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It is never to early to start planning for your students future. Here are some general guidelines that may assist you in exploring career and college choices. No matter what the choice, counselors are here to support the pursuit of lifelong learning for all students.

Freshman Year:

• Meet your guidance counselor to review course options that are appropriate and challenging. Begin to understand that your college portfolio begins here!
• Stay involved by signing up for extracurricular activities
• Participate and leadership and community service activities.
• Look at general college requirements and explore college websites to gain insight
• Work on a financial plan for college that will work for you and your family
• Stay busy over the summer! Participate in camps, get a job and do summer reading

Sophomore Year:

• Begin to discuss college plans with you guidance counselor.
• Take practice college entrance exams, including the PSAT and PLAN
• Choose electives that reflect your interests and are challenging
• Stay involved with all extracurricular, leadership and community service activities.
• Stay busy over the summer! Participate in camps, get a job, and do summer reading
• Take the time to look more closely at some of colleges and careers that interest. Maybe visit a school.

Junior Year:

• Take the PSAT when it if offered at MHS in October
• Consider taking a test preparation course
• Meet with your counselor to start making specific college and career choices
• Visits colleges by attending college fairs, open houses and scheduled tours. Juniors are allowed two (2) excused misses for college and career fair visits.
• Choose classes and electives that reflect interests and are challenging
• Sign up for www.collegeboard.org and take the SAT and AP exams in the spring. Sign up for the ACT at www.actstudent.org.
• If you are considering the military, take the ASVAB test
• Stay busy over the summer! Participate in camps, get a job, and do summer reading
• Parents can make an appointment with the guidance counselor
• Begin work on the college essay and your resume over the summer
• Establish an account on www.commonapp.org after Aug 1.
• Begin applying for scholarships. Register on websites like www.fastweb.com and www.goingmerry.com.

Senior Year:

• Stay organized! Have a calendar with important date, identify a dedicated location to keep all college materials and work with your parents.
• Take SAT and ACT tests in the fall and AP exams in the spring
• Ask teachers for college recommendations early
• Work with your guidance counselor to complete college applications and essays. Make sure at least one person proof reads your essay.
• Continue applying for scholarships. Check in guidance for local scholarship opportunities.
• Continue to take interesting, yet challenging courses. Consider classes like VHS and Dual Enrollment.
• Grades count...all year!
• Attend the MEFA financial planning workshop at MHS in late September. Look for additional MEFA resources at www.MEFA.org.
• In October, begin work on your FAFSA. Check colleges for additional financial aid requirements, such as the CSS profile or institutional forms.
• If interested in the military, meet with recruiters to begin the process.
• Talk with your parents and counselor about early action and/or early decision.
• Plan official visits to colleges and interview whenever possible.
• In spring, share college acceptance with your counselor for assisting in making your final decision. Colleges need to be informed of your decision by May 1.
• Send thank you notes to teachers who wrote recommendations for you.
• Enjoy your summer and get ready to go to college!