Senior College Calendar

HIS Counseling Office

Elizabeth Morris, Counselor, emorris@his.ac.zw, 870514-5, ext. 206

Lynn Chanakira, Secretary, lchanakira@his.ac.zw, 870514-5, ext. 245.

It may have seemed that it would never happen, but finally, you are a senior!  Your life is probably filled with schoolwork, friends, new experiences, and big decisions. There are many things to do, but one of the most important is applying to colleges. Choosing the colleges where you want to apply can be time-consuming and stressful, but it cannot and should not consume all of your time in grade 12.  This is a time to find a balance, and learning how to do so will help you throughout your life.

Stay Focused

Your senior year is very important from the point of view of colleges.  Don't make the mistake of thinking it's over except for the application process. Quite the contrary, this is the time when you must give your best effort to school responsibilities while balancing the demands of choosing and applying to colleges.

You may be tempted to slack off on your course load or your level of intensity in class. Don't do it! Keep working. Even after you've been accepted, remember that offers of admission are always contingent on completing the year at about the level you were at when you applied. If you have been wait-listed, a drop in performance between the time when you applied and the time the college goes to its wait-list can be fatal. What about your major? Do you really know what you want to study? Here are two interesting facts:

·          More than half of the students who enter college do so with an "undeclared" or "undecided" major.

·          On average, each student who enrolls in college will change his or her major - and many more than once.

So, if you don't know what you want to study, don't be afraid to say so - and don't pick a major just because someone says you should be interested in it.

If you really are interested in a specific major such as electrical engineering, computer science, or business, use the catalogs of the colleges you are considering to find out exactly what is required for that major. You may surprised. You may discover that you really don't want the major you thought you did, or you may discover that colleges you are considering have very difficult requirements for your possible major.  To determine what is required for a specific major, check the college's web site. Look under "Academic Program."  The information is also available in the College Handbook  which can be found in the Counseling Office. Information about special requirements for majors is listed in the Handbook under the "Basis for Selection" heading for each college.

Stay Organized

You will be getting a great deal of information about applying to colleges in your senior year, and one of the most important things to remember is to watch the due dates for materials.  Keep in mind that students who submit their applications early have had good success, and are definitely less stressed than individuals who wait until December.

CHECK LIST FOR TWELFTH GRADE

 

August 

o         Attend the senior retreat. Counseling office personnel will go over what you will be expected to do when applying to college, and when materials will be due in the counselor office. It is also a time to find out how to get help on essays, ways to create a polished application, and tips for presenting yourself in the best possible light.

o         Attend the College Night for Parents and Seniors. The College Night is designed to help students and parents learn about application procedures. Guest speakers will be available to answer questions.

o         Request teacher references; give stamped, addressed envelopes and a list of colleges to teachers.

o         Find out if college information programs (fairs and regional college-sponsored receptions) are being held in the next few months. Attend meetings held with college representatives.   

o         Register for the SAT I, SAT II, and/or ACT in October and possibly November.

o         Schedule a meeting with your College Counselor to review progress, discuss strategies, finalize your college list, and decide on teacher references. Bring these items to the meeting with the Counselor:

                                - List of colleges where you are applying

                                - Rough draft of at least one essay

 August 31              The names of universities, where you are planning to apply are due in the Counseling Office. The list may change in the next few weeks, but try to narrow it to between 5 and 10 schools.  Be sure to also provide the mailing address and contact information.

September   

o         Come to the College All-Nighter.  It is the kick-off of the college application process, and you will have time to download and complete applications, including financial aid applications, search college websites, work on essays and resumes, and share the excitement of applying to colleges with other seniors.

o         If financial aid is a consideration, obtain information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov .

o         If you are planning to apply early (Early Decision or Early Action) then notify your Counselor and work on completing the application forms.  

o         Attend College Application Weekend to work on applications.

o         Participate in workshops or extra-curricular classes focusing on college application components.  The College Essay Writing Workshop is one such activity.  It starts on September 1.

September 31       

Turn in rough drafts of your applications and essays to the Counseling Office.  Also turn in the bank letter, if required, and notify the                Counseling Office Secretary what form of payment you intend to use to pay for applications - check or credit card.

October 

Correspond with college representative to ask questions and gather more information. Remember that emails and/or letters should be well written, as your acceptance may rest on this first impression.

Work on finalizing applications. Make appointments with the counselor to go over all application materials.  

November   

November 1            All college application materials are due in the Counseling Office.

December    

Any remaining application materials must be in the Counseling Office by Monday of the last week in order to be mailed before the holiday break.

January

o         If applying for financial aid, complete and submit FAFSA.                    

ALL YEAR: Tell your College Counselor the results of your applications.  

April

o         Send a deposit to the college of your choice.  Check the Candidate's Reply Date, which is usually May 1.

o         Inform your teacher references of the results of the colleges' admissions decisions and thank them for their support.

May

o         Request that a final transcript be sent to the college that you will be attending.

Ask for Help

There are many people at HIS who can help you through the college application process, and so don't be shy about asking for assistance.  Most students find that applying to universities seems like a huge task, but once it is broken down into manageable chunks, it isn't too painful.  Remember to stay focused, stay organized, and ask for help when you need it.  Before you know it, you'll be heading off to college!

The April 1, 2007 test date will not be available outside of the United States and U.S. territories.

o         As is customary, Sunday administrations will occur the day after each Saturday test date for students who cannot test on Saturday for religious reasons.

o         The Language Tests with Listening are offered in November only. Back to top

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