and state financial aid.
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Attend college nights/fairs and financial aid workshops as well as college rep meetings on our campus.
Research scholarships. Scholarship opportunities can be found in many places including financial aid offices,
libraries, local civic organizations, your (or your parents’) employer, local businesses, your high school
guidance office, or the Internet. Visit www.eCampusTours.com to perform a free scholarship search and
register to win a $1,000 scholarship.
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Continue to check out: http://preparingforcollege.usc.edu.
Look into fall overnight and weekend college visitation programs. You can also visit www.eCampusTours.com
to do virtual tours of hundreds of college campuses as well as schedule a time to visit campuses through
Book-It-Now.
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Visit www.kuder.com to assess what careers you would enjoy and explore your career options. If you are a
Tennessee resident, go to http://tn.kuder.com.