PLANNING FOR COLLEGE:

(revised 12/3/2007)

Four-Year Timelines for Fairview Students and Families

 

 

            Planning for the future is always a wise idea.  Even as students enter high school as freshmen, they are encouraged to make choices and follow steps during all four years of high school that will best equip them for their goals after graduation.  Considering the fact that there are over 3600 colleges in the United States and that there is a wide range of admissions qualifications and deadlines, three different timelines have been developed to suggest pathways to colleges with varying levels of admissions competitiveness: 

 

            1.  2-year community colleges and 4-year colleges with a high rate of acceptance

 

            2.  Colleges with more competitive standards for admissions

 

            3.  Colleges that are the most competitive in their selection process.

 

………………………………………

 

2-year Community Colleges and 4-year Colleges with a High Rate of Acceptance

 

            Community colleges offer open admission policies, a wide range of classes and subjects, low cost, and the ability to transfer two years of college credit into 4-year college programs.  Most community colleges do not have dorms so students usually live at home while taking courses.  Programs are available in a wide variety of vocational/technical, pre-professional, and liberal arts majors.  There are 17 community colleges in Colorado, including the two closest campuses:  Front Range Community College in Westminster and Longmont.

            Also, some 4-year colleges have admissions standards that are very accepting.  They generally accept over 50% of the students who apply.  Metropolitan State College in Denver, Western State College in Gunnison, Fort Lewis College in Durango are examples of these colleges in Colorado. Keep in mind that there may be very different acceptance rates hidden within the average, for in-state versus out-of-state applicants. Therefore, an out-of-state state university may be more difficult to get into than it first appears.

             The following timeline with blue shading suggests a pathway for entrance into these colleges.  For more information about of all the colleges in Colorado, come and visit the Post-Grad Center in the Library or link to: http://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/Colleges/default.html

 

Competitive College and Universities

 

            Many colleges are more selective in their admissions standards and have a more competitive set of qualifications.  They generally accept 25 to 50% of the students who apply and usually require students to take more classes than are required to graduate from the Boulder Valley School District.  For example, the University of California campuses require a full year of visual and performing arts coursework, and many colleges require various levels of foreign language classes.  The timeline with yellow shading suggests a plan that will help students prepare to apply and be competitive for these colleges:

 

Very Competitive Colleges and Universities

 

            The most selective colleges are much more demanding in terms of choice of classes in high school, grades, standardized test scores (ACT and SAT), résumés, recommendation letters, essays, and possible interviews.  For these, all four years of high school classes and activities are important.  These colleges generally accept 10 to 30% of the students who apply.  The timeline with green shading suggests important choices that will help equip students to be prepared for the most competitive colleges.

 

2-year Colleges and Colleges with High Acceptance Rates

                Community colleges offer open admission policies, a wide range of classes and subjects, low cost, and the ability to transfer two years of college credit into 4-year college programs.  Most community colleges do not have dorms so students usually live at home while taking courses.  Programs are available in a wide variety of vocational/technical, pre-professional, and liberal arts majors.  There are 17 community colleges in Colorado, including the two closest campuses:  Front Range Community College in Westminster and Longmont.

                Also, some 4-year colleges have admissions standards that are very accepting.  They generally accept over 50% of the students who apply.  Metropolitan State College in Denver, Western State College in Gunnison, and Fort Lewis College in Durango are examples of several of these colleges in Colorado.

                 The following timeline suggests a pathway for entrance into these colleges.  For more information about of all the colleges in Colorado, come and visit the Post-Grad Center in the Library or link to: http://highered.colorado.gov/Academics/Colleges/default.html

 

 

Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

Senior

August

·          Meet Link Leader

·          Explore extracurricular activities and sports that interest you

·          Many fall extracurricular activities start in mid-August.  Check with coaches or activity sponsor.

·          Get familiar with the Fairview campus

·          Establish good study habits

·          Choose new friends wisely

 

·          Explore new extracurricular opportunities

·          Many fall extracurricular activities start in mid-August.  Check with coaches or activity sponsor.

·          Update your Fairview profile/résumé

 

·          Register and prepare for the October PSAT which also serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

·          Consider preparation for the fall SAT and/or ACT.  All juniors will take the ACT at Fairview in April.  See Tips-TestSchedules.  

