John Carroll Catholic High School > College Advising

June/July

               Research colleges
                Set up conference with Mrs. Kok and bring your research to the meeting
               Visit colleges
                Make a difference in your community or take a seminar or workshop

Continue to pursue your passions. Selective colleges want to know you did it on your own because you love it.



August/ September

Use Naviance to help you research careers, college majors, study for ACT or SAT.
Remember to check email daily for important information.
Begin filling out applications and continue to visit colleges.

Register for the SAT I if you want to take it.
Register for September and/or October ACT.
Begin visiting colleges (see below as to procedure)
Narrow down colleges to no more than 5 if possible.
Remember your responsibilities if applying Early Decision/ Early Action. ED is binding, EA is not.
Check school's website and emails for college information.
Begin drafts of essays. Many essays can be reused with slight alterations.
Attend National College Fair at Civic Center.
Visit with college reps at your school as much as possible.
Ask teachers for recommendations only when the college or scholarship asks for them (see below for procedure)
If applicable begin a relationship with the admissions person that works with JCCHS by emailing them your thoughts and questions. Let them know you are truly interested in attending their school. This may help if you are on the border line of being accepted.
Begin to apply to colleges if you would like to attend that college. (see below for procedure)

OCTOBER

Be aware of Early Decision/Early Action deadlines.
Submit Early Decision/Early Action applications.
Update resume`. Email new one to Mrs. Kok
Take SAT I / ACT if needed. Remember this is the last date for most college scholarships.
Work on college essays.
Plan college visits and interviews (remember a thank you letter).
Continue any of the previous month’s activities that are applicable.
Continue to check emails, visit the college advising portion of JCCHS’ website
Sign up for all of the websites that send you scholarship information such as Fast Web. A list of these is on the JCCHS College Advising page.
Any recommendations teachers or Mrs. Kok need to write with a 12/1 deadline must be to that person by Monday of the second week in November. Remember the school is closed for Thanksgiving and writers need ample time to write.

NOVEMBER

Take SAT I if needed.
Research sources of scholarships throughout the year. Does the college you applied to have a separate scholarship form? You can find that out at their website. Always apply for the merit scholarships by filling that out on-line.
You should have visited colleges now and begin to narrow down your choices.
Continue above bullets where applicable.
Remember that 12/1 is deadline for majority of schools merit money. Check their websites to be certain.
Recommendations from teachers of Mrs. Kok due before the Christmas holidays or before January 10th must be turned in by Monday, November 29. Whereas this might sound like a long time, it isn’t. Thisi is because of the way the holidays fall.

DECEMBER

Take SAT I or ACT if needed this is not too late for admission though for most institutional scholarships.
Finish all applications and essays to selective colleges. Meet with counselor to review essay(s)
Check all application deadlines
Talk with graduates who are home for the holidays

JANUARY

Come to Financial Aid Workshop here at JCCHS, and File FAFSA
Submit mid-year grade forms to Mrs. Kok if your school asks for them. You can check the application and website of the individual colleges and it will tell you. Auburn, Alabama, UAB do not ask for them.
Take SAT I if needed.
Continue to visit colleges.
Continue to apply for private (not merit) scholarships. Some merit may still be available and if ACT scores go up and you have already applied for merit have your new scores sent.
Reread all months above and follow the bullets where applicable.

FEBRUARY

_{Check / apply for private scholarships.}
_{File FAFSA if not completed in January. You don’t want to wait until the colleges and federal government are out of money.}
_{Submit additional information to colleges (new scores, grades, honors, etc.) which may help your admission and / or scholarship process if needed}.

MARCH

Continue to check / apply for scholarships.
Check deadlines for AP Exams.

APRIL

Review college responses and aid offers with your parents and counselor.
Write withdrawal letters to colleges you will not attend by May 1.
Send deposit by May 1 to school you will attend.

MAY

Take AP Exams if applicable.
Confirm housing plans.

SUMMER

ENJOY YOURSELF! YOU'VE WORKED HARD AND YOU DESERVE IT!!!!!

Procedures listed above

College Days

1.      In order for it to count as no absence at John Carroll you must set up a tour with the school or go on one of their open house days.

2.      Going on a tour? Call the school or go on-line at their website to set it up

3.      If you want to visit certain departments, call admissions and ask them to set that up for you

4.      Pick up a college day form in Guidance and have it signed by a parent.

5.      Turn it in at least 7 days before you go on the trip

6.      Take the second page of the form with you. The college signs that to verify you were there.

7.      Turn the second page in to the front office when you return in order that it doesn’t count as an absence.

Apply

1.      When you are ready to apply, do that online.

2.      IF there is a recommendation form for Mrs. Kok to fill out, bring it to her with three weeks preferable time to write the recommendation.

3.      Fill out a rec request, clip it to the rec form and hand it to Mrs. Kok

4.      If it requires a teacher rec, follow the same procedure.

5.      Fill out a transcript request form in Guidance, (green) give to Mrs. Covington and a transcript will be sent. The college will take about 2 to 3 weeks and match it with your application you did on-line.