College Exploration Resources
The counseling department is pleased to provide the following college timelines by grade level, links to college fairs, and information on mini-fairs and junior college workshops.
9th Grade Timeline
August/September
- Attend Freshman Orientation
- Attend Mahopac University Night
October-March
- Attend Freshman Advisory Sessions with your counselor (Four-year planning, Introduction to Naviance, Career Interest Inventory, etc.)
- February/March-students meet with their counselor to discuss sophomore year scheduling options
Year Round
- Participate in clubs, sports, activities
- Begin service learning
- Focus on doing well in your classes and attend extra help if needed
10th Grade Timeline
September
- Optional: Register for PSAT through your house secretary (please see your counselor for questions on if the PSAT is right for you in 10th grade)
- Attend Mahopac University Night
October
- Take PSAT (optional)
February/March
- Visit BOCES tech center (optional)
- Students meet with their counselor to discuss junior year scheduling options
April
- Complete the Do What You Are (DWYA) career interest inventory through Naviance
Year Round
- Participate in clubs, sports, activities
- Begin service learning
- Focus on doing well in your classes and attend extra help if needed
11th Grade Timeline
September
- Register for the PSAT through your house secretary
- Student athletes who are interested in playing sports in college should consult with a coach to discuss college athletic options
- Attend college mini-fairs at MHS
- Apply for College Board test accommodations if not already submitted (for students with IEP/504)
- Attend Mahopac University Night
October
- Take PSAT
- Attend college fairs in the area
- Attend college mini-fairs at MHS
November
- Attend college fairs in the area
- Attend college mini-fairs at MHS
December
- PSAT scores are available online through the College Board and distributed to students
- Register for SAT prep course, if applicable
February/March
- Attend Junior College Workshops for students
- Counselors are available for Junior College Meetings by appointment for students individually or with their parents (as needed)
- Students meet with their counselor to discuss senior schedule options
- Students interested in playing DI or DII athletics in college should review NCAA website for an approved list of courses and eligibility requirements. Communicate with counselor intent to play college athletics and review senior schedule options.
- Start making plans to visit colleges in Spring
- Register for SAT and/or ACT
- Add colleges to “Colleges I’m Thinking About” in Naviance
- Start working on Junior Conference Profile in Naviance
- Visit colleges-make an appointment with admissions office or register online through college
April
- Visit colleges-make an appointment with admissions office or register online through college
- Attend college fairs in the area
- Attend College & Career Fair at BOCES
May
- Take SAT (if applicable)
- Attend college fairs in the area
- Personally ask a teacher for a letter of recommendation letter and add request to Naviance (under “Colleges I’m Applying to” tab)
- Take AP exam (if applicable)
- Visit colleges-make an appointment with admissions office or register online through college
- Add colleges to “Colleges I’m thinking About” in Naviance
June
- Student athletes applying to Division I or II colleges must register online through the NCAA Eligibility Center. Student should notify counselor that they registered.
- Take ACT (if applicable)
- Visit colleges-make an appointment with admissions office or register online through college
- Complete the Junior Conference Profile in Naviance by June 1st
July/August
- Continue to explore colleges and narrow college list
- Register for October SAT (if applicable)
- Register for September ACT (if applicable)
- Continue to work on your college essay
- Follow up with teachers about letters of recommendation
- ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!
12th Grade Timeline
September
- Make appointment with counselor in mid-September to review college list
- Create a Common Application account and start completing
- Be mindful of deadlines (early action, early decision, priority, regular, rolling, etc.)
- Personally ask a teacher for a letter of recommendation letter and add request to Naviance (under “Colleges I’m Applying to” tab) NO later than October 1
- Attend college mini-fairs at MHS
- Register for November SAT (if applicable)
- Continue to visit college campuses and interview with admissions representatives
- Research scholarship opportunities and check Naviance Scholarship List
- Take ACT (if applicable)
- List colleges that you are applying to in Naviance
- Attend Mahopac University Night
October
- Complete FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov)
- Take SAT (if applicable)
- Attend college fairs in the area and college mini fairs at MHS
- Continue working on college applications. Ask an English teacher to review college essay.
- Request teacher letter of recommendation by 10/1
- Send SAT/ACT scores to colleges from your College Board and/or ACT account
- Visit colleges; schedule an overnight visit (if applicable)
- Research scholarship opportunities and check Naviance Scholarship List
- List colleges that you are applying to in Naviance
November
- Take SAT (if applicable)
- Submit your college applications
- Attend college mini-fairs at MHS
- Research scholarship opportunities and check Naviance Scholarship List
- Notify house secretary if college is requesting 1st quarter grades
- Confirm college applications, types and deadlines with your house secretary
December
- Visit colleges; schedule an overnight visit (if applicable)
- Research scholarship opportunities and check Naviance Scholarship List
- Enter in Naviance any updates on college decisions and acceptances
- Confirm college applications, types and deadlines with your house secretary
January
- Research scholarship opportunities and check Naviance Scholarship List
- Enter in Naviance any updates on college decisions and acceptances
- Confirm college applications, types and deadlines with your house secretary
February
- Visit colleges; schedule an overnight visit to help compare colleges and make a final decision
- Research scholarship opportunities and check Naviance Scholarship List
- Enter in Naviance any updates on college decisions and acceptances
- Confirm college applications, types and deadlines with your house secretary
March
- Visit colleges; schedule an overnight visit to help compare colleges and make a final decision
- Research scholarship opportunities and check Naviance Scholarship List
- Enter in Naviance any updates on college decisions and acceptances
- Complete ACCES-VR (for students with IEP/504)
April
- Compare college acceptances and financial aid offers
- Complete Senior Survey in Naviance-Family Connection as you hear back from colleges
- Make final decision on which school you will attend and enter final choice in Naviance in “College I’m Attending”
- Research scholarship opportunities and check Naviance Scholarship List
May
- Complete Senior Survey in Naviance
- Enter final choice in Naviance in “College I’m Attending”
- Research scholarship opportunities and check Naviance Scholarship List
- Turn in Service Learning hours and reflection form to your house secretary by May 1st
June
- Complete Senior Survey in Naviance
- GRADUATION!!!
College Fairs
College Mini-Fairs
College Mini-Fairs will be held throughout the fall in the Library Media Center. Representatives from a diverse group of colleges will be at MHS to meet with our students.
A list of visiting college representatives is posted in Naviance-Family Connection in the Colleges tab under "Upcoming College Visits". Updates are made frequently so check the list often!
College Events for Juniors
MHS College Planning Guide (Online)
MHS College Planning Guide Booklet
Every spring, counselors schedule Naviance workshops with juniors to review the college application process. During these workshops, students will review the transcript, standardized test information, college deadlines (early decision, early action, regular, rolling etc.), recommendation letters, college essay, common application, financial aid resources, and important features of Naviance in the college application process. Students will also receive an interactive tutorial on how to do a college search using Naviance.
After students attend the Naviance-Family Connection workshop, parents and students can schedule an appointment with their counselor for an individualized junior college meeting for additional help and questions.
