Raymond High School

Senior Year Calendar and Checklist – Class of 2012

August

• 12^th - ACT Registration Deadline for the September 10 test w/o a late fee
• 31^st - Senior Student/Parent Info Night - 6pm in RHS Commons
• Time to review your career plans and start deciding what kind of post secondary education will best fit your plans.
• Request admissions information and school catalogs.
• Obtain registration materials and testing dates for SAT and ACT assessments.
• Visit http://going2college.org/ for info about career, college, and financial aid resources.
• If you plan on competing in Division I or Division II college sports, check with your counselor and Athletic Director to make sure you will qualify for NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse.

Related links

*  Scholastic Aptitude Test:

http://www.collegeboard.com/testing/

*  ACT Assessment:

http://www.act.org/aap/

*  NCAA Eligibility Center

http://web5.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA_EMS.html#

September

• 1^st - First Day of School at RHS
• 6^th-12^th Add/Drop window for your classes
• 9^th- SAT Registration deadline for October 1 test
• 10^th – First ACT testing of the year
• 16^th ACT Registration Deadline for the October 22 test w/o a late fee.
• Your counselor plays a big role in helping you get into college, so keep her/him informed. Meet to talk about your college plans and review your transcript.
• It is not too soon to start planning for college and/or technical school campus visits.
• Get started on your applications right away if you plan to apply through an early decision or early action program. Deadlines for early applications tend to fall in October or November.
• Start working on your college essays. Write essays that focus on your experiences and make you stand out from the crowd.
• Update your resume—your list of accomplishments, involvements, and work experiences—with your senior year activities. Your resume will help you complete your applications and essays.

Related links:

* Early Decision & Early Action:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/104.html

* College Application Checklist:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/8435.html

* Choosing an Essay Topic:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/109.html

October 

• 1^st -  First SAT testing of the year
• 7^th – Deadline to register for Nov. 5 SAT
• 22^rd – Second ACT testing of the year.
• TBD – Josten’s Rep here to handout Graduation Order Forms
• Ask your counselor, teachers, and coaches or employers for letters of recommendation. Give them plenty of time to meet your deadlines, provide them with your resume and/or an outline of possible points to cover, and make sure to provide them with stamped and addressed envelopes.
• Take ACT and SAT tests. Make sure your scores are sent to each of your colleges.
• If you are applying under an early decision or early action program, be sure to get all forms in as soon as possible. Applying online might be the right option for you.

Related link:

*  Letters of Recommendation:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/119.html

November

• 4^th – End of 1^st Quarter (It went by fast didn’t it?)
• TBD - Josten’s Graduation Order Forms due
• 4^th – Deadline to register for Dec. 10 ACT w/o a late fee
• 5^th – SAT test
• 8^th – Deadline to register for Dec. 3 SAT
• Submit early decision and early action applications on time.
• Work hard at completing your college essays. Proofread them rigorously for mistakes.
• Follow up with your teachers to ensure that letters of recommendation are sent on time to meet your deadlines.
• Mail applications as early as possible for colleges with rolling deadlines (admissions decisions are made as applications are received).
• Take SAT tests. Make sure your scores are sent to each of your colleges. 

Related links:

* Three Steps to a Great Essay: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/9405.html

* Essay Writing Tips: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/9406.html

December 

• 3^rd - Third SAT testing of the school year
• 10^th – Third ACT testing of the school year
• 30^th – Deadline to register for Jan. 28, 2012 SAT
• Sign up for a PIN to complete your FAFSA online. Let your parents know that hey will need a PIN as well.
• Wrap up college applications before winter break. Make copies of each application before you send it.
• Take SAT tests. Make sure your scores are sent to each one of your colleges.
• Early decision and early application responses arrive this month.

Related link:

*  Financial Aid Info:

http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/pinindex.jsp

January

• ASAP after January 1 – complete your FAFSA online.
• 13^th – Deadline to register for Feb. 11 ACT w/o a late fee
• 28th – Fourth SAT testing of the year
• 26^th - End of 1^st Semester
• TBD – Collections of Evidence (CoE) due for HSPE
• Early decision and early application responses arrive this month.
• Some colleges include your first-semester grades as part of your application folder. This is called the mid-year grade report. Have your counselor send your grades to colleges that require them.

Related link:

*  FAFSA Web Site:

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/index.htm 

February

• Early in month – Deadline to submit Collection of Evidence
• 10^th – Deadline to register for Mar. 10 SAT
• 11^th – Fourth ACT testing of the school year
• FAFSA Deadline for 4-yr colleges
• Contact your colleges and confirm that all necessary application materials have been received.
• Finish Strong!!! Fight senioritis! Colleges want to see strong second semester grades.
• Pay attention if you need to make-up a state assessment (WASL/HSPE), March is the month to do that – see Mr. Vetter or Mr. Bowen. 

Related links:

*   What to Do About Senioritis:    http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/the-application/8626.html

March

• 9^th – Deadline to register for Apr. 14 ACT w/o a late fee (and last opportunity to get results before June graduation)

• 10^th - Fifth SAT testing of the school year
• Senior Culminating Project due
• Don’t Let Up!
• This is a good month to make college campus visits.
• Some admissions decisions arrive this month. Read everything you receive carefully, as some of it may require action on your part.

Related links:

*  Decision-Making Guide:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/letters-are-in/103.html

April

• 6^th – End of 3^rd quarter
• 6^th - Deadline to register for May 5 SAT
• 14^th – Fifth ACT testing (and last opportunity to get results before June graduation)
• Most admissions decisions and financial aid award letters arrive this month. Read everything you receive carefully, as some of it may require action on your part.
• Make a final decision, and mail the enrollment form and deposit check to the school you select before May 1 (the enrollment deadline for most schools).
• Notify (in writing) each of the schools to which you were accepted that you will not be attending so that your spot can be freed up for another student.
• On the waiting list? Contact the admissions office and let them know of your continued interest in the college and update them on your spring semester grades and activities.

Related links:

* Rejected? Now What?:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/letters-are-in/126.html

* What to Do if You're Wait-Listed:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/letters-are-in/124.html

May

• 4^th - Deadline to register for June 9 ACT w/o a late fee
• 5^th - Sixth SAT testing in the school year (and last opportunity to get results before June graduation)
• 8^th – Deadline to register for June 2 SAT
• TBD ^– Advanced Placement testing window. Make sure your AP score report is sent to your college.
• Prepare a realistic student budget.
• Thank your counselor, teachers, coaches, and anyone else who wrote you recommendations or otherwise helped with your college applications.

Related link:

* Next Steps:

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/letters-are-in/9940.html

June

• Senior Trip - TBD
• 6th -  (3:10pm) - Last date to complete all classes, assignments, exams etc in order to participate in RHS graduation ceremony on June 9. Study hard for final exams. Most admissions offers are contingent on your final grades.
• 7^th and 8^th – Graduation Practice – 8:20am in Gym
• 9^th - Raymond High School Class of 2012 Commencement at 2pm.
• Have your counselor send your final transcript to your college choice.
• If you plan on competing in Division I or Division II college sports, have your counselor send your final transcript to the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse.