Sign up for strong courses and make studying your number one priority.
Work up to your potential—the grades you earn become part of your Grade Point Average (GPA).
Participate in extracurricular activities.
Begin to work on your community service hours requirement for graduation.
Make your summer meaningful. Consider summer school, a part-time job, volunteer work, or other enrichment opportunities.
Begin looking at strong courses to take in 10th grade.
When on vacation, drive through and walk around college campuses just to get the feel of different types of schools.
Take the PSAT.

Fall

•Create a log including all extracurricular activities, awards, community service, and honors. Update it every season.
•Get involved in extracurricular activities. Colleges are looking for well-rounded students.
•Start off the year right by making good grades.
•Make sure you are enrolled in challenging classes.
•Sophomore year, take the PSAT. The PSAT is preparation for the SAT.

Spring

•Attend college fairs in the area.
•Sign up for challenging classes for the following year.
•Colleges look for volunteer hours, so start early with meaningful community service and leadership positions.

Take strong courses and continue to work to your full potential.
Be a self-advocate, attend tutorials, and do not let yourself fall behind in your classes.
Meet with teachers as necessary to review course work, tests, and other academic work.
Begin to consider the various types of colleges and universities available and the types of programs they offer.
If you have not done so yet, take the PSAT. You do not need to take a preparatory course for these tests in the sophomore year.
Use the results of these tests to determine strengths and weaknesses.
Begin to visit colleges informally whenever you are near one during a family vacation or trip.
Make your summer meaningful. Summer experiences are invaluable for personal growth and add depth to a resume.
Work on your community service hours. Many colleges and scholarship applications focus on community service.

Study! Study! Study!

Fall

•Create a log including all extracurricular activities, awards, community service, and honors. Update it every season.
•Get involved in extracurricular activities. Colleges are looking for well-rounded students.
•Start off the year right by making good grades.
•Make sure you are enrolled in challenging classes.
•Sophomore year, take the PSAT. The PSAT is preparation for the SAT.

Spring

•Attend college fairs in the area.
•Sign up for challenging classes for the following year.
•Colleges look for volunteer hours, so start early with meaningful community service and leadership positions.

Junior Year plays a significant role in the college admissions process. When you begin to apply to colleges during the fall of Senior year, your Junior year grades and achievements will be the “first impression” you make to the colleges you submit applications to. This means it is incredibly important to focus on your grades as they will largely affect the GPA presented to colleges on your initial transcript. 
 
Here are some important items to keep in mind for this significant year:
  • Talk with college representatives and begin to establish contact with various colleges of interest to you. Make sure to build connections when college representatives visit our campus for events such as the Christian College Fair and various lunch and learn visits.
  • Take the PSAT and Pre-ACT and consider taking the formal ACT, SAT and CLT to become aware of how you perform. Determine which scores you will aim to achieve for the college admissions process. Consider standardized test prep courses and tutoring resources. Resources recommended by ECS can be requested from your college counselor. Remember you will have the opportunity to retest during Senior Year if necessary.
  • Attend the junior family meeting (for students and parents/guardians) with the college counselor for college guidance tips and scholarship resources.
  • Continue to work on your community service hours and involvement in your community to build your resume. Consider running for leadership positions within ECS clubs and programs.
  • VISIT Colleges! Get a feel for the colleges that interest you and build connections with admissions teams in-person. This is so incredibly valuable in the process of determining where you would like to go to college and which schools would be the “best fit” for you.
  • Make summer meaningful! Consider internships, enrichment (Pre-College) programs on college campuses, work experience, mission trips, etc.

Senior Year:
  • Sign up again for the SAT, ACT, or CLT if necessary. In School test offerings are not required, but highly recommended. Continue test prep if appropriate. You will receive communication on test dates and registration from our test coordinator, Mr. Jacobson, and our college counselor, Mrs. Heredia.
  • Make plans to visit college campuses of interest to you. Finalize your college application list.
  • Attend the senior family meeting (for students and parents/guardians) with the college counselor for admission tips and to review the college application process.
  • Schedule a senior meeting with your college counselor to receive individualized guidance in the college application process.
  • Follow application instructions for each individual college and become aware of application deadlines. Electronically submit all applications on time via Scoir, Common App or the appropriate college website.
  • Check on the financial aid and scholarship process at the specific colleges you are considering. Meet application deadlines.
  • Review your academic achievements and activities at ECS. Submit any new information to your college counselor so it can be added to your transcript.
  • Finish the senior year strong.
  • Enjoy your senior year! You’ve earned it!
Important Senior Year Calendar Items:
  • Initial transcripts will be available to be sent to colleges in August –  Request your initial transcript to be sent to colleges from your college counselor.
  • The FFAA (application for Florida Bright Futures) opens October 1st.
  • The FAFSA (Federal Application for Student Aid) opens December 1st.
  • Transcripts will be updated with first semester grades in December – Request your Midyear transcript to be sent to colleges from your college counselor.
  • Transcripts will be updated with second semester grades in June – Request your Final transcript to be sent to colleges from your college counselor.

Standardized testing scores are a major factor in college admissions decisions. Most colleges will accept the two primary standardized tests, the SAT and the ACT. The College Board also offers specific subject tests called SAT IIs.

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