11th Timeline | The School Counselor

Class of 2023

11th Grade Timeline!

Here you will find a list of grade-specific activities that you should be doing based on your grade level.

Also included are resources to help you complete the process, (videos, handouts, presentations, links)

To find out more information and get specific dates/deadlines for these activities, just click on each activity below.

College and Career Planning: Getting Where U Want To Go!

Junior year marks a turning point. This is because for most students and families, it’s when college planning activities kick into high gear. Here are some things you can do this year to stay on track for college.

Top Must Do's for Juniors:

FALL

Kick it into high gear by continuing to follow the Must Do's that you completed back in 9th Grade and 10th Grade. Those building blocks helped get you this far and its now time to step it up. Be sure to follow each of the 11th Grade Must Do's listed below for optimal success.

Explore. - Xello is an online program that helps students create their very own unique roadmap for college, career, and future success. Interactive assessments highlight career pathways aligned with the student’s skills, interests, and unique personality. Students can discover their own personalized pathway through self-knowledge, exploration and planning. Students use Xello to access scholarships and assist you with the college application process for things like recommendation letters, transcript requests, and sending the school report.
- How to log in to Xello:
  - Students can log in to Xello by following these instructions.
    - Go to https://clever.com/in/sdusd.
    - Click on the button “Log in with Active Directory”.
    - Type in your student ID & Password.
    - Look for Xello under the instant Login Applications.
    - Click on the XELLO tab.

Start with you! Make lists of your abilities, social/cultural preferences, and personal qualities. List things you may want to study and do in college.

Learn about colleges. Look at their websites and find colleges at Big Future. Talk to friends, family members, counselors, teachers, and recent grads of SDHS now in college. List the college features that interest you.

Resource check: Visit the school counseling office and meet the school counselors there. Is there a college night for students and families? When will college representatives visit your school? (Put the dates in your calendar.)

Speak to your school counselor about taking the PSAT/NMSQT, which is given in October. If you plan to ask for testing accommodations (because of a disability), be sure the College Board has approved your eligibility.

Make a file to manage your college search, testing, and application data. If appropriate (for example, if you’re interested in drama, music, art, sports, etc.), start to gather material for a portfolio.

Estimate your financial aid need. Financial aid can help you afford college. Use the College Board’s Getting Financial Aid and the financial aid calculator at estimate how much aid you might receive.

WINTER

Sign up to take the SAT and/or the ACT in the spring. SAT Registration. ACT Registration. SAT & ACT fee waivers are available to eligible students. To prepare for the SAT, you can access free, personalized SAT practice tools at satpractice.org, including thousands of interactive questions, video lessons, practice tests, and more. Prep for the ACT. What is the SAT. What is the ACT.

Begin a search for financial aid sources. National sources include the College Board’s Scholarship Search and electronic sources. Don’t overlook local and state aid sources. Ask your school counselor for help.

With your family, make an appointment with your school counselor to discuss ways to improve your college preparation and selection processes.

Ask your school counselor and teachers about taking the SAT Subject Tests in the spring. You should take them while course material is still fresh in your mind. You can download The SAT Subject Tests Student Guide, which offers test prep advice.

Opt in to the College Board Opportunity Scholarships. You can earn scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000 by completing individual college planning steps. Complete all six steps and you’ll be eligible for the $40,000 scholarship.

SPRING

Contact your school counselor before leaving school for the summer if you are considering military academies or ROTC scholarships. If you want a four-year ROTC scholarship, you should begin the application process the summer before your senior year.

Develop a list of 15 or 20 colleges that are of interest to you. You can find many colleges at which you’ll be happy and get a great education. The college search is about exploring who you are and what you want and then finding colleges that will meet your goals.

Stay open to all the possibilities, don’t limit your search. To find the best college for you, you should apply to colleges of varying selectivity. Selective colleges admit a portion of students who apply. Some colleges are highly selective while others are less selective. Make sure to apply to public, private, in-state, and out-of-state schools so that you have plenty of options from which to choose.

Take the SAT or the ACT. These tests are typically offered in March, May, and June. Make sure you start preparing for the test several months in advance using the tools available at satpractice.org. ACT Prep. And remember, if you’re not happy with your scores when you get them, you might want to test again in the fall. Many students take the test a second time as seniors, and they usually do better.

Start to gather documents for financial aid. Be sure to keep a copy of your tax returns handy. You’ll use these to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which opens on Oct. 1.

SUMMER

Register with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Eligibility Center if you are an athlete planning to continue playing a sport in college (ncaaclearinghouse.net).

Get your FSA ID. Before you can fill out your FAFSA, you need to get a username and password (also known as an FSA ID).

Find a full-time or part-time job, or participate in a summer camp or summer college program.

Visit colleges. When planning your campus visits, make sure to allow time to explore each college. While you’re there, talk to as many people as possible. These can include college admission staff, professors, and students. Take campus tours and, at colleges you’re serious about, make appointments to have interviews with admission counselors.

Create a résumé, a record of your academic accomplishments, extracurricular activities, and work experiences since you started high school.

Download applications. Go to the website of each college’s admission office and either complete the application online or request a paper application from colleges to which you’ll apply. Check application dates, large universities may have early dates or rolling admission.

Visit some local colleges, large, small, public, and private. A visit to a college campus can help you decide if that college is right for you. Make a plan ahead of time to get the most from your visit. Check out the campus checklist at Big Future.org. Attend college fairs, too.