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Creekside Christian Academy
Academic Counseling
Creekside’s School Counseling Department provides enrichment through which students can achieve academic and career development. The main goal of the department is to facilitate the development of individuals to aid them in being successful learners and gain skills to thrive. The department covers aspects such as college planning, scheduling, dual enrollment, academic advising, and standardized testing. Office hours are during normal school hours from 7:30am-3:30pm, Monday through Friday, when school is in session.
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College Checklists
FRESHMAN YEAR CHECKLIST
This is it, your first year in high school. You are now a freshmen, the time to begin taking steps to make sure you are on the right path for your future. Even though college still seems so far away, you need begin planning now. Don’t wait until your junior or senior year. Everything from this point on will be reviewed by college admissions boards.
Start Strong:
Getting off to a good start from the beginning of high school sets the pattern for your successes in the future.
Create a plan:
Develop good study habits and begin thinking about what you want to accomplish in the next four years. Begin thinking about what you want to do after high school, even though this may change, it will still help you to be planning.
Take the right courses:
Make sure your schedule includes the college preparatory courses you need for college admission. Don’t be afraid to take courses that challenge you! Begin studying and preparing for the SAT. Meet with the Guidance Counselor and ask any questions you may have. There are no “dumb” questions.
Get Involved:
Determine what you are interested in at school and in the community. Participate in a club, community activity, sport, or church ministry. Get consistently involved – colleges want to see you involved and committed to something – not 1,000 extracurricular activities listed on the application. They look at extra-curricular activities as well as your academic achievements.
Get Focused:
Now is the time to start your resume. Keep a log of all your achievements,
accomplishments, extracurricular activities, church/community service involvement, and work experience.
Look at Colleges:
Go online and begin exploring college websites. Look at all options: big schools, small schools, schools nearby and faraway, private schools, public schools, and Christian schools. Attend local college fairs with your family and talk to friends who come home from college during holidays and breaks.
Maximize your Summer:
It is never too soon to begin saving for college. Look into jobs and/or internships that may interest you. Find volunteer positions that will help you learn about a field of interest.
Resources to become familiar with:
www.gacollege411.org (General College Information)
www.collegeboard.com (SAT practice and registration)
www.actstudent.org (ACT registration)
www.ecampustours.com (Virtual College Campus Tours)
www.cappex.com (General Help with College Questions)
** Make sure if you create an account to keep the username and password somewhere you will remember it. You will use some of these account each year in high school.**
Scholarship Resources:
www.finaid.org www.studentaid.ed.gov
www.fastweb.org www.coca-colascholars.org
www.scholarships101.com www.college.scholarships.com
www.scholarships.com www.collegeboard.com
SOPHOMORE YEAR CHECKLIST
You made it through your first year of high school and are now moving into your second. Make sure you stay on the right track, give 100% and stay focused.
Stay Focused:
Keep working hard on your academics and decide if your study skills from freshman year will be adequate for your sophomore year or if you need to adjust accordingly. Continue to add to your resume that you started your freshman year. Keep track of all your accomplishments. If you don’t have one, create it now. Remember your goal is preparing for college.
Stay Involved:
Stay involved in extracurricular activities, inside of school, as well as outside. Participate in church ministries and community service activities. Consider becoming a leader in your club or activity and don’t be afraid to branch out and try something new. Colleges look at extra-curricular activities as well as grades and test scores.
Take the right courses:
Make sure you are still on track for high school graduation and college admission. Meet with the Guidance Counseling office to ask questions about careers, colleges, etc. Decide if you will participate in Dual Enrollment your junior year.
Get Serious:
You will take the PSAT again this year. It is a national test given in the fall to help prepare you for the SAT & ACT that you will be taking in the future. The results can be used to identify your academic strengths and weaknesses. Begin exploring options for college and studying for the SAT. Keep up with all of your assignments, deadlines and manage your time.
Look at Colleges:
Go online and begin exploring college websites more closely. Find out information such as admission requirements and costs. Sign up to receive more information on the schools you are interested in.
Maximize your Summer:
Don’t get lazy during the summer. Search out jobs or internships. Look for special programs that may help you learn more about a particular field you may be interested in. Also, take this time to read and begin preparing for the SAT and ACT. The websites for both test have online information to help you prepare. Go to CollegeBoard.com (SAT) and ACT.org (ACT) for more information.