·          Many fall extracurricular activities start in mid-August.  Check with coaches or activity sponsor.

·          Update your Fairview profile/résumé

 

·          If retaking the SAT or ACT, register and study for the fall administrations of these tests

·          Many fall extracurricular activities start in mid-August.  Check with coaches or activity sponsor.

·          Update your Fairview profile/résumé

·          College applications are available on college websites.  Work on completing the application forms and/or the Common Application.

·          See Credible College Reviews 

·          Complete the recommendation letter input forms that you picked up from your counselor in May.  See College Application Process and Student Self-Assessment documents.

·          Ask your parents to complete the Parental Insight Sheet that you picked up from your counselor in May.

·          Improve your chances of acceptance by applying early.

·          If you haven’t already done so, apply for a stipend with the Colorado Opportunity Fund at https://cofweb.cslp.org/cofapp/

September

·          Start 4-year plan

·      Athletes: Check http://www2.ncaa.org  for academic eligibility requirements

·          Start FHS Student Profile

·          Attend FHS activities to discover new opportunities

·          Participate in extra-curricular activities that interest you.

·          Fill out Fairview profile/résumé

·          Go to class – making up missed assignments and credits is time-consuming.

·          Visit Student Achievement Center (SAC) for homework help

·       Consider registering for and taking the October PSAT

·       Attend college rep visits on off-periods

·       Review 4-year plan.  Make sure you are registered for courses that will satisfy both BVSD requirements for graduation and college admission requirements.

·    Athletes: Check http://www2.ncaa.org for academic eligibility requirements

·       Stay involved and develop your interests

·       Continue to build good study habits

·       Get help in the SAC, if needed

·       Register for the PSAT in the counseling office and prepare for the exam.

·       Start a list of potential colleges.  See Composing Your List of Colleges.

·        Review your four-year plan.  Make sure you are registered for courses that will satisfy BVSD requirements for graduation and college requirements. Questions?  See your counselor or stop by the Post-Graduate Planning Center.

·       Athletes: Check http://www2.ncaa.org for academic eligibility requirements

·        Register for the PSAT in the counseling office and prepare for the exam.

·        Use 3-day weekends and holidays to visit college campuses  See College Campus Visits.

·        Narrow your list of colleges.  See Composing Your List of Colleges.

·        Stay involved in FHS activities

·       Review your four-year plan.  Make sure you are registered for courses that will satisfy BVSD requirements for graduation and college requirements. Questions?  See your counselor or stop by the Post-Graduate Planning Center.

·      Athletes: Check http://www2.ncaa.org for academic eligibility requirements

·       Study for SAT & ACT if taking this fall

·       Finalize your list of colleges.  See Composing Your List of Colleges.

·       Improve your chances of admission
– Apply early

·       College applications are available on college websites.  Complete the application forms and/or the Common Application.

·       See Credible College Reviews

·        Use 3-day weekends and holidays to visit college campuses. See College Campus Visits.

·       Recommendation Information forms for counselors are required one month before letters of recommendation are due.  See College Application Process and Student Self-Assessment.

·       Stay involved in FHS activities

·       Enjoy your Sr. year – but grades, through graduation, count!

·       If you haven’t already done so, apply for a stipend with the Colorado Opportunity Fund at https://cofweb.cslp.org/cofapp/

October

·          Consider attending college representative visits during off-periods.  Get permission from the counseling office.

·          Get involved  -  attend sports events, plays, concerts, etc.

 

·          Take the PSAT

·          Take interest and personality surveys in the Post-Grad Center.  See Search For Self.

·          Investigate college information available in the Post-Grad Center

·          Attend college representative visits during free periods

·          Take the PSAT

·          Plan to take the SAT during your junior year and any SAT IIs in June.

·          All juniors will take the ACT in April

·          Attend college representative visits

·          Attend college fairs offered in Denver and Boulder

·          Use 3-day weekends and holidays to visit college campuses

·          Take or retake ACT, SAT or SAT II tests as required.

·          Continue working on your college applications.

