COLLEGE PLANNING CALENDAR – FRESHMAN AND SOPHOMORE YEAR
FRESHMAN YEAR
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Attend Freshman Orientation (“Take Flight”) to learn what it takes
to be successful in high school.
Create (or update) your academic portfolio including all information on academic awards, extra-curricular involvement, and volunteer activities to
add to your resume once you begin college applications
** Remember: The level of involvement and accomplishment is most important, not the number of activities. **
** Work toward earning leadership positions within these organizations. **
SEPTEMBER
Attend the Pflugerville ISD College Night to start gathering information on colleges and programs you might be interested in.
OCTOBER
You will be taking the PSAT test. This is great practice for the SAT/ACT tests!
(Go to www.collegeboard.com for more information)
Review your 9 weeks report card. If you have any grades below 70, seek extra help in tutorials at least twice a week to get back on track.
NOVEMBER
Attend the Hendrickson Course Fair to learn about all the class options available for your next school year
Begin working on course selections for next year in the Bridges program (www.bridges.com) – selections will be submitted mid-December.
Be sure to include your parents in this discussion so they are aware of what you’re choosing!
DECEMBER
Review your results from PSAT. The report will give you valuable
information you can use to improve your SAT/ACT scores later next year.
JANUARY
Review your first semester grades. If you have any grades below 70, make an appointment to meet with your counselor!
FEBRUARY
You will have the option of taking dual credit courses through Austin
Community College starting the summer after your sophomore year. You
can take 2 classes a semester so if you take advantage of this program fully
you can complete 12 college courses before graduating! To investigate this
option more, go to http://www.austincc.edu/ecs/
AP Test Registration in Student Services – By taking the AP exam, you have the potential to earn college credit (depending on your score).
Course verifications go out. This will give you another opportunity to review your choices for next year and make any changes you’d like to make
before next year. (Remember – Schedule changes will not happen once we begin the next school year so it’s important to review this carefully
and submit it to your counselor.)
MARCH
APRIL
Complete the ACC Early College Start enrollment process and meet with an
ACC advisor for summer/fall registration. More information can be found
at http://www.austincc.edu/ecs/
MAY
AP Testing
JUNE
Check on any summer assignments you’ll need to complete for PreAP/AP classes you’ve signed up for next school year. You will be expected to
have these completed before the first day of school so be prepared for homework/tests related to the summer work.
AUGUST
COLLEGE PLANNING CALENDAR – JUNIOR AND SENIOR YEAR
JUNIOR YEAR
SENIOR YEAR
Junior year grades are extremely important in the college admission Register for the earliest fall ACT and/or SAT test. It usually takes 6-8 weeks
process because they are a measure of how well you do in
for scores to come back so if you haven’t already taken one of these tests in
advanced, upper level courses. Grades are also used to determine
your junior year, you must take the earliest test this year to have scores
scholarships and grants for which you may be eligible. Put in the
available for college application deadlines in the fall. (Free online test prep
extra effort and keep those grades up this year!
materials can be found on the College and Career Center website)
Submit any summer coursework grades (ex. ACC) to the registrar to get them added to your transcript.
Keep working on building your resume through involvement in
Complete or update your resume to prepare for college and scholarship
clubs/organizations and other outside volunteer opportunities.
applications. You will need to begin on these immediately or you risk losing
This will also help identify your interests and develop skills.
out on numerous scholarships that are offered early on in your senior year.
Ask 3-5 teachers, coaches, administrators, etc. to write you a letter of
recommendation. Provide them with your resume and a recommendation
letter data form (found on the College and Career Center website) so they
can formulate a solid letter for you. Also, give them plenty of time to write
this. No requests the day before an application is due!
SEPTEMBER
Visit the College and Career Center (CCC) regularly for updates on college visits, application assistance, and scholarship information. Also, get
familiar with the CCC website on the Hendrickson HS page. It is updated DAILY with tons of helpful information and links for all students.
Begin your college search by making a preliminary list of colleges
Transcript checks will be conducted in class to review your current
you’d like to investigate further. Begin attending campus tours at
graduation status and ensure you are scheduled into all the remaining
various colleges and universities. Stop by the College and Career
credits you need to finish.
Center for a college visit form PRIOR TO YOUR VISIT so your
absence doesn’t count against you.