Resources to become familiar with:
www.gacollege411.org (General College Information)
www.collegeboard.com (SAT practice and registration)
www.actstudent.org (ACT registration)
www.ecampustours.com (Virtual College Campus Tours)
www.cappex.com (General Help with College Questions)
** Make sure if you create an account to keep the username and password somewhere you will remember it. You will use some of these account each year in high school.**
Scholarship Resources:
www.finaid.org www.studentaid.ed.gov
www.fastweb.org www.coca-colascholars.org
www.scholarships101.com www.college.scholarships.com
www.scholarships.com www.collegeboard.com
JUNIOR YEAR CHECKLIST
Now is the time to stay focused and serious about school work and your future. Take responsibility, ask questions and make plans to succeed. Push yourself to get the best grades you can in your classes. Even if you had lower grades the previous semesters, upward grade trends can work in your favor.
Stay Focused:
Don’t lose focus! Make sure you are studying consistently, as well as preparing for the SAT and ACT. All your high school grades are important. Show the college admissions officers that you are ready for college. Begin researching which civic, cultural, and service organizations award financial aid to graduating seniors as well as any other opportunities for scholarships. If you plan to participate in collegiate athletics, make certain that you meet the requirements set forth by the NCAA.
Keep Testing In Mind:
All CCA students will take the PSAT during their junior year. This is your shot at national recognition and scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Students who perform well on this test during their junior year are also heavily recruited by all the top schools in the country. Also, begin registering for the SAT and ACT during your junior year. You will be provided a list of the registration deadlines as well as test dates at the beginning of the school year. It is a good idea to take both tests at least once and because almost all colleges use your highest test scores for admission, it is advisable to take these more than once. Make sure when you register to list the schools you would like your test scores sent to.
Get Prepared:
Continue adding to your resume of abilities, activities and personal qualities that you began as a freshman. Narrow down your list of college possibilities, as well as college majors, and begin planning visits to those colleges. Find out what their application deadlines are as some want you to apply early in your senior year and you may need to complete applications and essays during the summer to be ready.
Meet with the Guidance Counseling Office:
In the fall of your junior year you will meet with the Guidance Assistant to review your transcript and make sure you are on track for graduation. This is a great time for you to ask any questions about colleges and major choices. During the spring, conferences will be scheduled to meet with the student and parents to discuss senior schedules. Always take challenging courses as this will greatly increase your college acceptance possibilities. Also, determine if you will participate in the Dual Enrollment program your senior year.
Maximize your Summer:
Maximize the available time you have during the summer by visiting more colleges and seeking out interesting jobs or internships. Continue to read, prepare for the SAT and ACT, as well as draft out a college essay. Remember, what makes an activity valuable is not necessarily equal to how much money you are making.
Resources to become familiar with:
www.gacollege411.org (General College Information)
www.collegeboard.com (SAT practice and registration)
www.actstudent.org (ACT registration)
www.ecampustours.com (Virtual College Campus Tours)
www.cappex.com (General Help with College Questions)
www.fafsa.ed.gov (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
www.ncaa.org
** Make sure if you create an account to keep the username and password somewhere you will remember it. You will use some of these account each year in high school.**
Scholarship Resources:
www.finaid.org www.studentaid.ed.gov
www.fastweb.org www.coca-colascholars.org
www.scholarships101.com www.college.scholarships.com
www.scholarships.com www.collegeboard.com
General Timeline for Junior Year:
September: Prepare for October PSAT
Register for SAT/ACT for Fall and/or Spring
Create a GACollege411.org account (if one is not already created)
October: Take PSAT
Attend College Fairs in the area
November: Research careers through GACollege411.org with the Career Interest Inventory
Understand what major would best fit your future career path
Find colleges with programs in your particular area of interest
December: Receive results from PSAT, use results to prepare for the SAT
Begin scholarship searches.
January-March: Gather information on all colleges you think you might like to attend.
Research financial aid opportunities at each of the colleges which interest you.
April – June: Register to take the SAT/ACT tests again if desired
Make a list of colleges you’d like to visit for the summer
Summer: Visit colleges and prepare for early admissions.
