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FRESHMAN YEAR: Enter high school determined
to have a superb experience, academically and personally.
Start now to plan for your future.
- Develop academic skills by taking the most challenging
courses appropriate for you.
- Build strong study skills to earn excellent grades.
- Read widely and strengthen your vocabulary.
- Get involved in co-curricular activities.
- Meet with your advisor to map out a four-year plan
of study (courses to take).
- Start saving money for college.
- Do something interesting and fun with your summer.
SOPHOMORE YEAR: Continue to develop academic
skills and co-curricular interests.
- Keep "on top" of your academic work; seek
intellectual challenges.
- Engage in co-curricular and volunteer activities
of interest to you. The quality of your involvement
is more important than the number of activities.
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October at school. Scores
will not be put on your GCS transcript and the results
are not used for college admission.
- Examine your PSAT results, use the Diagnostic Score
Report, and determine whether there are ways you can
improve on future standardized tests.
- Register, if appropriate, for SAT II: Subject Tests,
one-hour exams in specific subjects (e.g., biology,
chemistry, foreign language-talk to your subject teacher
to see whether this subject test is appropriate for
your level). Some colleges require three SAT IIs for
admission, and it is wise to take those tests when
you have finished the relevant courses at GCS. Not
all SAT IIs are given on every test day, so check
the testing calendar carefully to determine when the
Subject Test(s) you want are offered, hopefully in
June. Please be aware that you can no longer use Score
Choice.
- Attend the "College 101" program for Sophomores (February).
- Map out your junior and senior year courses; select
the most appropriate rigorous program.
- Use your summer wisely: special programs, employment,
volunteerism, college courses, or other activities
that are personally and/or academically enriching.
- Be familiar with standardized tests and prepare,
if desired, during the summer for future tests.
JUNIOR YEAR: Start researching colleges and
take advantage of the resources at GCS and elsewhere.
Maintain strong academic and personal records and co-curricular
involvement.
Fall:
- Maintain excellent grades. Performance in upper-level
and advanced courses indicate how well you might achieve
in college.
- Pursue co-curricular activities about which you
are passionate. Try to move into leadership roles.
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT. Scores are used to identify
students for the National Merit, National Achievement,
and National Hispanic Scholars Programs. The PSAT
results will not be part of your GCS transcript or
be required for college admission.
- Research financial aid options if you need financial
assistance to attend college.
- Attend GCS's college Counseling program for juniors
and parents; be sure to read the materials provided..
- Go on the GCS college trip.
- Visit Admissions Counselors who come to GCS.
Winter:
- Keep your grades up; honor your commitment to co-curricular
activities.
- Obtain a good, comprehensive college guide and utilize web-based resources for information on colleges.
- Schedule individual meetings with your college counselor.
- Join your parents for a scheduled meeting with your
counselor.
- Register for appropriate tests: SAT I, SAT II Subject
Tests, and/or ACT. At minimum, all students should
take the SAT I and/or the ACT prior to the end of
the junior year. Students completing courses for which
SAT IIs are offered and students considering selective
colleges should take three SAT II: Subject Tests,
one of which must be Writing. It is your responsibility
to register for all standardized tests and to know
on which dates the SAT IIs you want are offered.
- Be familiar with the standardized tests you will
take. However, don't spend so much time preparing
for these tests that your academic courses and co-curricular
commitments suffer.
Spring:
- Select a strong senior year program of studies.
- Continue to meet with your college counselor. Include
your parents in a meeting if you have not done so.
- Research your preliminary list of colleges, deleting
those that no longer interest you and adding others
as appropriate. Use the Internet and resources in
the College Counseling Office as well as the Library,
visit colleges if possible, attend college programs
in the Baltimore/D.C. area, go to the AIMS College
Fair, and talk with GCS alums and others at the colleges.
- Make sure the colleges you are considering meet
your needs and interests, are ones which you would
happily attend, and include two or more colleges where
you are likely to be admitted.
- Take standardized tests: SAT I, SAT IIs, and/or
ACT, and if appropriate, Advanced Placement tests.
- Request admission and financial aid applications
and other information for all of the colleges which
interest you. There is no charge and no obligation
to apply to these colleges, so request all information
which will help you select the colleges right for
you.
- Get a summer job, volunteer, or sign-up for a college
or enrichment program.
- Visit colleges. Practice interviewing ahead of time
with your college counselor, advisor or another trusted
adult. Arrange in advance to take a tour, meet with
professors, coaches, or others, and to have an interview.
Write thank you notes to those who meet with you.
Summer:
- Continue to gather information from a variety of
sources, research in depth your colleges, and visit
colleges and interview if possible (see above). You
may want to have a milk crate or some other box where
you put all college information.
- Begin the application process: read and follow all
instructions carefully; complete the general information
on the application; write drafts of required essays
(at least one from the Common Application); update
your resume; make a list of your co-curricular activities
and volunteer and work experiences, using the format
require on the application; collect writing samples
and prepare portfolios and audition tapes if appropriate.
