College Calendar for HS Juniors: May

HS Junior: month of May

what to do in May
Your final month before summer. Get everything ready to go so that you can jump start your college admission when you start your senior year.

Monthly Tasks:

Task1: review the monthly checklist
Task2: review the college application
Task3: plan campus visits
Task4: get a summer job to raise funds
print FREE "college planning checklist"

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Task1: Review the Monthly Checklist

checklist of prior monthly tasks that should be completed

College Search Finished? You should have completed your list of colleges that you would like to attend. Your college list should include a profile of college costs, admission requirements, and study programs. There are three categories of schools you should list: 2-3 schools that you could definitely get in 4-5 schools that you could probably get in 7-8 schools that you would like to get in You should budget on how much you can afford for application submission. If the application submission costs for 16 or more schools is too much, narrow your search to 3-3-3. use our college search directory to begin
Compare the colleges of your choice with each other. Complete a virtual tour of the campus: link to our Junior-April plan for information
Have you consider a major or field of study? Get the information you need to make the right collegiate decision: Visit collegeboard.org for in-depth review of collegiate majors. Requires log-in: http://www.MyRoad.com
If you are going to college, you need to sit for exams that will start up in the Fall: link to the Winter Semester plan for information about college entrance exams
Have you decided what you want to do after college? It's not too late to start. Use our Fall Semester Plan to get going: more information about starting your after-high school plans

College Search Finished?
You should have completed your list of colleges that you would like to attend. Your college list should include a profile of college costs, admission requirements, and study programs.

There are three categories of schools you should list:

2-3 schools that you could definitely get in
4-5 schools that you could probably get in
7-8 schools that you would like to get in

You should budget on how much you can afford for application submission. If the application submission costs for 16 or more schools is too much, narrow your search to 3-3-3.

use our college search directory to begin

Compare the colleges of your choice with each other.

Complete a virtual tour of the campus:
link to our Junior-April plan for information

Have you consider a major or field of study?
Get the information you need to make the right collegiate decision:

Visit collegeboard.org for in-depth review of collegiate majors. Requires log-in:
http://www.MyRoad.com

If you are going to college, you need to sit for exams that will start up in the Fall:

link to the Winter Semester plan for information about college entrance exams

Have you decided what you want to do after college?

It's not too late to start. Use our Fall Semester Plan to get going:
more information about starting your after-high school plans

Task2: Review the College Application

Time to get things ready for college admission.

You will need to have the following items ready when you submit your application. So start early to avoid the last minute rush:

College Recommendations:

Most college admissions application require 1-2 recommendations from teachers and/or community leaders. Select who should write your recommendation. Give the person plenty of time (about 3-4 weeks prior to your deadline).

Also provide them a short autobiography, outside activities, school transcript and a self-addressed envelope as instructed by your college. Please note that the teacher works with hundreds of students. Give them sufficient time and a summarized profile on yourself.

College Essays:

Your college admissions application will most likely require 1- 2 essays. Find out from your colleges of your choice what essays (and topics) will be required.

Don't wait until the last minute to write and edit your essays. The essay is an important decisional parameter for college admission.

Essay resource and editing services:
use this resource to edit your essay — you will expert advice from professionals who are experts in college essay review
EssayEdge.com

Quick view in our tool set: essay writing tips
Quick view in our tool set: essay samples

School Transcripts:

Meet with your guidance counselor to check your transcripts. You will need to forward these transcripts to colleges for admission review. Double check to make sure everything is correct:

all grades are posted correctly

all required courses for graduation are listed

all required courses for college admittance are listed

ensure that senior-level required courses are scheduled

review any gaps that need to be filled

Extracurricular's:

You want to show well-roundness in your application. Just the right amount of studies (with good grades) and outside activities. Don't think that a lot of extracurricular activities are a must. You just need to show a balance academic and outside activities .

More advice: download this FREE article from ivyedge.com
"Secrets to College Admission"

How to build a well-rounded
Complete guide on discipline and character building. Has illustrations on the building blocks of success.
view our "building success" module: FREE downloads

Task3: Plan Campus Visits

College Campus Visit

You should schedule time during the Summer months to visit your colleges of choice. Make the trip during a weekend or as a family event. These visits will give you a good indication whether or not you would like to attend.

Start with a virtual tour: this is good place to start prior to making an actual visit: www.campustours.com or visit the college web site for a tour and map: college directory
Plan to visit the college for a full day. Attend when the school is in session, if possible.
Arrange an interview with the admission office or other "campus visit" groups
Meet with the financial aid office to get all related financial aid information offered by that school
When doing a visit, check out the library, student unions, sporting facilities, and academic centers. Walk the campus to familiarize yourself with the layout.
Review housing facilities and dormitories to determine whether to live on-campus or off-campus housing. Note the college rules for housing. Some colleges require first-time Freshmen to live in dormitories.
Schedule time to speak with students and faculty visit the clubs and societies that are part of the campus life. Check campus rules, safety programs, and facilities that maintain the safety of the campus.
Drive around the surrounding community to familiarize yourself with restaurants, theaters, rec areas, job opportunities, etc.

Start with a virtual tour:
this is good place to start prior to making an actual visit:
www.campustours.com

or visit the college web site for a tour and map: college directory

Plan to visit the college for a full day.
Attend when the school is in session, if possible.

Arrange an interview with the admission office
or other "campus visit" groups

Meet with the financial aid office
to get all related financial aid information offered by that school

When doing a visit,
check out the library, student unions, sporting facilities, and academic centers. Walk the campus to familiarize yourself with the layout.

Review housing facilities and dormitories
to determine whether to live on-campus or off-campus housing. Note the college rules for housing. Some colleges require first-time Freshmen to live in dormitories.

Schedule time to speak with students and faculty
visit the clubs and societies that are part of the campus life. Check campus rules, safety programs, and facilities that maintain the safety of the campus.

Drive around the surrounding community
to familiarize yourself with restaurants, theaters, rec areas, job opportunities, etc.

Task4: Get a Summer Job to Raise Funds

Use the summer to raise money you will need for college.

That money can be used for tuition, housing, transportation and even entertainment.

If you worked last summer with a job that you liked, go back and see if you can work with them again. Or try to find a different summer job that fits your career goals:

Summer work programs:
Job listing for teens from many brand-name retail and other name companies:
www.snagajob.com
another posting of summer jobs:
www.summerjobs.com
job postings exclusively for teens:
www.teens4hire.org

Internship Programs:
internships in your field of interest is a great way to get experience that will help you college
http://internships.wetfeet.com

Search Classified ads in LOCAL PAPERS:
you will find many local summer jobs through your local online classifieds:
find local online classifieds | search craig's list