Click here to see the senior application checklist

WITH HELP FROM YOUR COUNSELOR, YOU SHOULD ALSO BEGIN TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

• Meet with your school counselor for a senior check-in.
• Meet with Mrs. Lynch to discuss college applications and future career plans. 
• Map your course work and long-term goals.
• Identify your interests, values and aptitudes, and begin establishing future goals.
• Learn about occupations and the world of work, through interviewing and job shadowing. Scoir is a great resource, as is the Occupational Outlook Handbook website is http://stats.bls.gov/ocs. Click here to access the Occupational Outlook.
• Gain experience related to your possible vocational choice, through employment, volunteerism and coursework.
• Investigate and explore college options. Keep in mind the importance of courses taken, grades earned and extra-curricular involvement.
• Visit college campuses and attend college rep visits at PW.
• Familiarize yourself with general college admission requirements.
• Remember the importance of being a well-rounded individual. Work toward leadership positions in the activities that you most enjoy. Become involved in community service and/or other volunteer activities. Visit the Counseling Center or your Canvas to learn about summer opportunities at college campuses or volunteer work.
• Keep an ongoing record of your co-curricular involvement, volunteer work and employment on Scoir.
• Update your career interests in Scoir; we often share career-related camp, program, workshop, and internship opportunities through this program.
• Take NCAA approved courses if you want to participate in Division I or II sports in college. Students should understand the guidelines and core requirements for eligibility. The NCAA Clearinghouse has a participation form which must be completed as soon as possible and brought into the College Counseling Office. For additional information, and/or to register for the Clearinghouse, visit www.ncaa.org and search under Academics & Athletics. Click here to access the NCAA website.
• Attend a college fair sometime this year. Colleges from across the region (sometimes nationally) are represented at these programs. 

With help from your counselor, you should begin to do the following:

Get organized

• Map your course work and long-term goals.
• Identify your interests, values and aptitudes, and begin establishing future goals.

Develop your resume

• Remember the importance of being a well-rounded individual.
• Work toward leadership positions in the activities that you most enjoy.
• Become involved in community service and/or other volunteer activities.
• Visit the Counseling Center or your Canvas to learn about summer opportunities at college campuses or volunteer work.
• Keep an ongoing record of your co-curricular involvement, volunteer work, and employment on Scoir.

Career planning

• Learn about occupations and the world of work, through interviewing and job shadowing. The Occupational Outlook Handbook website is http://stats.bls.gov/ocs. Click here to access the Occupational Outlook.
• Gain experience related to your possible vocational choice, through employment, volunteerism and coursework.
• Update your career interests in Scoir; we often share career-related camp, program, workshop, and internship opportunities through this program.

Choose the college that's right for you

• Investigate and explore college options. Keep in mind the importance of courses taken, grades earned, and extra-curricular involvement.
• Visit college campuses.
• Familiarize yourself with general college admission requirements.  Determine if you are going to apply Early Action, Early Decision, or Regular Decision.  Click here for College Board's resource to learn more about Early Action and Early Decision.  Some colleges do not offer all of these options, so see their deadlines and requirements.
• Attend a college fair sometime this fall. Colleges from across the region (sometimes nationally) are represented at these programs. Check the PWHS Events for dates.

Testing

• Try to take an SAT or ACT before Fall of Senior year. Both exams are accepted by colleges and universities and may be required for admissions at some schools.
  • Register for the SAT at www.collegeboard.org. 
  • Register for the ACT at www.actstudent.org. 
• Many colleges are test optional which means a test score is not required.  Click this link to see the Fairtest.org page for a comprehensive list of colleges that have test-optional admissions.

College athletics

• Take NCAA approved courses if you want to participate in Division I or II sports in college.
• Students should understand the guidelines and core requirements for eligibility.
• Register for the NCAA Eligibility Center if you are planning to play D1 or D2 sports.  For additional information, and/or to register for the Clearinghouse, visit www.ncaa.org and search under Academics & Athletics. Click here to access the NCAA website.

Monthly College Planner for your Junior Year
 

SEPTEMBER

• If you are registered to take the PSAT in October, start to prepare for it. Test prep resources can be found in College Board's Bluebook app (found on the login screen of your school device).  You can also check out free test prep resources on www.collegeboard.org or on the Khan Academy website.
• Practice good study habits from the first day of school.
• Check the college visit schedule on Scoir.  Admission representatives visit PW daily (sometimes multiple times per day) during the fall semester. The schedule is on students' Canvas home page and may also be found on Scoir.  Click here to access Scoir.
• Register for the November (or a future) SAT. 
• Plan to attend either the PACAC Regional College Fair or the NACAC Philadelphia College Fair. A complete listing of college fairs and sign-up instructions can be found on nacacfairs.org, or you can go to the PACAC Fairs website at https://www.pacac.org/college-fairs-recordings. 
• Parents can be invited to Scoir by their student.  If parents create their own account, they will still need an invite from their student to be connected to their resources.  Click here for the Scoir website.
• Ask College Counseling for an SAT or ACT fee waiver if you are on free or reduced lunch.  Click here to request a fee waiver.

