Counseling

Senior Dates and Deadlines
August
• Finalize your schedule, making certain that you have all the classes you need to graduate and to meet college entrance and NCAA (if applicable) requirements.
• Register for the SAT (SAT School Day will be in Oct.)
• Register for the September ACT if you plan to take it.
• Begin to finalize your college list.
• Apply for CSF if you qualified for 2nd semester of junior year. The deadline is the end of the third week of the semester.

September/October
• Pay attention to the college visit announcements at IHS.
• Attend College Fairs. Fresno hosts both a general college fair and a Christian college fair.
• Attend information sessions with college representatives who visit IHS.
• Write your college essay.
• Finalize your college list.
• Give teachers two weeks' notice to write letters of recommendation. Provide them with a resume and stamped envelope addressed to the school if the recommendation cannot be submitted electronically.
• Begin filing applications.
• Request transcripts from the Counseling Office.
• CSU applications may be filed from October 1 to November 30 at www.CSUmentor.edu.
• Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse if you plan to play sports in college at https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/.
• Research and apply for scholarships in Naviance and at www.fastweb.com or www.cappex.com/scholarships. Check the scholarship bulletin link often for updated lists of scholarships.
• October 1 is the first day to file the FAFSA, which is required to receive any form of college financial aid. This also serves as the student application portion of Cal Grant (must be submitted prior to March 2).

November/December
• UC applications may be filed from November 1-30 at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions.
• Observe all college application deadlines.
• Be sure all applications (scholarships, college, etc.) that are due during Christmas Break are submitted prior to break. You will not be able to reach teachers or the counselor during Christmas Break if you have forgotten to request letters of recommendation or transcripts.
• Send test scores to all schools to which you are applying. Official scores must be requested through the ACT or College Board websites.
• Continue completing community service hours and turn in your progress to Transeo.
• Continue to research and apply for scholarships.

January/February
• If applying to private schools, find out whether they require the CSS PROFILE supplemental financial aid form. Fees are required. Go to https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/​​​​​​​.
• Submit your CSF paperwork if you qualified with your first semester grades. The deadline is typically the end of the first three weeks of the semester.
• Rank your finalized list of colleges.

​​​​​​​March/April
• Receive college admission notifications.
• Discuss your options with your family, teachers and counselor.
• Compare your financial aid packages: www.wiredscholar.com/deciding/award_comparison/ac_index.jsp.
• If you are wait listed, decide on your options.
• Return all paperwork on time, paying special attention to the May 1 deadline by which many colleges must have your decision and a deposit.
• Continue to apply for private and independent scholarships.
• Notify other schools that you will not be attending in May
• Deadline for responding to colleges for admission, financial aid and housing is May 1.
• Request that final transcript be sent to the college you will be attending.
• Notify the Counseling Office of which school you have chosen to attend and any awards or scholarships you have received.

Junior year is considered by many students to be the toughest. Maintaining a strong GPA in rigorous coursework may be challenging but is important. 

• All juniors will take the PSAT semester 1. 
• If students have not yet done so, linking their College Board accounts and Khan Academy will provide individualized practice as they prepare for the SAT. Linking Khan Academy and College Board accounts
• Students and parents may also meet individually with the counselor to discuss specific scores. 
• Junior year PSAT scores are used for eligibility in the National Merit Scholarship Competition. 
• SAT School Day will be offered in October and April. 
• Review your College and Career Readiness Guide (sent out after both fall and spring semester) to keep track of your progress. 
• During the second semester, students meet with the counselor to discuss future goals and college choices. 
• Course selection and advisory for the senior year occurs in the classrooms during the second semester.

Semester 2
• Meet with your counselor to make sure you are on track with your four-year plan and are taking the appropriate classes, meeting both high school graduation requirements and college admissions requirements.
• Maintain a strong GPA in rigorous coursework and continue to be involved in school, community and church.
• Apply for CSF if you qualified for 2nd semester sophomore year, by the deadline. The deadline is typically the end of the first three weeks.
• Research schools and compile a list of realistic and dream/reach schools in Naviance.
• Continue to talk with your parents about your future plans; become more specific about how you and your parents can finance those plans.
• Attend College Fairs.
• Attend sessions with college representatives who visit IHS.
• Use the free SAT test prep found on Khan Academy and Naviance to help you study and prepare for the spring exams.
• Take the PSAT in October to prepare for college admissions tests and to establish your eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship competition.
• Confer with your counselor to review your PSAT scores and their implications for your college/career interests.
• Begin SAT/ACT test preparation: Remember you may take these tests multiple times and universities will consider all your scores. Begin studying now, even if you plan on taking the test at the end of this year. Utilize the test prep course on Khan Academy and in Naviance.

Semester 2
• Join CSF if Semester 1 grades qualify. The deadline is typically the end of the first three weeks.
• Continue to research colleges, tour campuses, and possibly narrow your search.
• Student Athletes: register with the NCAA Clearinghouse if you expect to play competitively in college.
• Take the SAT and/or the ACT in May or June.
• Take AP exams for any AP courses you took.
• Plan course selection for senior year: Choose a full and rigorous schedule for your senior year. Universities expect to see the same level of coursework and grades the senior year (they do check and college acceptance can be revoked) as when the student was accepted based on the sophomore and junior year transcript.

Summer
• Begin filling out the Common Application, found at www.commonapp.org.
• Begin writing your application essay.
• Tour college campuses.
• Continue your involvement in church and community service and log your progress in Transeo.  

Remember, grades count for college admission and NCAA eligibility! Work hard and smart.

• Review your College and Career Readiness Guide (sent out after both fall and spring semester) to keep track of your progress.
• Change to say “ All sophomores take the PSAT 10, part of the College Board’s SAT preparation program. (one of two national college entrance exams). Since the test is taken in the spring semester, results are available on their College Board account during the summer. Students (and parents) may make appointments with counselor to discuss their scores
• Second semester is also the first opportunity for students to join the California Scholarship Federation (CSF) if they qualify based on first semester grades.
• Course selection and advisement for junior year take place second semester.
• Explore college options, career and scholarship explorations in Naviance.
• Log your community service through Transeo as you progress through the year.
• Sophomores should continue to feel free to stop by and see their counselor to discuss school, dreams, goals and life.

Freshman year is important in establishing strong study habits and study skills. For overall GPA, freshman year counts.

• Guidance starts with freshman scheduling and concludes with course selection and advisory at the end of the year.
• Freshmen are introduced to college and career planning in Freshman Readiness, taken during the 1st semester.  In this course, freshmen take inventories to better understand their unique talents and interests. They also begin to research careers and colleges.
• All freshmen take the PSAT 9 which is part of College Board’s SAT preparation program in the Spring.
• Students are able to link their College Board accounts with Khan Academy to access individualized PSAT and SAT test preparation.
• Review your College and Career Readiness Guide (sent out after fall semester) to keep track of your progress.
• Explore college options, career and scholarship explorations in Naviance.
• Freshmen are encouraged to stop by the counseling office and discuss any academic issues or just to talk so that the counselor can get to know, and thus better guide, the students.