POST SECONDARY PLANNING
LONGMEADOW HIGH SCHOOL | 95 GRASSY GUTTER ROAD | LONGMEADOW, MA 01106 | P 413-565-4220 | F413-565- 4233
12TH AND 11TH GRADERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND meetings with college admissions counselors. Lists of college visits are posted in Naviance Family Connection. Students can sign up for a visit through Naviance but they must obtain a pass from their classroom teachers, 24 hours in advance, in order to attend.
ATTENDANCE AT COLLEGE VISITS must not interfere with work or with test periods. Teachers shall have the privilege of denying absences from class where it is deemed advisable. Each visit will last about 30 minutes. Classroom teachers can check an attendance sheet in the Counseling Department.
9TH GRADE
ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITY
Take responsibility for your academic program (freshman year grades count)
GET INVOLVED!
Participate in extracurricular or community activities. Expand your talents and interests. Gain leadership experience and develop socially.
MEET WITH YOUR COUNSELOR
Meet with your counselor to discuss and update your academic plan.
WORK HARD
Work hard in your classes and reach our for help if needed. You are your own best advocate!
10TH GRADE
TAKE THE PSAT
Register and take the PSAT (optional) in the fall
MEET WITH YOUR COUNSELOR
Review the results of your PSAT (if taken).
Continue to discuss and update your academic plan.
Begin to develop your post-secondary plans.
NAVIANCE STUDENT
Become familiar with Naviance Student, a comprehensive website that you can use to help in making plans about your courses, colleges, and careers (Counseling to distribute login information).
STRENGTHS EXPLORER
Evaluate your personality, interests, learning style and skills by completing the StrengthsExplorer; Learning and Productivity assessment, Personality assessment and Career Interest Profiler in Naviance Student.
Look for an interesting summer opportunity - job, volunteer position, education program.
11TH GRADE
REGISTER AND TAKE THE PSAT
Register and take the PSAT (recommended) in the fall. Review results of PSAT to see where extra work or skill improvement is needed
ATTEND THE 11TH GRADE COUNSELOR MEETING TO:
Set-up a testing timeline for SAT’s and/or ACT’s (if needed, many colleges/universities are test-optional).
Plan your 12th grade year (Remember that 12th grade courses and grades are important in the college admission process)
Discuss your post- secondary/college plans (complete the Junior Meeting Questionnaire before your appointment)
Attend the 11th Grade Parent Night.
BEGIN YOUR COLLEGE SEARCH
Review your Junior booklet to keep you on track.
Visit the LHS website>College Planning>Junior Year.
Research colleges in Naviance. Add colleges to “Colleges I Am Thinking About” in Naviance.
Meet with college representatives who visit LHS in the fall. Sign up in Naviance>Colleges tab>college visits.
Visit colleges while classes are still in session. Take a campus tour and attend admissions information sessions, if offered.
Think about teachers who might write your recommendations.
If you plan on competing in Division I or II college sports and want to be eligible to be recruited by colleges, you must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center at www.eligibilitycenter.org
SUMMER BEFORE 12TH GRADE
Update/create a resume of your high school accomplishments, activities, and work in the Resume builder in the About Me tab in Naviance.
Register early for fall SAT or ACT tests (if needed).
Begin to work on your college essay.
Move colleges from “Colleges I am Thinking About” to Colleges I Am Applying To” in Naviance.
Begin completing college applications-The Common Application opens in early August. Use your personal email when creating your account.
Continue to visit college campuses.
Complete the Student Data Portfolio to help your counselor write their counselor evaluation. Save your work often so you do not lose it.
Have your parent(s) complete the Parent Brag Sheet.
SENIOR YEAR
GRADES ARE IMPORTANT
Don’t get senioritis. 12th grade courses and grades are very important in the college admission decision!
Register for SAT or ACT tests, if needed.
Meet with college representatives who visit LHS in the fall. Sign up in Naviance>Colleges tab>college visits.
Familiarize yourself with the LHS college application procedures located in Senior Booklet found on the LHS website>Counseling>college Planning>Senior Year.
Evaluate Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision admission option.
Finalize your list of colleges and add to “Colleges I Am Applying To” in Naviance (Follow the LHS college application procedures in the Senior Booklet).
DEADLINES
Deadlines are very important in the college admission process. Make sure you meet the application deadlines of the colleges and the LHS deadlines as outlined on the Home page in Naviance.
FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS
Attend the LHS Financial Aid Night.
Notify your counselor as you receive admission decisions.
Apply for scholarships – view available scholarships in Naviance.
Submit your FAFSA soon after October 1st, CSS Profile (if required by college).
Review financial aid packages.
Send your deposit to the college you will attend by May 1st.
Attend the MEFA webinar on Understanding Financial Aid Offers & Paying the College Bill. Sign-up at MEFA.org/events
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