OCTOBER

• All PW juniors are registered to take the PSAT/NMSQT in October to prepare for the SAT and to be eligible for National Merit Scholarship competition.  Students not wishing to test can contact Mrs. Lynch to opt out.
• Look to participate in a job shadow related to your career interest.
• If you are interested in a military academy or ROTC, get information now.
• Plan to attend a NACAC College Fair. A complete listing of college fairs and sign-up instructions can be found on nacacfiars.org.

NOVEMBER

• Keep your grades up. Your junior year is extremely important in college admission.
• Plan college visits whenever possible.
• Become familiar with what is available in the Counseling Center.
• Register by November 3 deadline for the December 3rd SAT.
• IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS ABOUT MILITARY RECRUITING: Both federal and state laws of Pennsylvania require that any local educational agency receiving assistance under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 provide military recruiters the same access to secondary school students as is provided to post-secondary education institutions or prospective employers of students. In compliance with these laws, we must provide military recruiters with a student directory of names, addresses and phone numbers of all juniors and seniors. The military uses these directories for recruiting purposes and for informing students of scholarship opportunities. Parents have the right to request their child's information not be included. Send a written request via postal mail or email to the attention of Mrs. Cruz in the College Counseling Center by 11/30 in order for your child's name to be deleted from the directory. Additional information on this requirement may be found in the PA Dept. of Education's Web site, www.pde.state.pa.us, under Basic Education Circulars—Access to Secondary Students. Click here to visit the PA Department of Education website.

DECEMBER 

• Receive results of PSAT/NMSQT. Students should visit www.collegeboard.org/psatextra to receive explanations of the answers to this year's PSAT/NMSQT questions and free access to career, major or college exploration. Click here to visit PSAT webpage on Collegeboard.
• Use Scoir to manage your college search, career, and application information. Click here for the Scoir website (students may login through their Colonial School District Clever account).

JANUARY

• Think about which college(s) you would like to explore.
• Visit www.collegeboard.com for college information and test preparation. Click here to access Collegeboard.
• Memorize your Social Security number and the PWHS School Code (394040).
• When registering for senior year courses, be sure to take strong college preparatory courses.
• Start considering who you want to ask for a letter of recommendation.  Ask one or two teachers from the first semester NOW for a letter. 
• Register for the March SAT. 
• Meet with Mrs. Lynch to begin to refine your list of colleges to explore.  Click here to schedule a meeting.

FEBRUARY

• Meet with Mrs. Lynch to begin to refine your list of colleges to explore.
• When selecting your senior courses, be sure to continue to challenge yourself. If you have a particular college major in mind, check to see if a particular high school course is required.
• Begin to think about majors and careers. Visit Scoir and/or www.pacareerzone.org. Click here to access Scoir; Click here to access PA Career Zone.

MARCH

• Use the Internet and Scoir to access college websites and become familiar with the materials available to you in the Counseling Center. Click here to access Scoir.
• Keep all college mail sent to you filed alphabetically in a box.
• Research interesting and challenging summer courses, jobs, travel, or activities. These are important for your resume and might help as you write your college essays.  Check out a sampling of summer programs here.
• If possible, visit colleges in person during spring break or sign up for virtual events.
• Register for the May SAT at www.collegeboard.org. 
• Meet with Mrs. Lynch to begin to refine your list of colleges to explore.

APRIL

• Continue to build your college list and evaluate colleges to determine "fit".
• Ask one or two teachers to write you a letter of recommendation if you have not already done so.
• Plan to attend a college fair.  There is typically a spring PACAC fair at Villanova University.  Click here for a comprehensive list of upcoming PACAC fairs.
• Attend spring Application Help during Bonus Block at PW.  Dates will be posted on Canvas and in Scoir.
• Meet with Mrs. Lynch to begin to refine your list of colleges to explore.

MAY

• Register for the June SAT. 
• Take Advanced Placement exams (if appropriate). All students register for the exam in their enrolled AP classes; students at PW are required to take the corresponding exam for an AP course.
• Make wise use of your summer; pursue a summer program or work as a volunteer.
• Plan visits to colleges during the summer.
• Use Scoir to update your Activities List. Record all your accomplishments, involvements, and work experiences of the past three years. Click here to access Scoir.

JUNE

• Consider visiting college campuses, but know that campuses will not feel as bustling or full in the summer time.
• Athletes should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center online at www.ncaa.org. Click here to access the NCAA website.
• Attend the College Essay Brainstorming Workshop during finals week.

