College Timeline for Juniors and Seniors

11th grade
September-November

• Plan to register for the PSAT.
• Talk to your counselor about different types of colleges (i.e. business school, technical schools, community colleges, four year colleges, etc,).
• Research various grants, scholarships, loans, and work study programs.

December-January

• Review your results from PSAT with your counselor. Consider how to improve your scores if necessary.
• Jot down a list of colleges that appeal to your academic needs.

January-May

• Discuss with your counselor about senior classes.
• Register for the SAT exam. Check with your counselor about specific dates and locations.
• Attend college fairs and visit different campuses to learn more about the programs offered at the institution.

June-July

• Narrow down your college list.
• Start requesting college applications.
• Enjoy your summer!

Senior year-August-October

• Check on all deadlines for all the colleges on your new list.
• Ask your teachers, counselors, coaches, employees, etc for letters of recommendation if required from colleges.
• If you are not satisfied with your SAT scores, retake the test.
• Have your official scores from SAT exam sent to the colleges on your list.

November-December

• Continue with the application process, but be aware of the deadlines.
• Talk to your parents about completing their income tax forms as soon as possible.
• Complete the FAFSA form as soon as your parents complete their tax forms.
• A SAR (Student Aid Report) should be mailed four weeks after the submission date of the form.
• Make any corrections on FAFSA form and submit it.
• Send in documentation of your immunizations. You may be required to receive additional vaccinations. Check with the college health center for details.
• Complete scholarship applications.
• Mail out all college applications.

April-May

• Review any materials sent from the schools.
• Usually colleges send out acceptance letters around this time. Don’t get discourage if you do not receive one or did not get accepted into a college on your list. Stay motivated and think positive thoughts.
• Take Advanced Placements Examinations, if appropriate. Request your scores be sent to the colleges.
• Finalize on a college.
• Enjoy prom!

Late May-June

• Take final exams.
• Request that your counselor send your final transcript to your college of choice.
• Congratulations on completing high school!
• Review all your college information (i.e. tuition, housing, meal plans, etc,).

June-August

• Ensure all paperwork and materials are in order.
• Enjoy your summer!
• Start your journey to success.

Significant Postings from the Blogging Experience

The most significant postings are the personal testimonies and the links to various educational resources. I like the fact that viewers shared information about their experience in college preparation. Students can take information from the testimonies and apply it to their current situation. Students can read about different aspects on how to prepare for college or learn about different career paths other than attending a four year college. The educational links provide the students with direct access to the main homepage. We added various sources that will benefit anyone who is thinking about higher education. I think with some type of guidance, students or people who want to go back to school will have success in finding the right college/career path that suits them.

Significant Postings from the Blogging Experience

This blogging experience has been a wonderful journey. To me the most significant postings came from the students and parents. It was very rewarding to see the comments and suggestions from them. After all they are the ones we created this blog for. I really appreciate the students and parents taking the time to go through our blog. Our goal was to provide students and parents with resources to use when looking for colleges, etc. I believe we accomplished that goal through our blog.

Signifigant Postings from the Blogging Experience

The most signifigance postings came from the sudents and their parents. Students explained the process of a well thought out college experience and how to get the most for their college dollar. The parents thought the blog was a great idea because it gave them the opportunity to express concerns they had as parents of college bound students and learn new websites for funding.

Insights About Myself Given This Blog Experience

I truly enjoyed this experience. It allowed me the opportunity to learn a new way to incorporate technology into my classroom. I am positive this will be a skill I will put to use many times. I am starting a blog for my family so that we will be able to learn what everyone is up to since we live all over the world.

Insights About Myself Given This Blogging Experience

At first, I was nervous about creating a blog because I did not know anything about blogs besides viewing one. I am a type of person who embraces technology with open arms. Since creating a blog is new to me, I was ready to learn a new skill. This experience taught me how to use a new tool to reach out to various audiences. Even though our blog is intended for high school students, parents can gain knowledge about how to assist their child in the college process. I find myself checking the blog daily to read comments from viewers. I realized I was having intellect conversations through messages. Not only are you responding to a comment, but providing valuable information to others.

One of the most important things I’ve learned is to add diversity to the blog. We have to provide accommodation for all different types of learners. We added different elements so readers have the opportunity to experience various sources about college preparation. My group members and I created topics and found sources that would benefit parents and students. I even wrote about my personal experience to inspire students to not wait until the last minute to prepare for college. There are some things you can wait until the last minute to do, but your future should not be one of them.

This blog is a great idea. My niece just spent the last year trying to decide where she wanted to attend college, and the process of applications and college tours was sometimes overwhelming. Parents and students alike could use each others as resources to help each other through the maze of information. One web site we found helpful was http://www.college911.com.

Insights about Myself Given This Blogging Experience

This blogging experience has given me the opportunity to learn and use a tool I was not familiar with. Some of the things I learned about myself was not to be afraid of new technology. Technology changes almost daily and as a Business ed teacher, I have to keep up with it. This experience has also given me a chance to strengthen my team working skills. I believe I work well with a group setting and I was happy to be a part of such a wonderful group.

1. In summary, the experience has taught me a new teaching strategy, new technology, and team building skills. All of which will continue to be helping in my classroom.

I am a special education teacher and I find it discouraging that many of the students I teach do not see college in their future. Many of these student do not come from homes with parents who have college degrees. I followed your link on colleges with programs for students with learning disabilities. I didn't see any Georgia colleges on the list. Are they out there?

