Grade-Level Expectations

• Begin taking career interest inventories
• Personalize your learning
  • Figure out what you enjoy
  • Figure out your strengths and weaknesses 
  • Figure out how to amplify your strengths and improve your weaknesses
• Begin exploring college options

• Prepare for ACT or SAT test
  • Naviance test prep is a helpful, personalized test prep software that is free for SCLA students.
  • Review previous test data to determine areas in need of most study
• Take the ACT or SAT

  • Juniors are encouraged to take a test in spring of Junior year

  • Most often, the ACT is used by American students and the SAT is used by international students. However, you should check with your potential schools to decide which test(s) to take.

• Prepare for English language proficiency exam (international students)
  • TOEFL is the most widely accepted exam 
  • Duolingo is a cheap option, but it is not accepted everywhere. 
• Consider personal interest and strength areas
  • Discuss thoughts with parents, peers, and guidance counselor(s)
  • Connect with career professionals in various fields 
  • Review or take career interest inventories in Naviance
• Make a list of schools you are thinking about
• Visit and tour schools. 
• Speak to admissions representatives that come to SCLA

Walk-in whenever!

• Continue research of colleges’ program and scholarship offerings
• Take the ACT or SAT if necessary. International students must take the TOEFL or another English proficiency exam.
• Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
  • You can do this before applying to colleges
  • The FAFSA application opens October 1
• Be aware of dates, deadlines and admissions types for your school(s)
  • Open Admission is commonly used by community colleges and tech schools. As long as minimum requirements are met, students are accepted.
  • Rolling Admission is a “first come, first served” system. Applications are reviewed as they are received, and acceptance letters are sent continuously. 
  • Regular Admission means a school has set a specific deadline for all applications. Schools can review applications as they are received, but they can also wait until all applications have been received for the admission period. Admissions officials often compare student applications when making admissions decisions. 
  • Early Action* is an early application deadline (typically November 1) that allows students’ applications to be compared to fewer other applications. Students also are informed of admissions decisions sooner. 
  • Early Decision* is an application type that tells a school that you will enroll if accepted. Students are encouraged to use ED only if they are completely certain that, if accepted, they want to attend that school and are prepared to pay whatever the school has decided his/her tuition will be. 
    • *Early Action and Early Decision schools also use Regular Admission. 
  • Applying early does not necessarily improve the rate of acceptance.
  • Priority Deadline is used by some schools, and is similar to Early Action. Applications submitted before the Priority deadline are given first consideration for acceptance.
• Research and apply for scholarships
  • Most scholarship money comes directly from the school you attend.
  • Private scholarships are available, and many require specific criteria for consideration. 
  • Many scholarships will ask for transcripts, essays, and/or recommendations
• Visit and tour schools within a reasonable distance
• Make college attendance decision 
  • May 1 is National Decision Day, but you are encouraged to confirm enrollment and begin the process earlier. 
  • Some schools have an enrollment confirmation deadline of May 1 or before. 
  • Some schools, especially University of California schools, may not inform you of admissions decisions until June.