College/Career Planning Timeline
10th grade














Keep your grades up! Colleges will look at your transcript from 9th – 12th grade including all
courses and final grades.
Begin to develop a strong working relationship with your guidance counselor.
Naviance – You will receive a registration code in 10th grade. Keep your username and password
handy. You will use this program often throughout high school for college, career, scholarship
and enrichment program searches.
Complete Career Plan Surveys in Naviance.
Consider registering for PSATs in the fall. This test may help prepare you for the SAT and help
identify weaknesses in time to address them. Registration takes place in the House Office and
the test is given in October.
Explore the college search function in Naviance to compare your GPA against the average scores
of former CB East students who have applied to various colleges. Become familiar with college
entrance requirements.
Get involved in extracurricular activities. Colleges like to see focus and commitment to a few
activities. Work toward leadership roles in the activities that you like best.
Attend the College Fair – held at CB South in March (date listed on the district calendar)
Keep track of your accomplishments in “My Resume” in Naviance.
Take AP Exams (if appropriate) for any Advanced Placement courses you have this year. Exams
are given in May. Registration is in the House Office.
Explore taking SAT Subject Test (if appropriate). Registration and more information can be
found at www.collegeboard.com
Check out the enrichment programs in Naviance (College Tab and click on “enrichment
programs” – many programs are held over the summer)
If you are considering playing collegiate sports, look into the National Collegiate Athletic
Association: www.eligibilitycenter.org to ensure that you are taking the correct courses to meet
the NCAA requirements.
Also think about other ways to make the most of your summer vacation. Examples include
volunteering, working and visiting colleges.
11th grade



















Get serious about your schoolwork if you haven’t already. Junior year grades are extremely
important in the college admissions process, as is the rigor of your coursework.
Stay involved in extracurricular activities.
Take the PSAT in October to practice for the SAT and to qualify for National Merit Scholarships
Attend the college representative visits offered at CB East during the school day. Sign up on
Naviance and print your confirmation page as your pass to leave class.
Continue to utilize Naviance to research colleges.
Attend college presentations given by your counselor
Make an individual appointment with your counselor if you have questions
Choose your senior year courses carefully! The rigor of your senior year schedule is very
important in the college admission process.
Write the college essay in English class (Core Assessment and Career Plan Requirement). Take
your time with this paper so that you can utilize it as a starting place for your college
applications.
Investigate the format of both the SAT and ACT, and determine your comfort level. Then plan to
take one or both of these exams in the spring. (The majority of colleges will accept both the SAT
and ACT, therefore it is beneficial for each student to try both tests to aim for the highest score.)
Attend the College Fair – held at CB South in March (date listed on the district calendar)
Develop a list of preliminary college choices. Identify the characteristics of a college that matter
to you – size, location, distance, cost, academic rigor, social environment, diversity, major.
Continue research by visiting colleges’ websites.
Registrations take place online for the SAT, at www.collegeboard.com and for the ACT at
www.actstudent.org
Take the SAT Subject Tests in the spring if required for admission or placement at the colleges
under consideration.
Complete your College Recommendation Questionnaire (under the About Me tab in Naviance) –
a requirement if you will require a letter from your counselor, most of you will need this!
Take AP Exams for any Advanced Placement courses you have this year. Exams are given in
May. Registration is in the House Office.
Visit colleges in the spring and summer. You may take 3 excused days from school this year for
this purpose.
Over the summer narrow list of college choices.
Update resume of activities and accomplishments. This information will be needed on college
applications and scholarship forms.
12th Grade










If you have questions regarding your list of colleges or the college application process make an
appointment with your counselor.
Submit your applications EARLY in the fall if possible. Pay attention to college deadlines. See
the “College Application Procedures” document posted on the guidance website for a step by
step guide.
Take SAT/ACT and or SAT Subject Tests in the fall if necessary
Continue visiting campuses - You may take 3 excused days from school this year for this
purpose.
Attend the college representative visits offered at CB East during the school day. Sign up on
Naviance and print your confirmation page as your pass to leave class.
If a college requires you to submit recommendation letters from teachers, it is your
responsibility to ask the teacher if he/she would be willing to write one for you. Allow plenty of
time before deadlines. For more details on how to submit teacher letters see the “College
Application Procedures” document posted.
Attend Financial Aid Night in November – (date on the district calendar)
File financial aid forms – FAFSA (after January 1) and CSS Profile (required by some colleges)
Make final college choice by May 1st
Complete Senior Survey (a graduation requirement) on Naviance so that we can send your final
transcript to your college.