Begin college applications. Use www.applytexas.org and
www.commonapp.com for a number of colleges. Refer to each college
website for additional application information. If you qualify for
free/reduced lunch, you’re often able to get an application fee waiver. Go
to the College and Career Center for more information.
Organize a calendar for your applications, housing, and financial aid
deadlines. Unlike high school, your applications will not be considered if
they are late. To avoid missing out on opportunities, plan ahead and turn in
everything BEFORE the deadline.
Attend all programs and seminars such as PFISD College Night, other college/career fairs, and Financial Aid events to help you plan for your postsecondary goals.
OCTOBER
Take the PSAT test. This is great practice for the SAT/ACT tests and
If applying for early decision or early action, send in your application now.
you can qualify for National Merit recognition and scholarships
Also prepare applications for back-up schools. Remember, if you are
based on your score this year!
accepted under the early decision option, you are expected to enroll at that
(Go to www.collegeboard.com for more information)
college and to withdraw all other applications. Submit financial aid
AUGUST
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
information if requested from early decision/early action candidates.
Submit at least one college application this month. (You should’ve already
completed the 2 year applytexas.org application during ACC College
Connections classroom guidance.)
Check your grades constantly. If you have any grades below 70, seek additional help during tutorials to ensure you stay on track for graduation.
If you intend on taking ACC Early College Start classes in the spring, work with the Transition Counselor to complete necessary paperwork for
advising. This will happen at the end of October/beginning of November.
Go online to www.pin.ed.gov to create a Federal Student Aid PIN number.
Your parents will also need to register for a PIN number as well. You will
need this to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
form AFTER JANUARY 1st of your senior year.
Register for the SAT test (www.collegeboard.com) and/or ACT tests
(www.act.org) to take them this spring. If you qualify for
free/reduced lunch, go to the College and Career Center for a fee
waiver.
Begin working on the FAFSA form! www.fafsa.ed.gov
All college/university financial aid offices require that students and their
parents complete the FAFSA to be considered for federally funded grant,
aid, and work study programs. Some additional scholarships offered
through the college may require that you have submitted this as well.
Regardless of how much your parent(s) make, everyone should file this
form! You can always turn down any of the financial aid offered, but you’ll
limit your aid opportunities by not completing this form.
If you do not have a social security number, you will use the TAFSA form
instead to file for financial aid to use in Texas. Go to
www.collegeforalltexans.com under Apply – For Financial Aid for the
application.
Review your first semester grades. If you have any grades below 70 make an appointment to meet with your counselor.
Consider visiting a college campus or two during spring break.
Attend a FAFSA Saturday event if you need additional assistance in filling
out the FAFSA form.
Course verifications go out. This will give you another opportunity
to review your choices for next year and make any changes you’d
like to make before next year. (Schedule changes will not happen
once we begin the next school year so it’s important to review this
carefully and submit it to your counselor.)
** Remember: You will be asked to list your senior courses on
scholarship and college applications. You’ll also be required to
submit your transcript mid-year and at the end of the year so
colleges will be reviewing your coursework from senior year.
Continue to challenge yourself academically. Senior year is not the
time to take the easy way out!
State testing is coming up! Go to the Texas Education Agency
website (www.tea.state.tx.us) for study guides and practice tests.
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
Register for ACC dual credit summer and fall classes. Meet with the
Transition Counselor in the College and Career Center to complete
necessary paperwork.
Check on any summer assignments you’ll need to complete for
PreAP/AP classes you’ve signed up for next school year. You will be
expected to have these completed before the first day of school
and be prepared for homework/tests related to the summer work
If you plan on playing sports at a Division I and II college, register
with the NCAA Clearinghouse at the end of the junior year. You
must do this to be eligible for athletic opportunities. Go to
www.ncaaclearinghouse.net for more information)
Begin making a decision on which college to attend. Confirm acceptance by
May 1st. (Do not wait to deposit housing fees if you have decided on a
college. Housing works on a first come, first serve basis so the earlier you
complete this, the more choices you’ll have.
Request a final transcript be sent to the college you will attend.
Deliver copies of all scholarships and awards OFFERED to you to the College
and Career Center. This collection will be used for Senior Recognitions. All
offers will be printed in the graduation program.
AP Testing
GRADUATION!!!
Request your final transcript to be sent to the college you will be attending
in the fall. This request form is found online on the HHS website.