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11th Grade

This Grade Is Really Important

This is your year to finalize as much as possible before your senior year. Make an extra effort to keep your college portfolio up-to-date during this year. Your dreams should now become realistic goals. Ask youself, “Where am I going and how am I going to get there?” Begin by mentally dividing your academic year into fall and spring. Each semester you will need to complete specific tasks.

Academics

This is your final year to truly impact your cumulative GPA. Grades next year will not make “that great” of an impact on your overall GPA. If you need to strengthen your GPA you must make good grades and continue to take challenging courses and electives. Take advance level courses, if possible, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses if they are available in your high school. Ask to preview your academic transcript with your counselor to see if there are weaknesses, errors, or gaps. Check your record of your cumulative GPA with the school’s and discuss any problems. Compare what you have academically with what you need to be admitted into the colleges you have researched and make the appropriate adjustments.

Testing

Take the P SAT again in October for possible scholarship dollars and testing practice. In the spring you should register to take the “real” ACT and/or SAT. Prepare for the test using the test-prep booklet provided with the registration packet and any additional practice sessions available. If you are enrolled in AP courses, register to take the AP exam for that subject.

Extracurricular Activities

Continue your involvement in community and school activities. If you have not moved into leadership roles, what are you waiting for? Remember to focus on a special project or activity you can develop. You should finalize your ideas and begin putting things in place so you can implement your project if you have not already done so.

Scholarships/Financial Aid

Attend all financial aid workshops in your high school and local college fairs. Encourage your parents to attend and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Beware of special interest groups who will single you out or mail letters to your home asking for money to help you find scholarships. You should check with your counselor concerning unknown groups who prey on high school students looking for money. Remember, you should not have to pay money to get free money! Continue your research. Your scholarship list should begin to narrow and refine. You are now focusing more on those scholarships that you qualify for based on your previous work. Check our scholarship list to see if there are any you may have overlooked and utilize those search engines. Here is a month-by-month guide to assist you.

Also, please take note that you can fill out a common application to help speed up the admissions process. This is a genertic application that many colleges will accept in place of their own application. It saves the student time and carries the same clout for the college. You can find one at http://www.commonapp.org/.

August

• Review your classes. Be sure you continue to take challenging courses.
• Ask to check your official transcript with your counselor.

September

• Register to take the October PSAT.
• Register take the ASVAB if you are interested in the military.
• Sign-up for in-house visit by college recruiters to your school this year. Don’t be afraid to ask questions in those meetings.

October

• Take the PSAT. Attend the area college fairs, pick-up information and ask questions. These fairs usually include a financial aid and testing workshop for you and your parents to attend.

November

• Begin considering which teachers you will ask for recommendations for college and scholarships. Once you have decided, ask two teachers you are most comfortable with if they would be willing to write letters in support of you. Remember, they are not required to do so, so ask nicely. You will use these teachers for all teacher recommendation letters.

December

• Review your cumulative information; including overall cumulative GPA.

• Narrow your college list into three categories:
       Colleges with GPA requirements slightly above your GPA
       Colleges with GPA requirements that match your GPA
       Colleges with GPA requirements slightly below your GPA
       Your list should have between 10-15 colleges.

• Research your listed schools more closely. Now research the pros and cons of private, public or proprietary schools.
• If you want to attend a military academy, let your counselors know now.
• Determine when you can visit college campuses during the spring and request admissions information now.
• Review your PSAT and ASVAB results with your counselor.

January

• Begin arranging college visits to those schools on your December list. If you can not travel this semester, consider doing on-line tours. Arrangements can be made through the college’s admissions office. Attempt to arrange visits around your spring break, or along with a long weekend break. Do not visit colleges when they are on spring break or during their final exam week. Ask to spend the night in a dorm room, and sit in on a class, preferably in the area that will be your college major.

February

• Register for the April ACT. You should take them this semester in order to receive them back in time to review your results. If you need to re-test you will be able to do so during the first semester of your senior year. Do not list any college codes for colleges to see your first scores. They are for your eyes only. If you are pleased with them you can send them to your selected colleges later.

March

• Register for the May SAT.
• Begin writing essay drafts for admission applications and scholarships you may be considering. Do this now so that your English teacher will have an opportunity to review them and give you pointers for your final draft.

April

• Take the ACT.
• Begin thinking ahead to your senior year.
• Meet with your counselor to outline your plans and courses for next year.
• Review your portfolio.
• Ask for additional information and suggestions and give your counselor a copy of your resume. He/She will be responsible for writing all school reports and counselor recommendations for you next year.
• Review early decision, early action and regular application submission details.
• If you need to take SAT II subject tests, register now for the June tests.

May

• Take the SAT I and AP exams.

June, July, August

• Take any SAT II tests.
• Update your college portfolio for your senior year.
• Take this summer to work on essays for admission and scholarships.
• Finalize your college list. You should have a total of 10 schools. Four above your average, four at your average, and two below your average.
• Get as many college admissions applications as possible for your senior year. Consider using the Common Application if you can.
• Finalize your special community project we discussed in 10th grade and begin implementation.

Let’s Summarize

Now is the time to really get serious! Don’t wait until your senior year to take the crucial steps listed above. Starting early is the key to accomplishing you collegiate goal. Never give up. If you’re not the A student don’t get disheartened. You can still go to college but try hard to improve your grades. Colleges do look at more than academics when awarding scholarships. There is also financial aid and loan money available. You dreams of college will come true as long as you keep trying.

Continue to get the best grades you possibly can and participating in extracurricular and volunteer activities.