College Planning Timeline

Freshman Year

  • Take a solid course load with challenging courses. Work hard to insure a strong 9th grade academic performance. Freshman grades count in college admissions.
  • Get involved in activities at Thayer Academy or in your residential community.

Sophomore Year

  • Take a solid course load with challenging courses. Work hard to insure a strong 10th grade academic performance. Don’t succumb to “sophomore slump” – a common GPA killer that students come to regret by their senior year.
  • Maintain involvement in extra-curricular activities. Develop your talent and potential for leadership in a few areas while continuing to try new things.
  • Take the PSAT in October.
  • Take appropriate SAT subject tests in May or June (most likely Biology, maybe Math IC)
  • Explore possible career interests, if any.
  • In the summer before junior year, visit some colleges (begin with those in the Boston area).

Junior Year

  • Take a solid course load with challenging courses. Work hard to insure a strong 11th grade academic performance. Many colleges look at the junior year as an excellent predictor of a student’s potential for college.
  • Maintain involvement in extra-curricular activities. By now, you should be developing some clear interests (even passions), ones that you might even consider pursuing in college.
  • Take the PSAT in October. This is excellent practice for your first SAT.
  • Begin working formally with the College Counseling Office in January. Attend college counseling seminars in February. Meet with college counselors individually. Parents are encouraged to meet with counselors as well.
  • Begin to think about college characteristics that interest you. Attend the college fair at Milton Academy to connect with colleges that may fit your preliminary interests. Visit colleges when the opportunity arises (spring break, school holidays, summer months).
  • If interested in playing intercollegiate sports, begin to contact college coaches through email and phone.
  • Register and take standardized tests. SAT offered in Jan, March, May, and June. ACT offered in Feb, April, and June.
  • Register for and take the SAT II Subject Tests as advised in June.
  • Take the AP tests as appropriate in May.

College Planning Sessions

College Planning Presentation for All Parents

Offered every November, this is an opportunity to learn about everything related to college planning, including the college search, course selection, applications, standardized testing, etc.

Junior Workshops

Juniors attend workshops starting in January and continuing through the semester. Workshops cover the college search, standardized testing, timeline, specifics of an application, and resources. Students also gain access to the College Counseling Handbook and begin using Naviance to support their college process efforts.

Individual Meetings

In January of their junior year, students are assigned a college counselor with whom they meet individually to develop a customized college counseling plan.

January Presentation for Parents of Juniors

Parents are included in the college counseling process from the beginning. We discuss the objectives and mechanics of the college search in this first meeting.

Sophomore Workshops

Second semester sophomore year, college counselors conduct seminars with groups of sophomores to introduce them to Naviance, help them explore academic and career options, and highlight what colleges seek in an applicant. We emphasize the importance of taking advantage of academic and extracurricular opportunities at Thayer as a foundation for college preparation.

9th and 10th Grade Outreach

While the formal college counseling process begins in a student’s junior year, we speak with the ninth and tenth grade classes to address the importance of their early work at Thayer. We are also available to meet individually with parents and students to discuss how a student’s choices (academic, extracurricular, etc.) in the Upper School may impact their college goals.

College Admissions Calendar

Senior Year

click here to download

July 2018

Checklist:

  • Visit college campuses if possible.
  • Draft your main college essay (Attend college essay workshops at Thayer if possible).
  • Register for Sept, Oct. or Nov. standardized tests 

July 27: Registration deadline for August SAT

August 2018

Checklist:

  • Visit college campuses if possible.
  • Draft your main college essay (attend college essay workshop at Thayer if possible).
  • Begin work on the Common Application and supplemental essay writing.
  • Register for Sept, Oct. or Nov. standardized tests (SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests).