·          Pay close attention to college deadlines

·          Attend college representative visits

·          Attend college fairs offered in Denver and Boulder

·          Use 3-day weekends and holidays to visit college campuses

·          Apply for scholarships – (Oct – Apr)

November

·          Quarter report cards  -  Keep your grades up.  Freshman grades are important!

 

·          Quarter report cards  -  Keep grades up

 

·          Quarter report cards  -  Keep grades up

·          Use 3-day weekends and holidays to visit college campuses

·          Quarter report cards  -  Keep grades up

·          Take or retake ACT, SAT or SAT II tests as required.

·          Use 3-day weekends and holidays to visit college campuses

·          Continue working on your college applications.

·          Pay close attention to college deadlines

·          Parents and students should apply for PIN numbers to be used for online submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

·          If you and your parents haven’t already done so, get familiar with the FAFSA and CSS Profile forms that will be required for most student aid.  Start collecting required data.

 

December

·          Enjoy the holiday break!

·          Finish projects.  Begin studying for finals.

·          Pick up PSAT results from the Post-Grad Center

·          Enjoy the holiday break!

·          Finish projects.  Begin studying for finals.

·          Pick up PSAT results from the Post-Grad Center

·          Use 3-day weekends and holidays to visit college campuses

·          Enjoy the holiday break

·          Finish projects.  Begin studying for finals.

·          Take or retake ACT, SAT or SAT II tests as required.

·          Use 3-day weekends and holidays to visit college campuses.

·          Continue working on your college applications.

·          Pay close attention to college deadlines

·          Complete the FAFSA application and be ready to submit it as early in January as possible.  The earlier your application, the higher your chances of maximizing financial aid.

·          Apply for scholarships – (Oct – Apr)

·          Finish projects.  Begin studying for finals.

January

·          Study for finals

·          Revisit your 4-year plan

·          Investigate summer program opportunities.  Popular programs fill up early.  See Summer Opportunities

·          Study for finals

·          Revisit your 4-year plan

·          Investigate summer program opportunities.  Popular programs fill up early.  See Summer Opportunities

·          If you are taking an advanced AP course, register for the AP exams in that subject

·          Study for finals

·          Revisit your 4-year plan

·          Investigate summer program opportunities.  Popular programs fill up early See Summer Opportunities

·          If you are taking an advanced AP course, register for the AP exams in that subject

·          Study for finals

·          Application deadlines for many colleges are still open through late spring or summer.  Visit the Post-Grad Center or talk to your counselor.

·          Complete your FAFSA application and submit it as soon as possible after January 1st.  Early applicants have a better chance at financial assistance.

·          If you are taking an advanced AP course, register for the AP exams in that subject

February

·          Prepare to register for next year’s courses.  Be sure you are familiar with new BVSD graduation requirements and those of colleges you might be interested in attending.

·          Register for next year’s courses

·          Prepare to register for next year’s courses.  Be sure you are familiar with new BVSD graduation requirements and those of colleges you might be interested in attending.

·          Register for next year’s courses

·          Prepare to register for next year’s courses.  Be sure you are familiar with new BVSD graduation requirements and those of colleges you might be interested in attending.

·          Register for next year’s courses

·          ACT and SAT preparation materials can be found in the Student Achievement Center (SAC).  Remember that all juniors take the ACT in April.

·          Register for the SAT and/or ACT

·          There are still scholarships available with application deadlines in February, March and April.

·          Make sure that your colleges have everything that they need.

March

·          Focus on grades and interests

·          Take CSAP scores seriously.  Timed testing is good practice for SATs and ACTs.

·          Focus on grades and interests

·          Take CSAP scores seriously.  Timed testing is good practice for SATs and ACTs.

·          Investigate college information available in the Post-Grad Center

·          Spring Break is a good time for college visits.

·          Visit the Student Achievement Center and see what it has to offer.

·          Focus on grades and interests

·          Investigate college information available in the Post-Grad Center

·          Spring Break is a good time for college visits.

·          Don’t get “senioritis”.  Keep your grades up.  Final college acceptance is contingent on your final Fairview transcript.

·          Make sure that your colleges have everything that they need.

·          Spring Break is a good time for a college visit before making a final decision.

April