Counseling

Click on the links below to research a variety of helpful resources for college admissions and career exploration.

CollegeBoard: Register for SAT testing; view PSAT, SAT and AP results; see AP Potential recommendations; search for colleges;  search for careers and/or majors.

ACT: Register for ACT testing and view score results; send scores to colleges to which you are applying.

Common Application: Get connected with everything you need to apply to college, research financial aid and scholarships, and get advice from counselors, advisors and mentors.  The Common Application is accepted by more than 900 schools across the country and provides a multitude of resources as you embark on your college application process.

FAFSA :(Free Application for Federal Student Aid): Applications open in October of a student's senior year.  

NCAA: If you plan on playing a Division 1 or Division 2 sport and/or are being recruited by a coach at this level, you will need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. 

41 To-Do Lists and a Plan for Every Year in High School by Edward B. Fiske and Bruce G. Hammond

Paraphrased from the Fiske Countdown to College  

There are many guidebooks that have lists of things to do when preparing for the college application process. Fiske guides are well known and respected but not the only nor the definitive source on the subject. Ultimately, each family will choose how much of the lists apply to their situation or find their own source. John Paul II provides the following grade level lists as a way to get families thinking about the process. You have to start somewhere…. 

Ninth Grade 

1. Help your son or daughter make choices. It is better to have distinction an a few activities than to dabble in many. 
2. Do a Four-Year Plan. Map out plans for high school and go over expectations for the next four years. This includes understanding JPII curriculum and what courses your child should take. 
3. Assess Family Finances 
4. Liquidate Custodial Accounts. This is for families with less than about $200,000 of annual family income. Putting money in your child’s name is a great tax saver but a killer for need-based financial aid. Speak to your lawyer of financial aid advisor to understand the consequences. 
5. Stay in the loop with grades. Students typically make the lowest grades in ninth and tenth grades. Follow grades and help them get organized if their grades slip. 
6. Think about summer activities. Choose with a purpose in mind. 
7. Get Informed. Start reading about the college process and financial aid. 

Tenth Grade 
1. Take the PSAT 
2. Meet with College Representatives 
3. Go to a College Fair 
4. Apply for Cool Opportunities like college credit courses or summer missions. 
5. Think about visiting colleges 
6. Do a self-evaluation. What kind of school would you like? Where? What would you like to study? 
7. Read about specific careers 
8. Talk to professionals to understand what certain occupations really do 
9. Create a Resume 
10. Think about what you would like to study 
11. Find a summer program 

Eleventh Grade 
1. Enroll in tough courses 
2. Get to know your teachers. Teachers write recommendation letters. 
3. Participate in class. Contribution in class is often more important than the grade. 
4. Save your best work. When asking for a recommendation letter, show you best work to the teacher who will recommend you. 
5. Think about college essays 
6. Visit schools 
7. Take the PSAT 
8. Prepare for the SAT and ACT 
9. Develop a date plan 
10. Register for tests 
11. Consider SAT Subject tests 
12. Think about reaches and safe schools 
13. Narrow your list to ten by summer 
14. Look up cost options and draw family parameters 
15. Keep building your personal profile by volunteering, working, summer programsn, etc. 

 
Twelfth Grade 
1. Review individual college testing requirements. Make sure that you have fulfilled all of the testing requirements or sign up for missing exams. 
2. Plan your senior year test schedule 
3. Designate colleges to receive scores 
4. Consider test-optional schools 
5. Review scores necessary for scholarships 
6. Choose teachers to write recommendations. Choose carefully. 
7. Understand Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision 
8. Revisit your favorite school campus 
9. Narrow your list (JPII recommends having the golden ten or less by the end of August twelfth grade year)
10.  Write your essays

The Recruited Athlete

Being a varsity athlete or on a premier club team does not mean that you will be a college athlete or receive a scholarship. Your coach will know if you can play in college, and most likely will know at what level you may recruited. By the end of sophomore year, have a private and honest conversation with your coach about your prospects. You may also consider attending a well respected summer camp between your tenth and eleventh grade year to get another opinion. Once a coach helps you understand your prospects, you will want to get noticed by every college that fits your ability level and would be a good fit for you as a student. Generally, the easiest way to get noticed by prospective colleges is to go to the college athletic website and fill out a Prospective Student Questionnaire and write a letter or e-mail to the head coach or recruiting coordinator stating:

• Your position, experience, and interest in playing a collegiate sport
• Your contact information
• Your coach(s) contact information
• Personal statistics like goals, batting average, speed, etc.
• Any camps or showcases that you will participate in over the summer before Senior year
• Your general academic profile- SAT, ACT GPA etc.
• Area of study that you would like to pursue
• An unofficial transcript
• JPII contact information

NCAA

Most colleges belong to the NCAA. The NCAA breaks these colleges into three categories, but only NCAA I and II offer scholarships. If you are thinking about a scholarship you will not only need to register with NCAA Eligibility Center, but you will also need to know which schools are categorized as Division I or II. Remember that Division III colleges do not offer scholarships.

Although students may register at any time, the NCAA Eligibility Center recommends registering during sophomore year. Please keep in mind that the Eligibility Center will not evaluate a student’s academic credentials until the following information has been received and the student has had his/her status requested by an NCAA member institution:

• Completed online registration
• Fee Payment
• SAT and/or ACT test score on file from the respective testing agency
• Transcripts from all schools or programs attended

Click HERE for NCAA Eligibility Center website.