August 1: Common Application is available starting on this day (commonapp.org)
August 10: Registration deadline for September ACT
August 15: College essay draft due to your college counselor via email
August 25: SAT /SAT Subject Test Day

September 2018

Checklist:

  • Meet with college counselor.
  • Decide on Early Decision or Early Action applications.
  • Try to finalize college list and organize application deadlines.
  • Work on college applications.
  • Register for Oct. or Nov. standardized tests (SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests).
  • Attend college representative visits at Thayer. Register in advance in Naviance.
  • Complete the Senior Questionnaire in Naviance for your college counselor.
  • Arrange for Parent Response Forms to be completed & returned to college counselor.
  • Ask teachers to write letters of recommendation at least one month prior to application deadline. Add them to your Naviance account or provide them with the necessary paperwork.

September 7: Registration deadline for October SAT/ SAT Subject Tests
September 8: ACT Test Day
September 17: College Counseling meeting for Grade 12 parents (6pm – Thompson Hall)
September 28: Registration deadline for October ACT

October 2018

Checklist:

  • Work on college applications.
  • In Naviance, move colleges you plan to apply early to over to the active application list (due 2 weeks before app. deadline). Complete FERPA waiver on Common App.
  • Ask teachers to write letters of recommendation one month prior to application deadline. Add them to your Naviance account or give them the necessary paperwork.
  • Take SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests.
  • Register for Nov. and/or Dec. standardized tests (SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests).
  • Send SAT/ACT score reports via testing company to colleges.
  • Attend college representative visits at Thayer. Register in advance on Naviance.
  • Prepare financial aid documents for any early applications if needed (fafsa.ed.gov and www.profileonline.collegeboard.com)
  • Complete Senior Questionnaire in Naviance for your college counselor.
  • Arrange for Parent Response forms to be completed & returned to college counselor.

October 1: Financial Aid applicants can fill out FAFSA and CSS/Profile starting today. (fafsa.ed.gov and css.collegeboard.org)
October 5: Registration deadline for November SAT/ SAT Subject Tests
October 6: SAT / SAT Subject Test Day
October 8: Columbus Day Holiday. Consider visiting a college campus today.
October 10: No school for seniors. Visit a college campus or work on applications at home or at the application workshop in the Brickyard.
October 27: ACT Exam Day

November 2018

Checklist:

  • Submit Early Decision / Early Action applications.
  • Send SAT/ACT score reports via testing company to colleges on college list.
  • Take SAT or SAT Subject Tests.
  • Attend college representative visits at Thayer. Register in advance on Naviance.
  • Ask teachers to write letters of recommendation one month prior to application deadline. Add them to your Naviance account or get them the necessary paperwork.
  • In Naviance, move colleges you plan to apply early to over to the active application list (due 2 weeks before app. deadline). Complete FERPA waiver on Common App. For deadlines over winter break, forms must be logged in by December 7.
  • Complete Student Questionnaire in Naviance for your college counselor.
  • Arrange for Parent Response forms to be completed & returned to college counselor.
  • Prepare financial aid documents if needed (fafsa.ed.gov and profileonline.collegeboard.com)

November 2: Registration deadline for Dec. SAT/ SAT Subject Tests
November 2: Registration deadline for December ACT
November 3: SAT / SAT Subject Test Day
November 12: Veteran’s Day Holiday is observed. Consider visiting a college on this day.

December 2018

Checklist:

  • Decisions arrive for Early Decision and some early action applicants.
  • Take SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests.
  • Complete all applications.
  • Ask teachers to write letters of recommendation one month prior to application deadline. Add them to your Naviance account or give them the necessary paperwork. For deadlines over winter break, forms must be logged in by Dec 7.
  • In Naviance, move colleges you plan to apply to over to the active application list (due 2 weeks before app. deadline). Complete FERPA waiver on Common App.
  • Send SAT/ACT score reports via testing company to colleges on college list.
  • Prepare financial aid documents if needed (fafsa.ed.gov and profileonline.collegeboard.com)

December 1: SAT Reasoning/SAT Subject Test Day
December 7: College applications due over break must be logged in by this date
December 8: ACT Testing Date

January 2019

Checklist:

