Pullman High School

 Continue a serious attitude toward your studies. Your grade point average (GPA) and class rank are important considerations for college acceptance as well as several scholarships.

 Develop good study habits! If you are struggling at any time – first, consult your teacher; second, seek tutoring assistance; and third, consult the academic counselor.

 Set personal goals for academic achievement. Evaluate and re-assess frequently to make sure you are working toward your goals.

 Organize a calendar with deadlines for your school year. Use a planner that works for you. Then work your planner

• Academics
• Activities
• Community Service/Volunteering
• Working
• Testing & Prep – PSAT/SAT/AP

 Review your transcript and confirm it is accurate. Update your High School and Beyond Plan. Upload it to WOIS.

 Sign up for the PSAT (offered once a year in October) in ASB Office. This is the only year in high school where top scores qualify for National Merit Scholarships.

 Study for the PSAT.

 If you signed up for the College Bound , confirm your address with the Washington Student Achievement Council (formerly HECB) CollegeBound or call 1-888-535-0747

 Set up a file for your resume items (electronic or hard copy). Awards, activities, jobs, transcript, hobbies, etc. You will need all this information over the next year of resume building for post high school opportunities.

 Review the PHS Scholarship pages. Plan out all scholarship applications you want to submit as a junior.

 If you haven’t already, take the ASVAB – (Armed Services Vocational and Battery).  Attend information meetings at PHS with visiting representatives from military, colleges, and technical schools.

 Encourage your parents to attend Open House so that they will become familiar with your class schedule, teachers and the school.

 Remember— the Counseling Office is here to help you in any way they can. Contact your counselor if you have any concerns— personal, educational or career.

 High School & Beyond

 Assessment information

 Work your calendar plan.

 Register and study for the PSAT 

 Update your resume file.

 Apply for available scholarships.

 Take the PSAT Test. Be sure to sign up for Student Search Service to hear from colleges and scholarship programs. Results will be sent to the school in about 6 weeks. Top scores for juniors qualify for National Merit Scholarships (notification next fall.)

 Look at your SAT testing date options.

 Attend information meetings at PHS with visiting representatives from military, colleges, and technical schools.

 Work your calendar plan.

 Update your resume file.

 Apply for available scholarships.

 Using your interest inventories, preferences, abilities and personal qualities start developing a preliminary list of post high school career options and the education required. Colleges? Tech Schools? Military? Apprenticeship? Have your parents of counselor help you with this, if needed. These inventories should be available on your WOIS profile if you took Information Technology as a freshman. You may also have other take other free inventories on college planner websites found on the PHS Counseling pages.

 Attend information meetings at PHS with visiting representatives from military, colleges, and technical schools.

 Complete Running Start semester verification form for spring semester if participating in Running Start program.

 Update your calendar plan. Review any changes you need to make for semester two.

 Update your resume file.

 Apply for available scholarships.

 Attend information meetings at PHS with visiting representatives from military, colleges, and technical schools

 Review your PSAT scores so you know what to study for your SAT. You will also be prompted to set up an account with College Board to review your test results. The access code is on your PSAT/NMSQT score report.

 Look at your SAT testing date options.

 Register online for the ACT, SAT I SAT II: Subject Tests you intend to take. These test scores are a requirement for most scholarships and college admission. There is a fee you pay online at the time of registration.

 Prepare for the SAT by taking a free full-length official practice test. Then get a score and skills report. Learn which skills you need to improve. Be sure to sign up for The Official SAT Question of the Day™ for daily practice. You can take either the SAT® or up to three SAT Subject Tests™ on one test day. Plan your testing schedule carefully if you want to take both, and register for two separate test dates.

 If you are planning to take Advanced Placement Exams in May, start reviewing test prep materials at College Board and WOIS. There are free study tips and practice tests.

 Work your calendar plan.

 Study hard for your finals.

 Update your resume file.

 Apply for available scholarships.

 Attend information meetings at PHS with visiting representatives from military, colleges, and technical schools

 Work your calendar plan.

 Update your resume file.

 Apply for available scholarships.

 Review courses you plan to take in your senior year. Consider earning college credit in high school through Advanced Placement (AP), Running Start, College in the High School and/or Tech Prep. Also make sure you are meeting all the class requirements for graduation and your post high school plans.

 Attend Running Start Information meeting for senior year participation.

 Work your calendar plan.

 Update your resume file.

 Apply for available scholarships.

 Register for your Senior Classes.

 Update High School and Beyond Plan. Upload to WOIS.

 Register for SAT I and ACT for May or June, if needed.  Register and prepare for AP exams. Do well on AP Exams and receive credit, advanced placement or both at most colleges for qualifying scores.

 Continue developing a list of after high school options. Research the colleges, tech schools, programs you have on the list.

 Attend college planning day event.

 Register for Advanced Placement Exams

 Work your calendar plan.

 Study for AP Exams. Free exams prep available on WOIS – Test Prep

 Start preparing or updating your resume.

 Attend Senior Project planning meeting if wanting to complete project over summer.

 Apply for available scholarships.

 Plan summer activities early.

• Begin looking for a summer job, volunteer program or internship? Try to find something in your field of interest.
• Signing up for special summer learning programs? Many colleges have summer school classes or programs you can take.
• Participate in leadership events

 Work your calendar plan.

 Update your resume file.

 Apply for available scholarships. If you have not already done so, create a seeker profile on Washington Scholarship Coalition This will help with your scholarship search and application process during your senior year.

 SAT I, SAT II, and AP Exams given this month.

 Continue to narrow down the list of colleges you are considering. Schedule visits during the summer, if possible.

 SAT I and II, and ACT given this month.

 Athletes get cleared by the NCAA by submitting online: NCAA

 Go back through this checklist and try to complete anything you may have missed.

 Consider having Senior Portraits taken during the summer. The yearbook deadlines for seniors come very early in the fall semester of senior year.

 Consider working ahead on any scholarships that you can for the upcoming year. It will save you time during the school year!

 Take campus tours and, at colleges you're serious about, schedule interviews with admission officers. Be sure to bring your campus visit checklist.

 Familiarize yourself with the College Application Process

When should I start working on my applications? You should start your applications in the summer before your senior year. You have more free time then and can focus on getting the application requirements and reviewing them. Most students do the majority of their application work in the fall of their senior year. Before you dive in, make sure you know exactly what you need to do for each application. Remember, that most require an application fee at the time of submission.

How many colleges should I apply to? You should create a list of five to eight colleges that you are interested in attending. The list should contain a mix of safety, probable and reach colleges -- that is, some colleges that you think are very likely to accept you, some that are likely to accept you, and some that are less likely to accept you. Of course, it’s important that you feel that all of them are good fits for your needs.