Trying to put together the plan for high school and college.   Check out this website at Knowhow2go.org to plan and see success stories.  Take it from a peer!
 

Below find a yearly plannning tool which is a little more specific to JCHS.

Freshman

·Building a flexible schedule of classes based on career goals.  Get in to college prep classes.  Don’t fall in the trap of thinking taking easier classes will help you get a higher GPA.  Taking challenging courses looks better on a college application.  Classes you take freshman year are just as important as the ones you take senior year.
· Consider taking interest inventories to explore your career interests.  There are many free inventories on-line.  Visit Kuder  or Tennessee Career Interest Inventory.  Still unsure of a career direction then try job shadowing a person to explore options.  See Mrs. Potter in the Career Technical Education office for more details.
· Get involved!  Join extracurricular activities and community service organizations.  Look for flyers advertising meetings, visit clubs during activity period, use your handbook to find out who sponsors various clubs.
· Start building your School Profile or Resume.  Keep track of activities, awards, and involvement in school and around the community.  This is a great tool when completing scholarships, college applications, and when asking for recommendation letters.
· Get to know your teachers, upperclassmen and your school counselor.  Use teachers and older students as mentors.  They know how things work around the school and know what it takes to prepare for college.  Your counselor assists you with what you need to do over the next four years to prepare for post secondary training.
· Find out about summer jobs and/or volunteer experiences.
· Begin scholarship search.  Federal, state, college/technical school, private funding.  Many scholarships for freshman revolve around academics (reading a book and writing an essay), community service (volunteer work), essays based on your opinion or creative writing samples.  Pace yourself-fewer students put forth the effort for these scholarships so your odds are higher!
 

Sophomore

· Re-evaluate your class selections to make sure you are meeting college/technical school requirements for admission.  Find out about AP classes.  Be sure to take advanced classes to qualify for Beta or Honor Societies.  Ask about articulation of coursework to local community colleges or technical schools.
· Take the PLAN-an interest inventory created through ACT that helps you begin to link classes with careers.  Consider Job Shadowing so you can get an idea of various careers.  You can spend a day with a professional who can offer valuable insight about their job and what training is needed to succeed.
· Explore college catalogs and other materials including financial aid. Use the Internet to find out what schools offer your preferred major.  Start thinking about priorities for school-size, location, cost, degrees offered.  Visit schools over the summer.
· Update your School Profile with awards, honors, and athletic information.  Focus in on a few extracurricular activities and really make a difference.
· Continue participation in enrichment programs-leadership, volunteer, summer jobs.  Sign up for Leadership or Service Learning class when registering for classes.
· Keep thinking about scholarships!
· Interested in military academy-start making contacts now.  Military academies require a nomination from a Congressman or State representative.  Establish these contacts now and begin the screening process for nominations.
· Consider Governor’s School as a summer activity.  Sign up in November with a school counselor.

Junior

· Take the PSAT  to prepare you for college entrance exams.  This test may also qualify you for certain scholarships.  National Merit Scholarship is based on PSAT scores.
· Take SAT and/or ACT test to practice taking entrance exams.  Take ASVAB Career Exploration to help you develop your career interests. Use PLATO practice tests or visit prep websites  for additional preparation materials.
· Maintain your grades.  Many colleges base GPA for entrance on end of junior year.  Be sure required classes are nearly completed.
· Develop a list of postsecondary schools.  Talk with admissions representatives during college fairs. (Smoky Mountain Counseling Association College Fair held in Knoxville in the evening mid October.)
· Make an impact in your club or organization-run for office.  Colleges are looking for students with leadership skills.
· Scholarships!  Many are designed specifically for juniors on the ball!  (Discover Scholarship)
· Athletes-NCAA Clearinghouse eligibility-check out the requirements.  Write to coaches at your target schools.  Create a highlight tape and relevant articles.
Art, drama, engineer, architect-start developing your portfolio, audition tapes, writing samples or other evidence of talent.  Update your school profile.
· Develop contacts in school and community for writing recommendation letters.  Remember to keep your school profile handy to assist the author of these letters.
· Try Job Shadowing a professional in a similar line of work or setting to compare work duties.
· Military academy: make contacts with admission boards.  Contact Congressman to finalize paperwork for nominations.
· Read college mail you are starting to receive.  Over the summer visit schools for your interest.
· Spring:  Review previous SAT and/or ACT scores and sign up to take test again.  As you sign up for seniors year classes remember to explore AP class options and/or dual enrollment courses.  (TSAC education lottery money is available to assist with cost of dual enrollment classes.)
· Summer: Practice writing essays for college admissions.  Decide if you are going to apply for early admission to a college. Check deadlines for admissions for colleges.  Make a timeline of deadlines for Senior year.  Consider Governor’s School or other Leadership development activities.

Senior

· September-registration deadline for October ACT/SAT.  Ask your school counselor about the one time fee waiver offered at JCHS.  NMSQT semi-finalist announced.  Considering graduating early then see Mrs. Stacie France in counseling office for details.
Review transcript and courses to be sure you have met all requirements for graduation and for your particular college admissions or technical school admissions.  Narrow down your lists of schools.  Be sure you have “safe” and “reach” and realistic schools. Request applications from schools early.
· October-College Fairs (Carson Newman and others in the area) VISIT!  Make final contacts with Admission representatives.
Request teacher and counselor recommendations.  Provide a copy of your School Profile so your recommendation can be personalized.
 Complete Early Action/Early Decision applications.  Many merit based scholarship applications due at this time also (i.e. UTK)
 Prepare for and take ACT/SAT.  Be sure you have scores sent to your top schools.
Make contact with recruiting officers for military options.  Apply for ROTC options at various colleges.  Sit for Boards for military academies.
 Scholarships search is ongoing!
· November-Registration for SAT subject tests.  Registration for December ACT/SAT.
Attend Financial Aid night at JCHS usually held end of October.
Attend Career Fair at Expo Center (in conjunction with TTC and WSCC)  Career Expo is a great way to find out about apprentice programs or on the job training programs.
Assist parents with CSS Profile for colleges that require it.
Continue to request recommendations for applications.
Remember to keep up your grades.  Schools do not want to see Senioritis affects.
Consider job shadowing with professional.  See Mrs. Potter for details.
· December-Write essays and complete applications for colleges with January/February deadlines.  Remember JCHS is closed over Holidays so request needed information early.
Talk with visiting high school alumni about their college experiences.  Finalize references and turn school profile into a working resume.
· January-Students and parents can submit FAFSA.  Send in early.  FAFSA also qualifies you for Education Lottery Scholarship money from TSAC.
Continue searching for scholarships.  Contact colleges and technical schools directly for financial aid.
· February-Be sure all necessary information is sent to colleges.  Follow up on your application packet.
· March-You will begin to receive financial aid award letters.  Perhaps re-visit your top choices.
Many local scholarships have Spring deadlines.
· April- Choose a school that fits your needs.  Review financial aid packages and talk with financial aid officers. Notify college of your decision to attend and send deposit.
· May and June-Thank teachers who wrote recommendation letters.  Notify colleges you did not choose so they can admit others.
Make final preparation contacts for military service.
Ask JCHS to send final transcript to school of your choice.
· July and August-Work to help pay for college and have spending money!
Read and stay ready for college or technical school.
Attend orientation meetings offered by college or technical school.