BEGIN YOUR ACADEMIC YEAR WITH CONFIDENCE

Review your schedule with Heather, SSIS’s Academic Dean. The SSIS team carefully constructs a high school class schedule to align with college preparedness and admissions, Washington State high school graduation requirements, and your particular needs and interests. By talking over your schedule with Heather, you begin your Junior and Senior years confident that your schedule reflects your post-graduation needs and ambitions.

DEEPEN, EXTEND YOUR INTERESTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a SSIS student, you know it—learning and life are about the doing. Reflect on what you’ve done in the past and what you want or need to change or continue doing. Engage fully, seek mastery, be generous with what you know and contribute to your family and community. When you leave high school, colleges and employers will want to know what you’ve done and who you’ve become over the last four years. One way to do that is to let them know about your activities—especially those activities that have shaped your goals and aspirations. If you have an activity you would like to pursue but are shy about reaching out, please involve your advisor, teacher or the college counselor. We are glad to help.

For inspiration, here are some activities that have guided the futures of SSIS graduates: 

• theater/film (acting, stage managing, directing, writing, filming, editing, collaborating, teaching)
• music/dance (practicing, solo performing, band performance, ensemble work, teaching)
• community service (care-giving, fund-raising, organizing, building, publicizing, leading initiatives)
• science and art (field work, lab work, studio work, publications, art shows)
• athletics of all kinds (local, regional, national—personal or team-based)
• internships and jobs (retail shops, restaurants, news outlets, professional offices, non-profits, marine and land preservation, the Fire Department and other public services). 

In addition, if you have the interest and opportunity to get certified or qualify with some distinction, do it—you will be demonstrating your depth of engagement and improving your future employment! Remember to create a resume, accounting for your time, responsibilities (active, strong verbs please!), and any recognition or awards that you might receive.

TAKE NATIONAL STANDARDIZED TESTS

Some combination of the PSAT, SAT, SAT 2 Subject Tests, ACT, and APs are part of your college portfolio. Juniors take the PSAT in October and follow up with other tests beginning in the second semester of the junior year. Seniors complete the testing cycle in the fall of the senior year. The object is to broaden one’s choices when it comes time to apply to schools. You may end up not using your scores—over 700 colleges, many of which are highly selective, don’t even ask for these tests—however, you take the tests (with the writing section!) because you want your final college list to reflect your interests and needs, not whether or not you fulfilled application requirements. Tests can also affect college merit awards—for some families, this is an important way to reduce cost.

Juniors take the October PSAT — it provides a personalized diagnostic tool that can shape your learning path in your second semester (results come out in December/January), and you may qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. It also doesn’t hurt to practice the standardized testing format. Unless you wish to be considered for the scholarship award, you need not prepare for the PSAT. You can link your PSAT scores to free Khan Academy/College Board SAT prep. Junior year winter/spring testing sets a baseline and provides the opportunity to complete the testing cycle during the junior year—if you can do this, your Senior self will thank you. 

Usually, Seniors take October SAT 1 and/or ACT and often take November or December SAT 2 Subject Tests. Check with individual college websites for their deadlines and requirements AND BE AWARE that different circumstances and needs dictate different approaches to testing. Please meet with the SSIS college counselor to personalize your testing plan.

ATTEND THE NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR IN SEATTLE

Juniors, become acquainted with colleges online and visit with representatives at the College Fair. Learn about the diversity of choices out there and use the experience to talk with your family about their college experiences and expectations. Initiate conversations with SSIS faculty and the college counselor. Seniors, the College Fair brings college representatives from everywhere to nearby Seattle—take advantage!  

PLAN COLLEGE VISITS

Juniors, talk with your family about visiting a few colleges during the SSIS winter break when colleges are in session. Even if the colleges you visit are not likely to be ones to which you apply, you can learn a lot about the diversity of the college experience and what you can expect generally. Choose to visit large and small, rural and urban, liberal arts and research university campuses. Take the tour, sit in on classes, read the student newspaper, talk with students, and if possible, arrange to spend the night in a dormitory. Many colleges provide this opportunity, but it does require several weeks notice. Summer visits can be valuable too. Visits beyond the immediate Vancouer-Victoria-Seattle-Tacoma area can become more expensive and time-consuming and therefore need more advanced planning. Seniors, if you did not have the chance to visit schools, take advantage of the virtual tours available on most college websites and please talk with the SSIS college counselor.

• Register for and take the SAT or ACT
• Prepare for the tests using preparation and practice books, Khan Academy, and possibly a tutor
• Play a leadership role on the SSIS Fall Backpack
• Determine whether to register for a future SAT or ACT
• Either take, register for or determine whether to take SAT 2 subject test(s)
• Complete an activities list and resume
• Complete a personalized college criteria checklist
• Research colleges by using a variety of search tools as well as speaking with people, including the college counselor
• If you have a special school in mind, attend a Seattle college visit and speak with their college admissions representative
• Formally or informally interview family friends, teachers, community members, etc. about their career and college experiences
• Create a college spreadsheet and fill in an array of college choices, noting pertinent details such as location, size, department strengths, internship, research, travel, and scholarship opportunities, admissions requirements and deadlines, costs and financial aid, their url, etc.
• Review and sign off on a final copy of your transcript
• Determine whether to apply Early Decision I or II, Early Action I or II, or Regular Decision
• Structure your time well, allowing for both work and play
• Maintain good grades

October 1st is the new FAFSA publication day

By October 15th, you:

• Followed through with all of the above, and…
• Completed all non-essay sections of at least one college application, ideally including the Common App
• Identified which colleges on your list require official test scores and which will recognize scores published on transcripts
• Asked teachers (and possibly others) for recommendations, providing log-in information, deadlines, and a thank-you note
• Peeked at the new FAFSA with your parents

By November 1st, you:

• Had your college counselor review your application thus far
• Analyzed Common App and other college essay choices
• Played with several college essay choices, jotting down a few concepts, anecdotes, and strong, descriptive verbs
• Reviewed college essay ideas with a parent or teacher
• Completed at least one draft of a college essay
• Shared a draft of your college essay with the college counselor
• Ideally you would have worked through several drafts with your college counselor by this time
• Reviewed your college list with the college counselor as well as any teachers related to specific subject/career areas of interest
• Arranged Interviews with colleges for which an interview is appropriate
• Attended the National College Fair in Seattle, possibly also interviewing with college representatives
• Stayed current with classes and other activities, and remembered to take a break from time-to-time (!)
• Kept parents and the college counselor informed of your needs
• Reminded recommenders of any approaching deadlines and thanked them for their time
• Taken a serious look at FAFSA — maybe completing it!

November 15 is Early Decision Day

During the remainder of November, you will:

• Concentrate on college essays
• Revise your college list
• Review your essay(s) with the college counselor
• Identify which schools require supplementary essays or short answers, and begin the process of addressing these
• Review and revise your college list spreadsheet, noting deadlines for applications, tests, transcripts, recommendations, and supplementary materials
• Interviewed with colleges for which an interview is appropriate
• Taken any further tests as is appropriate for you and the schools to which you are applying
• Kept parents and the college counselor informed of your needs
• Completed applications to schools with November 30 or December 1 deadlines

November 30 and December 1 are application deadlines for many public colleges, including the University of Washington and the University of California system.

By December 15, you will:

• Finalize essays
• Further revise your college list
• Complete applications to schools with December 15 or January 1-15 deadlines
• Work with parents towards completing FAFSA, if you haven’t done so already
• Complete first semester classes, maintaining good grades

December 15 and January 1 are application deadlines for many colleges. Many other college deadlines fall between January 1 – 15.

Enjoy a well-earned break!