FRESHMAN YEAR
- Make an appointment for the Four Year Plan with your counselor during first month of the school year.
- Get familiar with you counselor because they will assist you through out your tenure here at CCHS.
- You will be taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Destinations Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) in October.
- You will be taking the COGAT/ITED test in January.
- You may petition for Honors Courses in April. See your counselor for more details.
- Keep all your awards in a file for your senior year.
- Freshman Retreat.
- Visit college representatives on CCHS campus at lunchtime.
- Visit College Campuses.
SOPHOMORE YEAR
- Be prepared, this year's course load will be a vigorous one.
- Find out what resources are available at CCHS to help you plan for college. Talk to your counselor and visit your school library or public library to familiarize yourself with catalogs, search engines, and general guides such as The College Handbook, Index of Majors, and College Cost Book.
- Sophomore retreat.
- Update your Four Year Plan with your counselor.
- You will be taking the PLAN (pre-ACT) in October.
- You will be taking the (PSAT/NMSQT) in October of your sophomore year. See your counselor for more details.
- You will be taking the COGAT/ITED test in January.
- Decide now exactly what form of your name you will use on all test and application forms. Be consistent and avoid such variations as John Doe, John C. Doe, or John Charles Doe.
- You may petition for Honors Courses in April. See your counselor for more details.
- If you are particularly strong in a subject, talk to a counselor or AP coordinator about taking an Advanced Placement (AP) Program Examination in May.
- Check with your counselor to see if you qualify for the California Scholastic Federation (CSF) program.
- Check for SAT/ACT prep programs for the summer.
- Keep all your awards in a file for your senior year.
- Visit college representatives on CCHS campus at lunchtime.
- Visit College Campuses
JUNIOR YEAR
September
- Make a date with your parents/counselor to begin talking seriously about college plans. (Consider: tuition costs, location, size of college, liberal arts or technical emphasis, coed or single-sex, social life, public or private). Jot down preferences in a notebook.
- Evaluate courses taken and courses needed for admission requirements.
- Attend college presentation both on CCHS campus and/or outside venues.
- Take the SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and/or ACT preparatory course sometime during the year.
October
- Take the PSAT. Do your best. These scores help your counselor determine possible SAT college eligibility requirements. These test scores are also used by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to identify students who qualify for recognition in its scholarship competitions.
- Make an appointment with your counselor to find out your GPA and your class rank.
- SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT are offered.
- You will be taking the CoGAT/ITED.
- Attend College Night and Financial Aid Information
November
- Start researching your college choices by using our school library, public library, or the internet (College Search).
- Check on college tours.
- List the top ten school choices based on your preferences.
- SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT are offered.
- Attend College Night and Financial Aid Information
December
- PSAT scores arrive. Match up your PSAT score, GPA, and class rank with the college requirements.
- You now know your PSAT scores, class rank, and GPA. You also have an idea of what general qualities you want in a college. The next step is to consult your college searches to match your qualifications and interests with the college admissions requirements.
- During your Christmas break, with a deadline set for December 31, write each college admissions or go to their web-page and ask for a catalog, brochure, freshmen profile, and name of currently enrolled students, as well as alumnus from your area.
- Remember, this is your first contact with a college. They will take you as seriously as you take yourself.
- SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT are offered.
January
- Make an appointment with your parents to see your counselor.
- Start thinking about an interesting summer job or travel experience that will later highlight in your resume.
- As the college materials arrive, study them and list pros and cons for each.
- Students interested in U.S. Military Service Academies should begin to inquire.
- SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT are offered.
February
- Question and talk more with parents and counselors, local college representatives, alumni, current students, and anyone with personal knowledge of the colleges on your list.
- Register for Advance Placement Tests if you are taking them.
- SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT are offered.
- Job Shadow (graduation requirement) announced in Ethics Classes.
March
- Keep talking and asking questions about colleges. Most college students will be home for spring break, so this is a good time to find answers to some of your questions about college.
- SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT are offered.
