Choosing a college is a life changing decision, which is why it is essential to make the right choice. But before you choose a school, and even before you narrow your choices down, there are steps you should follow to be successful. To guide you along, we have provided a timeline. We hope you will find a college that will allow you to reach your fullest potential.
Junior Year - Fall
- Students should review course schedules with their guidance counselor to make sure they are taking strong courses that will be attractive to colleges. Advanced placement (AP), international baccalaureate (IB) and honors courses are the best preparation for selective colleges such as St. Mary's.
- Students should take the PSAT. Scores this year can qualify them for National Merit Scholarships.
- Attend college fairs in your area.
- Attend a college open house to get a sense of what kind of information you can get from these types of events. St. Mary's College holds open houses once a month. To reserve a place or arrange an individual tour, call 800-492-7181.
Junior Year - Spring and Summer
- Students should select 5 to 10 colleges of interest and gather information about each from the Internet, the guidance office, or by contacting the colleges directly.
- Plan to visit four or more schools.
- Students should take the SAT and/or ACT.
- Students should make an honest assessment of their academic record and compare it to "what it takes" to get into the colleges on their list. At selective schools such as St. Mary's, the quality of the courses the student has taken is very important. St. Mary's also places emphasis on the student's essay and resume, as well as on academic performance (grades), potential (standardized test scores), and letters of recommendation. But at St. Mary's, our most important consideration is that your son or daughter has that special something that fits the public honors college.
- Students should narrow their list of schools to the 4 to 7 to which they will definitely apply.
Senior Year - Fall
- Students should create their final list of colleges and complete applications, including getting recommendations and requesting that transcripts be sent to the colleges. Writing a thoughtful essay that fits the question is particularly important for scholarship consideration at St. Mary's.
- Pay attention to deadlines. Some are before the holidays, some after. St. Mary's early decision 1 deadline is November 1, the early decision 2 deadline is December 1, and the regular decision deadline is January 1.
Senior Year - Winter and Spring
- File the FAFSA form no later than March 1 to qualify your family for federal, state, and college financial aid.
- Selective schools such, as St. Mary's, that have a fixed application deadline will notify applicants of their decision by April 1. Some schools have a "rolling" process in which students will hear within several weeks of applying. Remind your son or daughter not to feel pressured to decide before hearing from all schools
- May 1 is the national Candidates Reply Date for accepting admission to one school and notifying the others of that decision.