- Complete the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse
form, available in the College Counseling Office,
if you hope to play Division I or II sports in college.
- Contact your college counselor to ensure that you
are pleased with all of your college options, the
colleges include two or more to which you are likely
to be admitted, and you are on schedule to complete
and submit all forms as required by the colleges.
SENIOR YEAR: Apply to college, decide where
to matriculate, and graduate from GCS, celebrating your
personal and academic accomplishments.
Fall:
- Complete your applications for admission and financial
aid. Keep a record of all requirements and dates completed
(e.g., official test scores, interviews, financial
aid forms, etc.) Make a photocopy of all completed
applications. Mail forms in time to be received at
the college by the deadline.
- Hand in essay draft and resume.
- Attend evening program for seniors and parents.
Proofread your transcript, make corrections, and give
to Mrs. O'Conner.
- Ask teachers to write recommendations. Follow the
specific instructions provided by the College Counseling
Office and thank your teachers for their support.
Give each a folder with a resume, list of colleges
and due dates, all recommendation forms (top part
filled out!), and stamped, addressed envelopes (unless
the teacher agrees to give you the sealed recs to
mail with your application: Do NOT open the sealed
envelope; if you do, it will no longer be accepted
by the college.).
- Give your counselor all forms, including the seventh-semester/midyear
report forms, which she is required to submit to the
colleges to which you are applying.
- Take seriously your academic and co-curricular responsibilities.
We are required to keep colleges informed of your
scholastic and personal standing from the time you
apply through your graduation from GCS. Offers of
admission are contingent on continued positive academic
and personal performances.
- Make sure you have completed all standardized tests
required by your colleges and have official scores
sent directly to your colleges. If you wish to take
additional tests or to repeat any test, meet registration
deadlines and make sure you arrange to have your official
scores sent to colleges.
- Continue researching all sources of financial aid.
Register for the CSS: PROFILE (www.collegeboard.org),
if the colleges to which you are applying require
that financial aid form. Complete all financial aid
forms provided by the colleges by the stated deadlines.
- Know that your counselor will submit your first-quarter
grades to college if required or if you ask your counselor
to send those grades.
- Withdraw all other submitted applications if you
are admitted under the Early Decision option or if
you will matriculate at the early action or other
first choice college that accepted you.
Winter:
- Know that your counselor, as required, will send
your seventh-semester grades to all colleges to which
you have applied or will apply. Please give her a
stamped, addressed envelope with mid-year report written
on the bottom left side. If you would like your third-quarter
grades sent to colleges, it is your responsibility
to make that request to your counselor.
- Monitor your applications to make sure all required
materials for admission and/or financial aid are received
and complete.
- Submit a completed Federal Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January
1. (Estimating your taxes this early is fine. However,
complete your taxes officially as soon as possible.)
Review carefully the Student Aid Report (SAR), which
will be sent to you within four weeks after submitting
the FAFSA. Using your official and completed tax forms,
correct any errors and confirm that all of your colleges
received information from the FAFSA. (If undecided
about filling this out, realize that colleges not
stating up front that they are need-blind may use
financial need as an admission criterion.) Please
remember that private colleges may require the CSS
in addition to the FAFSA. (See info under Fall, above.)
- Complete scholarship applications, including forms
provided by the college.
- Avoid senioritis!
Spring:
- Review college acceptances and financial aid awards.
Select by May 1 the one college at which you will
matriculate. (Do not double deposit; students who
accept more than one offer of admission probably will
have acceptances withdrawn from both colleges.) Notify
the colleges where you will not enroll that you will
matriculate elsewhere.
- See your counselor as soon as possible if you want
to remain on a wait list. If you have not been taken
off the wait list prior to May 1, you must send your
enrollment information and deposit to a college which
already admitted you. Keep your counselor informed
about the wait list status.
- Thank all (including parents and teachers) who have
helped you in gaining acceptance to college.
- Stay focused and reap the benefits of your academic
and personal accomplishments.
- Take AP exams, if appropriate, and arrange for your
scores to be sent to the colleges where you have matriculated.
- Give your counselor any form provided by your college
for sending your final transcript-along with a stamped
addressed envelope. (All colleges require final transcripts
and proof of graduation.)
- Notify colleges if you have received private scholarships
or grants.
- Graduate from GCS and celebrate your achievements!
Summer:
- Respond promptly to all requests from your college
regarding housing, orientation, course selection,
tuition and other bills, etc.
- Be ready for a big transition. You will be responsible
for your academic and personal life, but there are
many at college and at home who gladly will assist
with this transition. Establish priorities, budget
your time, be enthusiastic and confident that college
will provide outstanding opportunities for intellectual
and personal growth.
- Provide GCS with your college address, phone number,
and email address.
- Keep in touch with your counselor and teachers.
They are interested in your college experiences, which
also will benefit current GCS students.
- Enjoy new opportunities!
This calendar presents an overview of the college counseling
process at GCS. Programs for students and parents; detailed,
printed materials; and individual college conferences
will provide specific information on all aspects of
the process.
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