• Take the PSAT. Analyze your scores. Sign on to www.collegeboard.com/PSATextra for additional information about your results. There is a strong correlation between your PSAT results and the SAT score you would receive at that time.
• Register carefully for second semester courses. Take the most demanding program you can manage successfully. Your junior year academic record is vitally important. Work hard!
• Begin thinking about your college preferences. Start to build a college list by consulting a "Big Book," like the Fiske Guide, that provides information about a wide range of colleges.
• Start collecting information about individual colleges by visiting college websites, attending college fairs, and using internet resources. Remember that the College Counseling office has catalogs, view books, financial aid materials, and applications on file for many colleges.
• Get organized: Register for the customized website Naviance Family Connection and explore the resources it offers, like the ability to research college and scholarship options, view applications statistics for prior years, and track applications.
• Sign on to Naviance and review the College Visit Calendar. Participate in visits that college representatives make to CJHS. Prepare a list of questions in advance based on what matters to you.
• Explore taking an SAT/ACT review course.
• Consider taking the December or February ACT and/or the December or January SAT I.
• When registering for the ACT or SAT, always include the CJHS High School Code Number -- 143-009 -- to have your test results sent to CJHS. If you are taking the ACT at CJHS, use the CJHS Test Center Code number: 216681. If you are not taking the test at CJHS, choose an alternate test center and register to take the test there by using that center's Test Center Code Number. Note that ACT and SAT use different Test Center Code Numbers.
• Except for students who are trying to test standby for the ACT, it is no longer necessary for students who are registering for a non-Saturday test date to register by mail. Online registration is acceptable.
• First time Sunday SAT test takers must still register by mail. Use test center code 01000 for the first-choice test center and leave the second-choice test center blank. A letter from Rabbi Goldberg must accompany all mailed Sunday SAT registrations. See Ms. Rostker to get your letter.
• Complete the Student College Planning Questionnaire, which will provide background information for the teachers and the college counselor who will prepare your recommendations.
• Attend College Planning Night.

Spring/Summer

Senior Year 

• Draft your main essay and supplemental essays, and update your resume with your summer activities.
• Arrange for teachers to write recommendations. At least one month before the recommendation is due, supply each teacher with a stamped envelope addressed to the college's Director of Admissions along with the recommendation form from each college, if one is supplied. Ask teachers to mail their recommendations directly to the colleges, and to keep copies of their recommendations.
• Finalize your college list.
• Confirm application requirements and application and financial aid deadlines for every college on your list. Keep a written record of all requirements and deadlines.
• Obtain applications by going to college websites, www.commonapp.org, or www.universalcollegeapp.com. Most applications can be filed online. Online filing is recommended, and a number of colleges now insist on it. When you apply online, be sure to make a copy of the completed application for your file.
• Important: Submit a "Transcript Release, Recommendation Authorization, and Waiver of Right to Inspect Recommendations" form signed by student and parent (if student is under 18). Without this signed form, CJHS cannot lawfully release student transcripts and recommendations to colleges and scholarship programs.
• Begin submitting other application materials (Secondary School Report form, resume, etc.) to the College Counseling office. For each application to be processed, complete a College Application Processing Form. Bring the forms and the materials you want CJHS to submit to your meeting with Ms. Rostker. Be sure you have completed all student portions of every form. All materials must be submitted at least three school weeks (not including school vacation days) before the college deadlines. It is your responsibility to pay attention to all deadlines.
• Register for the SAT/ACT through January. Early action/ early decision candidates must make sure scores will reach colleges in time for early review. When in doubt, contact the college admissions office.
• Request that "official" ACT/SAT scores be sent to colleges that have not received them. You may do this online.
• If you have a clear first choice college and don't have to compare financial aid offers, submit an early decision application.
• Apply to rolling admissions institutions. Remember that getting applications in early (preferably by mid-October) is crucial at colleges and universities that have rolling admissions policies, including many state universities.
• If you are considering a "gap year" program, continue to follow the regular college application process. Once you have been admitted to the college of your choice, request a deferral for a year. Be certain of the deferral policies of each of your colleges. Not all colleges grant deferrals for candidates admitted via early decision.

November

• Continue the application process. Watch deadlines, especially priority deadlines and Early Decision, Early Action, and Single Choice Early Action deadlines. Submit all applications to the College Counseling office at least three school weeks (not including school vacation days) before the college deadlines.
• Follow up on requested recommendations.
• Be alert for scholarship opportunities: Utilize reliable search engines such as www.fastweb.com and www.finaid.org. Beware of scholarship scams! You should never have to pay to apply for a scholarship or to find a scholarship. If you receive an unsolicited letter or email "guaranteeing" you a scholarship once you pay a fee, it is most likely a scam.

December

• Submit all applications with a January deadline to the College Counseling office by December 1st.
• Notify the College Counseling staff of all Early Decision/Early Action responses. Withdraw other applications if you receive a binding Early Decision acceptance.
• When specified, apply for housing as early as possible. Check refund policies.
• All colleges require financial aid applicants to complete the FAFSA. Complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Some colleges also require financial aid applicants to complete a second form, called the CSS Profile, generally within a few weeks of the application deadline. Complete the CSS Profile online at www.collegeboard.com. If you will be applying for financial aid, ask your parents to assemble the information needed to complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
• Double-check the financial aid deadlines for every college you are applying to; many have priority financial aid deadlines starting in January.

January

February and March

• Register for AP exams.
• Colleges will begin to send their decisions. Notify the College Counseling staff of all college responses (acceptances, denials, waitlists, withdrawals) and all scholarship offers.

April

• Continue to notify the College Counseling department as you receive college decisions, scholarships, and financial aid packages.
• See the College Counseling staff to analyze your options.
• After comparing acceptances and financial aid packages, make a decision. Note that students must declare their intentions by May 1.
• Submit the intent to enroll form and enrollment deposit to the college you plan to attend. Some schools will ask for a housing deposit in addition to the enrollment deposit. You can send only one deposit to one college or university.
• As soon as possible, inform other colleges that have accepted you that you will not attend.
• If you receive notification that you have been placed on a waitlist for one or more schools you would like to attend, accept that opportunity if you like, but be certain to send a deposit to a college that accepted you outright.
• Notify the College Counseling department of your decision.
• If you plan to pursue a gap year program, you must get a deferral in writing from the college you will attend.

May

• Request that your final transcript be sent to the college you will attend.
• Don't succumb to "senioritis." Colleges have been known to revoke admission if there is a serious decline in grades.

June

• Graduation!!! Remember that even after you graduate, the CJHS College Counseling department is available to offer advice about choosing majors or transferring schools.