College Planning Timeline

WMHS Recommended Timeline

Presented below is a recommended four year timeline for students to navigate not only their high school years, but also to provide structure to plan for after high school.

Freshman Year

• Get off to a good start academically.  The first thing colleges will look at four years from now is the extent to which you have challenged yourself in your course selections and how well you have done in those classes.  Don’t forget this!
• Get to know your guidance counselor.
• Become involved in extracurricular activities.
• Become familiar with and utilize academic support available at Wakefield High School.
• Fully prepare for your mid-term exams.  Do not start studying the night before!
• Meet with your guidance counselor to make informed choices for next year’s course selections.  At this point in time you might want to consider mapping out courses you would like to take during your four years at WHS and check with your guidance counselor to see how you will be able to fit everything in.
• Begin to investigate different careers, occupations, and colleges.  It is never too early to do this!
• Sign up for a user name on https://www.collegeboard.org/.
• Consider taking an SAT Subject test if you are excelling within Honors Biology.  See your science teacher and guidance counselor for advice.
• Investigate whether there are any summer programs or volunteer opportunities to participate in over the summer.  See your guidance counselor for details.
• If you have a diagnosed learning disability, there is the option of taking standardized tests during your high school years with accommodations such as extended time if necessary.  Check with your guidance counselor during a regularly scheduled team meeting or by appointment for details.
• Reach out to classmates who are having a difficult time adjusting academically or socially.  You can be a leader by lending a helping hand or notifying a trusted adult that a fellow classmate is struggling.
• Freshman taking Biology will take the graduation requirement MCAS Exam in June.

Sophomore Year

• Maintain primary focus on academic work.  School is your full time job!
• Consider taking the PSATs offered at Wakefield High School in October.  It is a national test given only one time per year.
• Maintain/ get involved with activities inside and outside of Wakefield High School.  There is something for everyone!
• Review PSAT results when they are sent home and thoroughly read the materials sent with your school report.  Take advantage of the opportunity to review your completed test on https://www.collegeboard.org/ through Khan Academy.  Consult your guidance counselor to explore ways to improve on future standardized tests and courses to discuss which may be required or beneficial for your post high school plans.
• Thoroughly prepare for your mid-year exams.
• Pay attention in class!  The information you are learning not only affects your grades, but it is also preparing you for the MCAS ELA and Math tests you will be taking this spring.

• Maintain primary focus on academic work.
• Meet with guidance counselor to make informed choices for next years course selections.
• Begin to discuss career and college interests with your guidance counselor.
• Consider taking SAT Subject tests if you are excelling within  science courses such as Honors Chemistry or Biology.  See your science teacher and guidance counselor for advice.
• Consider taking a Career Interest Inventory.  See guidance counselor for details.
• Attend a Spring College Fair.
• Sophomores taking Biology will be taking the Biology MCAS in June

Junior Year

• Maintain primary focus on academic work.  Colleges look for students who are continually improving academically during their four years of high school.
• Register for the PSAT Exam in late September in the high school guidance office and take exam in October at WHS.  Students can take the practice test in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin received at the time of registration as well as find additional assistance online at https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org

• Take PSAT Exam.  Every junior should be taking this test!
• Attend annual college fair sponsored at Shriners’ Auditorium.
• Work with your guidance counselor to begin identifying colleges that have programs that will prepare you for your career interests.

• When you receive your PSAT results at home log onto https://www.collegeboard.org/ and review your answers on the test. Students can receive personalized practice based on their answers at https://www.khanacademy.org/sat
• Find out about colleges first hand from friends who are home from college for the holidays.

• Develop plans to prepare to take the SAT exam.  You can sign up to take the test on https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register.  If money is an issue when signing up to take the test, you can see your guidance counselor for a waiver of the SAT application fee.
• Discuss options available to improve your test taking skills and consider enrolling in a SAT Test Preparation Course.  See your guidance counselor for SAT Prep Program options.
• Prepare for Mid-Year Exams.

• Discuss career and college interests with your guidance counselor.
• Discuss course selections for next year with your teachers, parents, and guidance counselor.
• Start visiting colleges during February and April vacations.
• Continue to learn more about colleges that interest you.
• Write or call colleges for information.
• Sign up to participate in the Junior Job Shadow Day to be held next month.
• Attend spring college fairs.

• Ask two academic teachers for recommendations before the end of the year.
• Make an appointment with your guidance counselor to narrow down your list of colleges.

• Visit colleges.
• Obtain applications of colleges to which you will apply.
• Write first draft of college essay.
• Create a resume/activity sheet.
• Register for fall SAT/SAT II/ACT Exams you are planning to take.
• You will be receiving your transcript, class rank, and grade point average in the mail.  Review your transcript to ensure all grades and course levels are accurate.

Senior Year

• Get off to a good start academically.
• Work with parents and guidance counselor to implement post-secondary plans.
• Contact schools for catalogs and applications.
• Begin to narrow down your college list.
• Register early for SATs, SAT Subject Tests, or ACTs if you have not already done so.  The deadlines for the October tests are usually the first week we get back to school.
• Start working on your college essay and ask two academic teachers for recommendations if you have not already done so.
• Have parents attend Financial Aid Night at Wakefield Memorial High School.

• Attend college planning workshops conducted by the guidance department.
• Have parents attend College Information Night.
• Review for SAT Testing.
• Meet with guidance counselor to review college choices.
• Plan college visits and interviews.
• Attend college admissions representative visits at Wakefield Memorial High School for schools that interest you.
• Carefully consider your responsibilities if applying Early Decision or Early Action.
• Work with family to file financial aid forms as soon as possible after October 1^st .

• Complete all standardized testing you need for college admissions.
• Send Early Decision or Early Action Applications.
• Submit Transcript Request Forms to the Guidance Department when you are ready to apply to schools.  Transcript request forms should be completed at least three weeks prior to the application deadlines.  Request SAT or ACT scores to be transmitted directly from CollegeBoard to the colleges you are applying to, they will not be supplied by WMHS.  Please review CollegeBoard’s new policy from 2014-2015 regarding their withholding scores policy.
• Check scholarship files in the guidance office on an ongoing basis.

• Submit transcript request forms for colleges to the guidance department.
• Review applications with guidance counselors as necessary.
• Register for additional standardized testing if necessary.

• If still undecided about future plans, continue working with your guidance counselor to explore options.
• Talk with graduates who are home from college.
• Apply for TSF Scholarship and other applicable local scholarships.
• Finish 1^st semester on a strong note academically and thoroughly prepare for Mid-Year Exams.  Most colleges look for Mid-Year Reports and use these grades in making admission decisions!

• Continue to explore and learn more about the colleges you applied to.
• Send any new materials to colleges which may enhance your application.
• Apply for TSF Scholarship and other applicable local scholarships.
• Finish the year strong academically.  Colleges have revoked acceptance letters for students who completely fallen off academically.
• Let the guidance office know when you hear back from the colleges you have applied to and update your Naviance accounts with your decisions and final destination to ensure your transcript is send to the school you are attending.

• Graduation!