• Start off the year working hard.  Your final grades freshman year factor in as approximately one-third of your overall high school grade point average (GPA) and class rank.  College may seem like a long way off, but it’s important to remember the grades you receive freshmen year are a factor in college admission.
• Get involved in extra-curricular activities and community service (both in and out of school).
• Attend your individual Freshman Conference with your counselor.  Discuss your aspirations, review course progress to date and create your 4-year plan.
• With the assistance of your counselor, complete the BRIDGES Interest Inventory done through a class in the Computer Lab and begin researching careers.
• Scheduling for sophomore year: In a classroom presentation, counselors will review graduation requirements, standardized testing, and courses available for the following academic year.  Review the course descriptions with your parents, and then select your elective course requests during a scheduled trip to the computer lab with your class.

• Take the PLAN test (ACT practice exam) which is typically administered in the fall at Westhill.
• Continue your involvement in extra-curricular activities and community service (both in and out of school).
• Attend your individual Sophomore Conference with your counselor.  Review your transcript for accuracy including unofficial GPA/rank, review and update your 4-year plan and future aspirations.
• Visit the Counseling Center and Library to utilize the various sources of college and career information.  Utilize college search engines such as collegeboard.com and bridges.com, read college bulletins, viewbooks and catalogs.  Peruse college websites, take virtual college tours, and schedule a meeting with your counselor for additional assistance.
• Complete career survey for the Hiawatha Seaway Council indicating your top three career interests.  Professionals from a variety of fields will then come to Westhill to give presentations to interested students.
• Participate in Job Shadowing experiences offered through the Hiawatha Seaway Council.  Choose your main interests from a wide variety of careers and they will schedule you a date and time to shadow someone in that field for a day.  See your counselor for more information.
• Scheduling for your junior year: In a classroom presentation, counselors will review graduation requirements, standardized testing, and courses available for the following academic year.  Review the course descriptions with your parents, and then select your elective course requests during a scheduled trip to the computer lab with your class.
• Research college majors and careers.  Become familiar with college entrance requirements.
• If you are interested in attending a military academy such as West Point, now is the time to begin your planning.
• Consider taking the SAT II Subject tests while the course content is fresh in your mind.  These tests are offered in May and June and you can register online at www.collegeboard.com.  Usually, only the most selective colleges require SAT II’s.

In the Fall:

• Sign up for the PSAT (practice SAT exam) which is administered at Westhill in October.
• Continue your involvement in extra-curricular activities and community service (both in and out of school).
• Take the Strong Interest Inventory administered by counselors.
• Make a list of your preferences re: college size, location, and other factors you deem important (i.e. dance programs, sports participation, etc.).
• Research college majors and careers.
• Attend Westhill's Junior College Planning Workshop with your parents.
• Develop an Activities Resume.
• Try to arrange a few college campus visits.
• Explore summer opportunities.  Many colleges offer college preparatory programs on their campuses.

• Research colleges and develop a list of schools of interest.  
• Visit the Counseling Center and Library to utilize the various sources of college and career information.  Utilize college search engines such as collegeboard.com and bridges.com, read college bulletins, viewbooks and catalogs.  Peruse college websites, take virtual college tours, and schedule a meeting with your counselor for additional assistance.
• Talk with family members, school faculty, college alumni and friends about their college experiences.
• Attend college fairs.
• Schedule campus tours and arrange interviews (bring your unofficial transcript and your activities resumé with you).  Remember to send a thank you letter to the interviewer.
• Register to take the necessary college entrance exams – (SAT I, ACT, and SAT II – if required).  When registering for both the SAT and ACT, identify Westhill as your high school (HS Code 335528).  If you do not confirm that Westhill is listed to receive your scores, we will not receive your scores and will not have them to send to colleges.
• Attend your individual Junior Conference (along with your parents) with your counselor.  Review transcripts for accuracy including unofficial GPA/rank, review and update your 4-year plan, discuss anticipated diploma type and future aspirations.  If planning on attending college, review the college search process, forms due to the guidance office, the college application and financial aid process, and timelines.
• Refine your Activities Resumé.
• Distribute 3-5 Faculty Evaluation Forms (blue forms).
• Ask 2 teachers to write you a letter of recommendation.
• If planning to play Division I or II intercollegiate athletics in college, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at the end of your junior year.
• Work hard and keep your grades up.  Are they good enough to make you a desirable candidate for the college(s) you want?  Remember, your official GPA and high school rank is determined at the end of your junior year.
• Consider taking the SAT II Subject tests while the course content is fresh in your mind.  These tests are offered in May and June and you can register online at www.collegeboard.com.
• Scheduling for senior year: In a classroom presentation, counselors will review graduation requirements, standardized testing, and courses available for the following academic year.  Review the course descriptions with your parents, and then select your elective course requests during a scheduled trip to the computer lab with your class.
• Explore summer opportunities.  Many colleges offer college preparatory programs on their campuses.

• Countinue taking a rigorous courseload.
• Spreadsheet everything – know your dates and deadlines.
• Continue your involvement in extra-curricular activities and community service.
• Visit with college representatives that visit during the Fall.
• Narrow the list of colleges to your top five or ten.
• Conduct a second college visit to your top few choices (if necessary).
• Complete the necessary college entrance exams (SAT, ACT, SAT II) by December of senior year. When registering for both the SAT and ACT, please identify Westhill as your high school (HS Code 335528).  If you do not confirm that Westhill is listed to receive your scores, we will not receive your scores and will not have them to send to colleges.
• Ask your parent/guardian to complete the Parent Evaluation Form (yellow form).
• Complete your Senior Recommendation Questionnaire Form, aka Brag Sheet (green form).
• Be certain all applicable forms have been submitted to the Counseling Center: 3 Faculty Evaluation Forms (blue forms), Parent Evaluation Form (yellow form), Senior Recommendation Questionnaire “Brag Sheet” (green form) and 2 additional teacher letters of recommendation (if required by the college).
• Attend your individual Senior Conference with your counselor.  Review transcripts for accuracy including official GPA/rank, review current courses and anticipated diploma type.  If planning on attending college, review the college application process and the colleges you plan on applying to, double check to see if all of the required forms are on file in the Counseling Center.
• Obtain application forms via phone, mail or e-mail or complete applications online.  Remember to give your counselor a copy of your completed online application and be aware of deadlines.
• Write an essay for your application, if required (have a teacher or counselor proofread).
• Be aware of deadlines!  Fill out applications in a timely fashion (give Counselor 14 school days to process). 
• Each time you receive a slip in homeroom indicating that your application has been mailed out, wait 3-4 weeks and call the admission office of every school you have applied to and verify your application is complete.
• Complete any additional required paperwork which may include a supplement to the original application (aka Part II), and check to see if the the CSS Profile or other additional forms are required.
• Continue to work hard – many colleges will look at mid-year grades as a measure of ability and desire.
• Attend Financial Aid Night with your parents and file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in January.

• Acceptance letters are typically mailed to students between March 1st and April 1st.
• Make sure you give a copy of your acceptance letters to your counselor!
• Financial awards are typically mailed to students before the end of April.
• Compare the financial aid packages offered by the college and universities to which you have been accepted.
• Make your final decision and notify all schools of your intent by May 1st.
• Remember to meet with your counselor and tell them which school you plan on attending!