SENIOR YEAR CHECKLIST
This is it…..your SENIOR YEAR!!! Enjoy it, but stay determined, focused and prepared. Take responsibility to do the things you need to do in order to succeed in your future. Push yourself to get the best grades you can in your classes. Even if you had lower grades the previous semesters, upward grade trends can work in your favor.
Stay Prepared:
Keep adding to your resume of abilities, activities, and personal qualities. Narrow your list of college possibilities and majors and then create a master calendar that has test dates, college application deadlines, etc. Begin researching financial aid and scholarships.
Immediate Action:
Look at college applications to determine if you need essays, letters of recommendations, etc. Decide if you will apply under early or regular admissions deadlines. Ask teachers, or other adults, for letters of recommendations. Make sure to give them adequate information and time to complete the work.
Meet with Guidance Counseling Department:
In the fall and spring, the Guidance Department will meet with each senior to make sure you are staying on track and answer any questions you may have regarding college choice and majors.
Finish Strong:
Don’t get senioritis! Colleges do look at your second semester grades. They can rescind their acceptance.
Plan Ahead:
Make sure college deposits have been paid and housing arrangements made. Don’t wait until the last minute!
Resources to become familiar with:
www.gacollege411.org (General College Information)
www.collegeboard.com (SAT practice and registration)
www.actstudent.org (ACT registration)
www.ecampustours.com (Virtual College Campus Tours)
www.cappex.com (General Help with College Questions)
www.fafsa.ed.gov (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
www.ncaa.org
** Make sure if you create an account to keep the username and password somewhere you will remember it. You will use some of these account each year in high school.**
Scholarship Resources:
www.finaid.org www.studentaid.ed.gov
www.fastweb.org www.coca-colascholars.org
www.scholarships101.com www.college.scholarships.com
www.scholarships.com www.collegeboard.com
General Timeline for Senior Year:
June: Create a list of schools that you want to learn more about and research them. Refine your list of potential colleges.
Add to your resume of achievements and accomplishments, extra-curricular activities, volunteer/community service, and work experience.
Plan college visits.
Take note of early decision and scholarship deadlines.
July: Gather information from current college students who are home for the summer.
Plan the dates you intend to take the SAT or ACT in the fall and sign up.
Open up a checking account to get experience managing your own money.
August: Register for SAT/ACT dates in September and October.
Begin your senior year strong academically; your first semester grades are the last grades colleges will see prior to making an enrollment decision on your application.
Continue visiting colleges and refining your school list.
Contact admission counselors at colleges where you wish to apply.
Meet with the Guidance Counseling Office to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements.
September: Take the SAT/ACT.
Begin preparing early decision and scholarship applications, including letters of recommendation (give at least 2-3 weeks notice) and college essays.
Register for the next SAT/ACT.
Keep your grades up.
Contact the financial aid offices at the schools where you are applying.
October: Submit early decision applications – have someone look over your application essays.
Submit scholarship applications.
Visit colleges and refine your school list.
Take the SAT/ACT – these are likely the last scores that schools will see for early decision applicants.
Keep your grades up.
Athletes: Register with NCAA Clearinghouse.
November: Submit scholarship applications.
Take the SAT/ACT.
Keep your grades up.
December: Take the SAT/ACT.
Narrow the list of schools to only those in which you are most interested and submit applications.
Submit scholarship applications.
January: Prepare your taxes and submit the FAFSA.
Take the SAT/ACT if needed.
Submit scholarship applications.
February: Last chance to take the SAT/ACT if needed.
Submit scholarship applications.
Review your SAR (Student Aid Report). This will be emailed to you after filling out the FAFSA.
Compare financial aid packages from different schools.
March: Submit scholarship applications.
Meet with Guidance Counseling Department to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements.
Finalize your college choice.
April-May: Submit scholarship applications.
If you have been accepted to a school that you know you will not attend, let the admissions department know so they can give your spot to someone else.
Notify the college of your choice of any outside scholarships you receive.
Submit enrollment forms and deposits at your college of choice.
Request a final transcript be sent to the college of your choice.
Athletes: Request a final transcript be sent to NCAA
**Some steps may need to be completed sooner than noted, depending on the specific college requirements.**
