College guidance

In the fall, students take the PSAT/NMSQT, gaining useful exposure to standardized testing while beginning to understand how testing may fit into future college admission planning. 

This is also a valuable time to become more familiar with general college entrance requirements. As students learn more about academic expectations, testing, and application components, they can begin making informed choices and approaching the years ahead. 

This is a good time for students to reflect on their PSAT results with the support of their advisor and college counselor. These conversations can help students better understand their academic progress, identify areas for growth, and make thoughtful decisions as they continue preparing for the years ahead. 

This season is also an important opportunity to build a well-rounded profile beyond the classroom. Meaningful involvement in extracurricular activities, community service, and leadership roles helps students grow in responsibility and character, while regular reading and writing continue to strengthen the communication skills that will support success in school, college, and beyond.

Maintaining strong grades supports the highest GPA possible, while conversations with a counselor about Advanced Placement courses and postsecondary options can help students make informed choices about future academic opportunities. 

It is also a good time to keep exploring personal interests, career paths, and the type of college environment that may be the best fit. Visiting campuses, attending college fairs, reviewing information from colleges, and learning more about specialized pathways — including military academies — can help students build a clearer picture of their options. Summer jobs and continued college savings can also be meaningful steps toward future readiness. 

Students should prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT, which serves as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test in junior year, and begin preparing for the SAT and ACT as part of their college testing plan. They should also meet with the college counselor for a formal planning meeting to review current courses, discuss senior year classes, and make sure their academic path supports college admission goals.

Students and parents meet with the college counselor to review progress, discuss college goals, and identify the steps to complete before senior year. This is also an important time to plan senior courses carefully, making sure the schedule aligns with the curriculum expectations of the colleges a student is most interested in. 

Students continue building their college list by gathering information, attending college fairs and evening programs, and planning campus visits well in advance, especially for spring break when tours and information sessions fill quickly. They take the SAT, ACT, and, where relevant, SAT Subject Tests, while students in AP courses prepare for and complete their AP exams.  

Before the end of the school year, students also request letters of recommendation from two teachers who know them well and submit any required recommendation forms to the College Counseling Office by the stated deadline. Summer planning, whether through camps, work, travel, or other meaningful experiences, also begins during this period.

Students visit college campuses, speak with alumni who have attended the schools they are considering, and continue reading widely to strengthen awareness, perspective, and communication skills. Community service and volunteer work also add meaningful experience while reflecting a student’s values and interests. 

This season also marks a major step in application preparation. Students begin drafting college essays, review them with a teacher, and refine them through careful proofreading and revision.  

At the same time, families create a financial aid application plan that outlines funding sources, required forms, and key deadlines so the process begins senior year with stronger organization and less uncertainty. 

Students meet with the college counselor, often with parents included, to review a final list of colleges, discuss application strategy, and address questions about scholarships, financial aid, and standardized testing. Students also arrange campus visits and admission interviews where required or recommended, while confirming any remaining SAT or ACT registrations for fall testing. 

At the same time, students continue drafting and refining college essays, complete applications, and build a balanced college list that includes reach, target, and safety schools. Strong academic performance remains essential, since first-semester senior grades factor into college review. Students also stay alert to scholarship deadlines, many of which arrive early in the year, and continue attending meetings with college admission representatives visiting Lake Mary Prep. 

Students continue researching financial aid, complete the FAFSA and, when required, the CSS Profile, and stay aware that many need-based scholarships require these forms even when eligibility seems uncertain. Students admitted through Early Decision withdraw all other college applications promptly, since that commitment is binding. 

This season also requires continued focus in the classroom. Colleges review midyear transcripts, and final admission remains contingent on successful completion of senior year at a level consistent with the original application. The College Counseling Office sends updated transcripts with first-semester grades to every college on a student’s list, making strong academic performance especially important.  

Alongside waiting for admission decisions, students also complete steps such as registering for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, even if they currently plan to attend college out of state. 

Students share copies of every admission decision with the College Counseling Office and notify the college counselor if a college requests updated grades, honors, or other additional information. Students who receive a deferral from an Early Decision or Early Action school also work with the counselor on an update letter early in the spring. 

As admission results arrive, students compare options carefully, attend admitted student visit programs, and decide which college offers the best fit based on everything they have learned. By May 1, students submit a deposit to one college only to secure enrollment and decline all other offers in writing. They also stay focused academically, complete any AP exams, and send AP scores to the college they attend in the fall as graduation approaches. 

Summer after Grade 12 marks the final transition from high school to college. The College Counseling Office sends each student’s final transcript to the college they plan to attend, completing an essential part of the enrollment process. 

Students also share their first impressions of their new school with the college counselor, offering insights that can help future students learn more about that college or university.