Our Mission is to work with students, families, schools and community resources to enrich a student's success in school.

Senior Year - College Timeline

Frequently Asked Questions About Proposition 2 (PDF)

September

• Check with your counselor to be sure you are enrolled in enough credits to graduate.
• Check TAKS and THEA requirements.
• Register for SAT and ACT if necessary. (If you miss the first fall test date your next opportunity may be too late to send scores to your college choices for early action or early decision.)
• Complete senior resume and letter of recommendation forms if you need letters of recommendation written for your applications. 
• Many applications do not require a recommendation letter, so check to be sure you will need one before requesting it.
• Give at least two weeks notice.
• Narrow your college choices and request applications for admission, housing, scholarships and financial aid.  
• Check with the Counseling & Guidance Office each month for visiting college representatives and scholarship deadlines. Take these newsletters home to parents to keep them updated on your opportunities.
• NCAA requires a transcript release. See the Records Office for this.
• Attend College & Financial Aid Night. See your counselor for more information. 

October

• Complete essays (if needed) and keep a copy.
• Finish making college visits.
• Give recommendation forms to teachers and counselors writing recommendations for you. Allow at least 2 weeks notice.
• SAT I and II - Check with Counselor for dates
• ACT - Check with Counselor for dates
• Decide on Early Decision or early action.
• Check with the Counseling & Guidance Office for visiting college reps, scholarship deadlines and other important senior information.

  November

• November  1 - Deadline for most early decision applicants.
• SAT I & II - Check with Counselor for dates
• THEA  - Check with Counselor for dates
• Send additional score reports for colleges if needed.  You may pick these up in Guidance Office.
• Pick up FAFSA - Financial Aid Form in the Career Center in late November or early December.
• Check with the Counseling & Guidance Office for lots of good and profitable information !
• Begin gathering family income information for tax preparation and completion of financial aid forms.

December

• Check with the Counseling & Guidance Office to make your deadline goal for completion of all college applications.
• Check with the Counseling & Guidance office to find the absolute DEADLINE for all counselor and teacher recommendations, secondary school reports, and transcript requests for any applications that must be mailed by January.
• Check with the Counseling & Guidance Office monthly for new scholarship opportunities !
• SAT I & II - Check with Counselor for dates
• ACT - Check with Counselor for dates
• Be sure you have compiled all family financial information for completion of FAFSA.
• Check with the Counseling & Guidance Office for Fall deadline for transcript requests.

January

• Sign up for a transcript prior to February 1, if your transcript needs to be mailed by February 15.
• File FAFSA forms.
• SAT I & II  - Check with Counselor for dates
• Complete mid term reports and request mid term transcripts if necessary.
• Check with the Counseling & Guidance Office for scholarship money and college opportunities.

February

• ACT - Check with Counselor for dates
• Check with the Counseling & Guidance Office for the latest college, career and scholarship opportunities.

March

• Return to FAFSA the Student Aid Reports or corrected information as soon as possible.
• Register for Advanced Placement exams, if needed.
• Check with the Counseling & Guidance Office for local scholarships and graduation information.
• THEA  - Check with Counselor for dates
• SAT - Check with Counselor for dates

  April

• ACT - Check with Counselor for dates
• Notices of acceptance or rejection from colleges usually arrive by April 15.
• THEA  - Check with Counselor for dates
• Respond promptly - in writing - for action on admissions, scholarship and financial aid applications.
• Check with the Counseling & Guidance Office for an abundance of valuable opportunities!
• Turn in a list of all scholarship offers to the guidance office.  Include the total value if renewable.

  May

• May 1 -  Inform colleges (in writing) whether you will or will not attend.
• SAT I & II - Check with Counselor for dates
• Check with the Counseling & Guidance Office for current scholarships and pertinent senior information. Return all books, equipment and uniforms to school personnel and pay fines to clear the hold on your diploma.

Applications

• Admission requirements are becoming more and more competitive. Very often meeting the "minimum requirements" are not enough.
• On any application, whether for admission or scholarship consideration, be sure that a stranger can understand your abbreviations.
• Check for on-line applications. Neater and easier.
• Neatness counts - type or print in black ink.
• Make all the deadlines - even if you qualify for automatic admission, you must jump through all the hoops!

• If a college doesn't request a recommendation letter, they don't want a letter.
• Warn your teachers early if you will be asking them to write a letter.
• Have your teacher mail it directly (give them a stamped envelope along with your request.)

• 24-48 hour turn around time. There are NO emergencies.
• Must have the exact address of the campus.
• No requests for transcripts will be taken over the phone. (Some campuses may vary please check with the Counseling & Guidance Office) YOU must request the transcript in person, by student.
• By law, if the student is 18, their signature is required to request a transcript.