College Planning

Your best online college planning resource is Naviance. Use this resource to explore majors, careers, and colleges.

Below is a suggested timeline per grade level, but remember, everyone is at different places and will go at their own pace! 

College Planning Timeline

Freshman Year                 

  • Get to know your school counselor
  • Build relationships with your teachers
  • Practice self-advocating respectfully and effectively
  • Aim for high grades and prioritize academics
  • Get involved with extracurricular activities
  • Start earning volunteer services hours and logging them into x2VOL
  • Discuss your academic and career planning with your family
  • Make course selections that suit your academic abilities and interests
  • Start your activities list/resume

Sophomore Year  

  • Take the practice PSAT in October
  • Engage in counselor led lesson on Career Interests & Planning (3rd Quarter)
  • Attend Career Talks (3rd Quarter)
  • Stay in touch with your counselor; develop relationships with your teachers
  • Start thinking and talking about your possible career interests
  • Continue your commitment to your classes, activities, and service
  • Plan to take classes that are challenging but allow you to maintain a balance
  • Explore your interests, both during the school year and over the summer
  • Update your resume with new activities, honors, etc.

Junior Year

  • Take the PSAT in October
  • Attend college fairs, information sessions, and open houses as appropriate
  • Participate in college visits to the Career Center in the fall
  • Attend Junior Focus Day (3rd Quarter)
  • Attend Spring College Planning Night (3rd Quarter)
  • Continue your exploration of careers that might interest you
  • Continue your commitment to your classes, activities, and service
  • Continue developing relationships with your counselor and teachers
  • Talk with your family about college costs; attend Financial Aid Night
  • Consider if you will apply to schools who are test optional or not before deciding to test (SAT/ACT)
  • If you are taking AP classes, consider taking 1 or 2 SAT Subject Tests in May
  • Do your college research; visit colleges; narrow your list
  • Discuss your plans for classes and college with your counselor and your family
  • Make academic choices that challenge you but don’t overwhelm you
  • Ask your teachers for recommendation letters
  • Keep your resume/activities list up to date
  • Have the finance conversation with your family on how college will be paid for

Rising Seniors (summer)

  • Plan for a meaningful summer job, internship, or volunteer activity
  • Complete your senior packet forms
  • Take the Free SAT in October at McLean HS
  • Prepare your final list of colleges you plan to apply to
  • Complete your college visits, if necessary
  • Check the websites of your colleges for deadlines and requirements
  • Get a jump on your college essays
  • Consider attending the Common App Workshops held at MHS in Aug/Sept

Senior Year

  • Return your senior packet materials to your counselor the first day of school
  • Complete your spreadsheet/list of colleges with deadlines and requirements
  • Remember that scholarship deadlines sometimes come first
  • Research if your schools are test options at fairtest.org 
  • Register for any SAT/ACT you still need to take
  • Continue to discuss/refine your academic and career plans
  • Follow up on your teacher recommendations
  • Submit your transcript request form to your school counselor
  • Keep your grades up—colleges can rescind offers if you slack off senor year
  • Work diligently (well before the deadline) on your applications
  • Be sure a trusted adult (teacher, counselor, etc.) proofreads your essays
  • Thank your teachers and counselor for their recommendation letters
  • Research which colleges are self-reported or if you need to send your official scores through collegeboard.org
  • Submit your college applications well in advance of deadlines
  • Attend Financial Aid Night if appropriate; file the FAFSA in January
  • Complete the CSS profile if applicable or college's own financial aid portal
  • If you are admitted Early Decision, withdraw your other applications
  • Review your acceptances and award packages in the spring
  • Make your final choice and deposit to that college by May 1
  • Complete your Senior Survey in May (where MHS will send your final transcript)
  • Enjoy Prom and Graduation!