College Planning Tools BigFuture™ is the College Board free college planning tool, designed to support students from their first thoughts about college to their first day on campus. Career Finder™ helps students find careers of interest, view videos of people in those fields, and plan small steps to help build their future path. Rhode Island Student Loan Authority (RISLA) College Planning Center - is a free service dedicated to helping students gain equal access to higher education. Timeline Freshman Year Sophmore Year Take the mandatory school day PSAT in the spring. Take responsibility for your academic program (freshman Meet with your school counselor to: year grades count). Continue to discuss and update your academic plan. Get involved! Participate in extracurricular or community Begin to develop your post-secondary plans. activities. Expand your talents and interests. Gain Update your ILP in Richer Picture: leadership experience and develop socially. Click on the “Learning Plan” icon Meet with your school counselor to discuss and update Click on and complete the “Interest Profiler” under your academic plan. College/Career Work hard in your classes and reach out for help if Evaluate your personality, interests, learning style and needed. You are your own best advocate! skills. Update your ILP in Richer Picture. Look for an interesting summer opportunity (job, volunteer Academic support available through NHS tutors and ALC positions, education program). Junior Year Senior Year Take the mandatory school day SAT in late April. Don’t get senioritis: Senior courses and grades are Fall - Review results of PSAT to see where extra work or very important in the college admission decision! skill improvement is needed Register for SAT or ACT tests, if needed. Attend the junior counselor meeting to: Familiarize yourself with the BHS college Plan your senior year courses (remember that senior application procedures located in the Senior year courses and grades are important in the college Evaluate Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular admission process). Discuss your post-secondary /college plans. Decision admission options. Attend the Junior Parent Night in the spring. Finalize your list of colleges. Begin your college search Deadlines are very important in the college Review your Junior Booklet - Visit the BHS Website admission process. Make sure you meet the >School Counseling>College Planning> application deadlines of the colleges and the BHS Research colleges by taking a virtual college tour. deadlines as outlined in the Senior Booklet. Visit colleges while classes are still in session. Attend the BHS Financial Aid Night. Schedule a campus tour. Notify your counselor as you receive admission Think about teachers who might write your decisions. recommendations (make your request before you leave Apply for scholarships – view available for the summer). scholarships on the BHS webpage>School If you plan on competing in Division I or II college sports Counseling>Financial Aid & Scholarship and want to be eligible to be recruited by colleges, you Information. must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Submit your FAFSA soon AFTER October 1st, CSS During the summer before senior year: Update your Profile (if required by college). Be aware of resume of your high school accomplishments, activities, deadlines for each school. and work in Richer Picture. Review financial aid packages. Begin to work on your college essay. Send your deposit to the college you will attend by Begin completing college applications using the Common Application which opens in early August (Use May 1st. your personal email when creating an account). Continue to visit college campuses (in-person or virtual) 3