  • Submit remaining applications.
  • In Naviance, move colleges you plan to apply to over to the active application list (due 2 weeks before app. deadline). Complete FERPA waiver on Common App.
  • Send SAT/ACT score reports to any remaining colleges.
  • Submit financial aid forms. Complete the FAFSA online at fafsa.ed.gov; complete the CSS/PROFILE, if required by colleges on your list, at profileonline.collegeboard.com.
  • Respond to an Early Decision acceptance if applicable.
  • Contact colleges (via internet or phone) to make sure your applications are complete and that online applications have been received.
February and March 2019

Checklist:

  • Provide additional information to colleges as requested.
  • Receive admission decisions and communicate them to your college counselor.
  • Wait patiently and think about options.
  • Visit colleges as necessary.
  • Contact financial aid offices to make sure all necessary forms are received.

March 9-24: Spring Break. Visit colleges if necessary.

April 2019

Checklist:

  • Receive admission decisions and communicate with your college counselor.
  • Think through options.
  • Visit colleges if necessary.
  • Make final decision.

April 15: Patriots Day Holiday. Consider visiting a college campus today.

May 2019

May 1: Acceptance / deposit due at the college of your choice.

June 2019

June 8: Thayer Commencement. Congratulations!

Notes:

  1. Many of the dates above represent the deadline (last possible date). Plan ahead and act early!
  2. It is the responsibility of the student to understand the test requirements of the colleges to which they are applying.
  3. Thayer is not a testing site for the SAT, SAT Subject Test, or ACT.

Junior Year

click here to download

January 2019

Checklist:

  • Meetings with college counselors begin in Decisions classes and individually.
  • Register for spring SAT.

January 8: College Counseling Meeting for junior parents at 6pm in Thompson Hall
January 11: Registration deadline for February 9th ACT exam

February 2019

Checklist:

  • Meet individually with your college counselor.
  • Register for spring standardized tests (SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests).
  • Make arrangements to visit colleges over spring break if desired.

February 8: Registration deadline for March 9th SAT
February 9: ACT Testing Day

March 2019

Checklist:

  • Meet individually with your college counselor.
  • Register for spring standardized tests (SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests).
  • Continue to learn more about the colleges on your preliminary college list.
  • Visit colleges over spring break if possible.

March 8: Registration deadline for April 13th ACT Exam
March 9: SAT Testing Day

April 2019

Checklist:

  • Attend all college counseling Decisions classes.
  • Meet individually with your college counselor as needed.
  • Register for spring standardized tests (SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests).
  • Continue to learn more about the colleges on your preliminary college list.

April 5: Registration deadline for May 4th SAT Exam
April 4-5: Boston National College Fair at Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center
April 13: ACT Exam Date
April 28: BISCCA College Fair at Milton Academy from 1-3pm or Merrimack College from 5:30-7pm

May 2019

Checklist:

  • Meet individually with your college counselor as needed.
  • Register for spring standardized tests (SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests).
  • Think about making plans for summer college visits.
  • Continue to learn more about the colleges on your preliminary college list.
  • Update prospective college list on Naviance Family Connection.
  • Sign up for College Essay workshops and/or mock interviews if desired.

May 3: Registration deadline for June 1st SAT / SAT Subject Tests
May 3: Registration deadline for June 8th ACT
May 4: SAT / SAT Subject Test exam day

June 2019

Checklist:

  • Meet individually with your college counselor as needed.
  • Plan summer college visits.
  • Continue to learn more about the colleges on your preliminary college list.
  • Update prospective college list on Naviance Family Connection.
  • Watch for College Counseling Office summer mailing.

June 1: SAT / SAT Subject Test exam day
June 8: ACT Exam Day, Thayer Academy Graduation
June 14: Registration deadline for July 13th ACT

Summer 2018

Checklist:

  • Visit colleges.
  • Register for fall standardized testing (SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Tests).
  • Continue to learn more about the colleges on your preliminary college list.
  • Complete first draft of college essay.

June, July, August: College Essay Workshops (dates TBD)
July 13: ACT Exam Day
August 15: First draft of college essay due to college counselor by email
August 24: SAT / SAT Subject Test exam day