Applications of Blogs to My Practice

This is not my first time experiencing blogs, but it is my first time customizing one. I work in a public library and we use a blog to promote our teen programs. I did not know about the many features of a blog because the technology specialist at the library is in control of updating and rearranging the blog. Depending on the credibility of the information and author, blogs could be use as a source for various assignments. As a future media specialist, I want students, teachers, and parents to share their opinions about different books and ways to improve the media center. In order to achieve these goals, we need other avenues to communicate our thoughts.

Applications of Blogs to My Practice

Blogging is a new concept for me. I have never been the type of person to visit chat rooms but I have participated in on-line discussions for classes. Blogging is an experience I have shared with my students and they have given it great reviews. The class and I can discuss topics in a non-threatening atmosphere. Blogging is a great teaching strategy.

Applications of Blogs to My Practice

Being in this class has introduced me to the concept of blogging. Since then I have had my class to look at blogs relating to business education. I have enjoyed creating blogs and reading other blogs relating to my interests.
Blogs have helped me to gather additional information about topics of interest. Additionally, blogs have given my students another means of finding resources for different topics. I believe that I will continue to use blogs as an instructional tool for my business and computer classes.

"My Advice As A Student"

I feel it is important to remember that college is expensive and students must be ready to take on the responsibilities of home, school, work and fun. We must remember to use our time wisely.

Career Exploration and Planning

www.act.orgin/discover On this site students can conduct career explorations and school/academic planning for their choice. It is really a terrific site and I highly suggest the use of it for all high school students.

Plan For Your Future

I would advise juniors and seniors to keep their grades up in order to get scholarships from high school. Check with the local schools to see what finacial assistance they offer before applying to schools out of state. I also advise all children, male and female, to get their education before having children because after children it's hard to accomplish your education goals.

How Times Have Changed

Forty years ago when I sent my first child to school it was the responsibility of the parents to attend the college with their students to register and pay for classes. Parents were more involved with the actual process of school. If your student was not holding up their end of the bargain for grades in college the professors would suggest the parents remove them until they were better prepared for the process. As time moved on my youngest child found it easier to attend school because she could register on-line and some courses were available there too. Scholarships were almost none existent when my oldest attended but more prevalent with my youngest. This blog offers a great deal of information I am sure parents and students can use. I am a mother who has attended college about 10 times. It is a great feeling.

A High School Student's Recommendation

I'm a sophmore soon to be a junior in high school and I have recently gone on a colllege tour to Clemson University and University of Georgia. It was a great experience and I feel that many high school students should at least go on one. I have gone through many career choices over the past couple of years. I couldn't decide on just one until I found a website named careercruising.com and I have settled on what I would like to major and double minor in when I go to college. Finding a college that I would like to attend and that have the major and minors were the next step. Careercruising.com was very helpful in that task because it gives you a list of colleges that have those professions. I recommend that website to anyone who is having trouble finding out what they would like to be when they grow up.

From a Parent's Perspective

I think this blog is a wonderful opportunity for parents and students to find vital information to pay for college. As a parent it is very important to find the best financial route . Student loans are definantly not the answer unless you can't find another way. I know too many people in their late 30's still trying to pay off loans from college. Please continue to look for other websites. I think when you are finished with your assignment you should open your blog for others.

Career development and planning

www.iseek.org. This site allows a student to explore a career, plan their education, find a job , and check to see how the industry that they want to work in is growing before the get into the career and discover it's not what they wanted or it would be a dead in job with very little or no growth potential. This is a very good site and every student should participate in it.

www.goarmy.com

Students may find it is easier to join a branch of the military to receive money for college. It has often been the only opportunity for many people to see the world and gain perspective in there lives. As a high school student I considered the military because I lived in a small town. I am the youngest of a large family and as each sibling left home to discover the world I knew I was ready to do the same.

College Preparation 101

The last two years of high school are known as the “golden years.” Juniors and seniors are looking forward to prom, homecoming, spirit week, labeled as upperclassmen, and forming unbreakable friendships. Do students think about what happens after high school? What preparations are taken to help students pursue their dreams? This blog is to provide students with valuable resources as they prepare for their journey to college. Not only will students learn about opportunities about higher education, but parents will gain knowledge about how to assist their children with the college process.

When I was a junior in high school, my guidance counselor told me the basics about preparing for college. My counselor never sat down with me to discuss various types of colleges because it was impossible to give each student individual time. As I entered my senior year, I was unprepared. I still haven’t taken the SAT exam, unaware about financial aid, undecided about a career path, and waited until the last minute to fill out college applications. Fortunately, I was accepted to Fort Valley State University in a timely manner, but my senior year was crazy because I was trying to meet deadlines. I had to venture out on my own to find out what college fits my academic needs. I wish I had more resources available that were geared towards college preparation.

Georgia College 411

If you are interested in colleges in Georgia, check out http://www.gacollege411.org/ for all your needs about Georgia schools, financial aid, etc.

Importance of preparing for college

Preparing for college can be one of the hardest and most life changing experience a student will have to do. It takes time and dedication to research schools, fill out college applications, take college entrance exams, etc. Attending college should be exciting and rewarding, but the stress of getting there can be unbearable. This blog was created to help with the frustrations of preparing to go to college. A good website that gives parents and students steps in preparation for college is http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ProgramsServices/CIP/Preparing/Guide1.htm.

Website for scholarships and careers

www.careercruising.com is one of the best sites for helping students decide what career they are interested in and find schools and scholarships that will help the student with funding.

Welcome to TAB's Blog

Welcome to our blog. This blog is to provide helpful information for college bound juniors and seniors.