- Job Shadow contacts are due to your counselor.
- Junior Retreat
- Visit College Campuses
April
- Begin application process for U.S. Military Service Academics.
- Begin considering people to ask for recommendations.
- If you have already taken the SAT Reasoning test, and feel you would like to improve your scores, plan to attend a workshop before retaking the test.
- You may petition for Honors Courses in April. See your counselor for more details.
- SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT are offered.
- Job Shadow presentations in Ethics Classes.
- Visit College Campuses
May
- Take the SAT Subject. Note that different subjects are given only certain months.
- Start visiting college campuses.
- Check on SAT/ACT prep programs for the summer.
- AP Tests Given
- Keep all your awards in a file because you will use it for your resume' next year.
- Check with your counselor about graduation requirements and take summer school if you need it!
June
- Make a list of colleges you would like to visit.
- Summer Enrichment Programs
July
- Visit some college campuses.
- Enjoy your summer
August
- Narrow the list of colleges down to about five.
- Contact each colleges admissions office between August 10-31 and request interview appointments.
SENIOR YEAR
September
- Apply for October SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT tests. UC bound students MUST take two SAT Subjects and if taking the ACT, must take the writing portion.
- Apply on-line for Private schools.
- Narrow college choices.
- Ask for letters of recommendation.
- Personal Statements in English
- Resumes in English
- Watch out for campus visit from college Representatives.
- Read Senior Bulletin for scholarship announcements.
- Watch and listen carefully for announcements on ASB TV.
- Check with your counselor about graduation requirements
- Attend College Night and Financial Aid Information
October
- Take your college tour. List impressions of each college immediately after tour in your textbook.
- Make an appointment with your counselor to discuss your final college choices.
- SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT tests are offered.
- Develop recommendation form for teachers (attach resume). Include copy of your activities, plans, and college intentions.
- Fill out early decision applications and mail to college only. Check mailing date. Only early decision applications are to be mailed early.
- Request Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine ROTC applications.
- Check out application dates for private and out of state colleges.
- You may apply for CSU’s on-line via CSU-Mentor.
- Check with your counselor about graduation requirements
- You don't have school on PSAT test day, so take a college visit.
- Watch for College Night information on our campus.
- Attend College Night and Financial Aid Information
November
- You may apply for CSU’s and UC’s on-line.
- The last day of November will be the deadline for CSU’s and UC applications.
- UC bound students must take SAT Subject.
- Watch out for College workshop in your senior newsletter.
- Check with your counselor about graduation requirements
December
- SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT are offered.
- Talk with graduates home from college.
- Check senior newsletter for scholarships.
- Check with your counselor about graduation requirements
January
- Attend financial aid workshops.
- Check senior newsletter for scholarships
- SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT are offered.
- Ask your counselor to fill out your Mid-year reports.
- Check with your counselor about graduation requirements.
- Senior Retreat
February
- Have your mid-year transcripts been sent?
- Check senior newsletter for scholarships.
- Applications for the Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Register for Advanced Placement Tests if you are taking them.
- SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT are offered.
- Check with your counselor about graduation requirements
- All Senior must attend Senior Ethics Day (graduation requirement).
March
- Explore the colleges you have applied to as thoroughly as possible.
- If you applied to the UC’s or CSU’s, you should hear by mid-April, or earlier.
- Check senior newsletter for scholarships.
- SAT Reasoning, SAT Subject, and ACT are offered.
- Check with your counselor about graduation requirements
April
- From April 1st through April 20th, begin notification of admissions decisions.
- Carefully choose your college and write a letter of acceptance
- Write other colleges and decline their acceptance.
- Check senior newsletter for scholarships.
- Check with your counselor about graduation requirements
May
- May 1st is the deadline for you to notify colleges of your decision.
- Check senior newsletter for scholarships.
- Disneyland Trip
- AP Testing
- Awards Night
- Senior Mass
- Graduation
- Plan tentative program for freshman year - visit your respective college counselor if you need assistance.
