Planning Timeline
Freshman Planning
Following the guidelines of NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) La Salle follows developmentally appropriate timelines for the college search and application process. Students become accustomed to the rigor and rhythm of their classes, pursue interests that invigorate them, get to know their peers, and explore the community of La Salle College High School.
Sophomore Planning
Junior Monthly Planning
September
- The work junior year will be more demanding.
- Establish good relationships with your teachers. You will be asked to have at least one (possibly two) of them write letters of recommendation for you for college applications. These letters should be from core academic subject areas (Science, Math, English, World Language, & Social Studies).
- Get involved in activities that you enjoy. La Salle is known for the number and variety of activities offered. Take advantage of this opportunity to develop your interests, initiative, and leadership.
October
- Plan to attend local college fairs and open houses. Dates and times will be posted on our website, bulletin boards, and digital screen outside the College Counseling Office.
- Begin to develop a list of interests, educational goals, special talents and abilities, and personal qualities.
November
- Stay focused on the quality of your school work.
- Create a timeline for registering and taking standardized tests keeping in mind any academic, extracurricular, or personal commitments, e.g. athletic schedules. Juniors should make plans to take at least one, but more likely two standardized tests by June of junior year. Since juniors do not receive their PSAT results until mid-December we strongly encourage students not to begin taking the SAT or ACT until February/March of junior year at the earliest.
- Begin to investigate colleges and careers. Take advantage of the You Science Career Profile and Aptitude section in Scoir.
- Make plans to visit colleges during breaks and on weekends. Discover what type of college suits you best.
December
January
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Group Advisory classes begin in second semester. These classes will help you in a step-by-step fashion through the college search process.
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Become familiar with information about the college search process by visiting the College Counseling website. Talk to your counselors, teachers, family and friends about your thoughts and expectations.
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Sign up to meet with your college counselor. Signups can be found in the course materials on Schoology.
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There is a College Information Night for Junior parents that is held in late January. See our calendar for more information.
February
- Review the Program of Studies to plan your roster for senior year. Plan to challenge yourself with rigorous courses. Consider taking AP courses in your strong subjects. Discuss your interests with the AP teachers. Consult with your college counselor.
- Become familiar with course requirements for college. Continue to clarify your goals, interests, and needs.
- Compile a list of possible college choices. Discuss college costs and application fees with your parents.
- Begin to make plans for college summer programs, research opportunities, online courses, or jobs. Visit the summer programs tab in the College Counseling Seminar page tab in Schoology.
- Meet your college counselor if you have not done so already.
March
- Complete the work required for the advisory classes in a thorough and thoughtful way. The information you provide will help your counselor write a meaningful letter of recommendation and will help you in the search process.
- Make plans to visit colleges over Easter break. Since college students will be on campus your visit will be much more informative.
- Identify at least one teacher to ask to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf.
- Meet with your college counselor if you have not done so already.
April
- You should have taken at least one SAT/ACT test by now. Sign up for additional testing if desired.
- Finalize your activities resume in Scoir.
- Meet with your college counselor if you have not done so already.
- Students will create a Common Application account in their College Counseling Seminar class. The Common App is accepted by over 900 colleges and universities.
May
- By now you should have met with your college counselor to discuss your college plans. Continue to refine your list of possibilities.
- Become familiar with Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action Action types of applications.
- Finalize your summer plans for college visits, summer programs, and jobs.
June
- Start to think about application essay topics. Prepare writing samples, portfolios, audition or athletic materials for the fall application season.
- Read during the summer. Maintain and strengthen your skills.
- Visit college campuses and be aware of summer open houses.
- Take time for family, friends and fun. Have a great summer!
Senior Monthly Planning
September
- Senior Parent College Q&A Night is held in early September. Check the calendar for this year's date.
- Group Advisory will continue through the end of October with a concentration on the college application process.
- Meet with your college counselor.
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Be aware of all application and financial aid deadlines.
- Refresh your memory on student and La Salle responsibilities in applying to colleges. Click here for a review.
- Students and parents are urged to check the College Counseling Website, read the weekly Explorer ExPress, the monthly College Counseling Update, and access the Student Bulletin for details regarding scheduled visits of colleges, SAT/ACT test dates & deadlines, and college fairs/open houses.
- Inform Mrs. Palopoli in the College Counseling Center of your initial list of college applications and update in Scoir.
- Ideally you should narrow down your college choices to between 6 and 8. However, every individual is different and this may not apply in your situation.
- A Financial Aid Information Session is held at either La Salle or The Mount in late September. Check the calendar for this year's date.
- Take time to write thoughtful and original essays for the college applications. Essays are a critical part of the application. Ask an English teacher to review the content and to proof read what you have written.
- Create and fill out STAR (Self-Reported Academic Record) account.
October
- FAFSA for federal and state aid should be filed as soon as possible after October 1st. You can apply online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid.
- Be aware of the financial aid forms needed for each college since each college has its own requirements and deadlines. The possibilities are the FAFSA and the CSS Profile. Confirm requirements and deadlines via the college’s own website.
- Mrs. Palopoli must be notified of all colleges that you plan on applying to Early Action or Early Decision by the first week in October.
- Be aware SAT/ACT test dates & deadlines. Tests taken BEFORE November typically count for Early Action/Decision with 11/1 deadlines.
November
December
- Be aware of all deadlines for applications and scholarships.
- Mrs. Palopoli must be notified of all colleges that you plan on applying to by December 1st.
- Please continue to update Scoir with any addition or deletions of colleges as well as admission decisions.
- Study for semester exams. College admissions will look very closely at these senior grades and interim GPA.
- The College Counseling Office follows the student and faculty schedule and will be closed during the entire Christmas vacation.
January - May
- Transcripts including your 7th semester grades senior year will be automatically sent to colleges in late January.
- Inform the College Counseling Office (Mrs. Palopoli) of all acceptances and scholarships and provide the necessary documentation. Update college admission decisions in Scoir.
- Revisit campuses, if necessary, once you have been accepted.
- National Decision Day is April 1: most decisions will be received by that date.
- Deposit at only one college and notify the other colleges that you are withdrawing your acceptance.
- Notify the teachers who wrote for you of your decision and thank them for their efforts.