JULY – AUGUST

• Visit colleges, take tours, and schedule interviews (if colleges require or suggest them).
• Continue to refine your list.  Using college websites and Scoir is helpful.
• Attend summer college application help and essay workshops offered at PWHS.
• Get involved with your community in an employment or volunteer capacity.
• Applications open on August 1.  Make sure you have a Common App account created using your non-Colonial/personal email address.

Sophomore Tips and Guidelines

Below are a few guidelines that you should follow:

• Do your best work. The better you do in school, the more career and college options you create for yourself.
• Read as many books as possible and work on your writing skills.
• Begin to investigate occupations and professions. 
• Consider the type of higher education you desire: business school, trade school, junior college, four-year college or university.
• PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Scholastic Qualifying Test) will be administered in October to those sophomores who pre-register for the test. Contact the College Counseling Office if you would like to register.
• Have a sophomore spotlight meeting with your school counselor in April.

With help from your counselor, you should also begin to do the following:

• Map your course work and long-term goals.
• Register to take the PSAT at PWHS. The PSAT typically takes place on the second Wednesday in October. The PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin will be handed out in Bonus Block. This guide will help students prepare for the PSAT. After you receive the results in December, access the website www.collegeboard.org/PSATextra to get the answers to this year's PSAT/NMSQT test. Click here to access the PSAT section of the Collegeboard website.
• Identify your interests, values and aptitudes, and begin establishing future goals.
• Use Scoir and other resources to learn about occupations and the world of work, through interviewing and job shadowing. The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a great resource.  Click here to access the Occupational Outlook.
• Gain experience related to your possible vocational choice, through employment, volunteerism and coursework.
• Investigate and explore college options. Keep in mind the importance of courses taken, grades earned and extra-curricular involvement.
• Visit college campuses, attend PW rep visits (fall/spring), and start following colleges and universities on Scoir.  Click here to access Scoir.
• Familiarize yourself with general college admission requirements.  
• Remember the importance of being a well-rounded individual. Work toward leadership positions in the activities that you most enjoy. Become involved in community service and/or other volunteer activities. Visit the Counseling Center to learn about summer opportunities at college campuses or volunteer work.
• Keep an ongoing record of your co-curricular involvement, volunteer work and employment on Scoir.  Login through Clever or click here to access Scoir.
• Take NCAA approved courses if you want to participate in Division I or II sports in college. Students should understand the guidelines and core requirements for eligibility. The NCAA Eligibility Center has a participation form which must be completed as soon as possible and brought into the College Counseling Office. For additional information, and/or to register for the Eligibility Center, visit www.ncaa.org .
• Attend a college fair sometime this year. Colleges from across the region (sometimes nationally) are represented at these programs.  Check out the PACAC website for a comprehensive list of regional and national fairs.

Ninth Grade Information and Timelines

How can you make the most of your high school experience?

Here are just a few suggestions:

• Maintain communication with your parents, teachers, counselors, and friends.
• Actively participate in all your classes.
• Get involved in athletics and/or extracurricular activities.
• Don't procrastinate! Do it today!
• Work hard, yet work smart.
• Persevere. It's not where you start, but where you finish that counts.
• Challenge yourself. Expect more from yourself, and you will achieve more.
• Make good decisions and set goals for yourself.
• Be positive. Understand that you will make mistakes. Just try not to make the same mistake twice!
• Don't be too serious. Learn to laugh at yourself.

We are confident that if you incorporate the above guidelines into your freshman year, you will be happy and quite successful.

IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE:

• Work to your potential. The grades you earn in ninth grade will be included in your final high school GPA and class rank. This is important for college admission and scholarships.
• Strengthen your vocabulary by increasing your reading. Strive to read as much as possible.
• Investigate summer enrichment programs.  Click here to see a sampling of available summer programs.
• Know the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) requirements if you want to participate in Division I or II sports in college. The information is available on the NCAA website, www.ncaa.org. Click here to access the NCAA website.
• The PSAT (which is designed for 10th and 11th graders) is in October. Though few freshmen take this test, it might be an appropriate option for you. Call Mrs. Lynch, College Counselor, if you would like more information.
• You can explore free resources like Khan Academy to get a sense of what is to come on the PSAT or SAT.  The ACT website also has practice resources.
• Visit the College Counseling Center. There are brochures and literature for the taking and all questions are welcomed.
• Check out which high school courses colleges require (Search: Admissions Requirements for High School Students).
• Tour a nearby college.
• Involve yourself in school activities.
• Use SCOIR to create a plan for your future. You can build course plans, create goals and to-dos, customize your college or career search, take career interest surveys and start a resume. Click here to access Scoir.