Michelle Taylor, Associate Administrator
Hardin-Simmons University, BBA

The FCS College Counseling Office exists to inform and guide high school students and their families through the college search and application process. Preparation along the way, beginning with the freshman year, will result in a well-informed and exciting college match for the student.

michelle.taylor@fcschool.org

EDUCATION TIMELINE

Ninth Grade – Look ahead.
1. Get off to a good start with good grades. All freshman classes and grades will be included on the high school transcript. The senior year seems a long way off, but every grade along the way counts.
2. Explore your interests and possible career choices.
3. Begin your resume. Record each honor, award and achievement. You might leave something out if you wait until your senior year and try to remember all of your past recognitions.
4. Involve yourself in co-curricular activities through FCS and/or outside of school. Demonstrate commitment and leadership in each activity. Keep good records of the number of hours and weeks of service.
5. Start catalog shopping for colleges.  Check out websites of colleges that might interest you. Get a feel for college life by visiting a few campuses.
6. Consider summer enrichment programs. They look great on your resume.

Tenth Grade – Keep the ball rolling.
1. Keep up the good grades. They are generating your grade point average.
2. Continue exploring your interests and possible career choices.
3. Carry on with co-curricular activities. Community and volunteer service hours strengthen your resume.
4. Build on your resume with accurate documentation of time spent in various activities along with awards and achievements. Work toward leadership positions.
5. Take the PLAN (Pre-ACT) and PSAT/NMSQT (Pre-SAT) to prepare for the ACT and SAT. These tests are taken at Faith. Use your results!
6. If you are interested in the military academies, start planning and getting information. List your congressman as a recipient of your ACT and SAT scores.
7. If you are interested in college athletics, begin contacting coaches. Be sure to list the NCAA as a recipient of your ACT and SAT scores.
8. Continue your college search and visit more campuses.
9. You make take the SAT and ACT at the end of your sophomore year if you have completed Algebra II. Register for the SAT Reasoning test at www.collegeboard.com. Register for the ACT Plus Writing at www.act.org. The SAT and ACT are offered at various locations in our area. They are not offered on the Faith Christian School campus. The Faith Christian School code is 441411. If you plan to participate in college athletics, you must list the NCAA as one of the institutions to receive your scores.
10. Consider another summer enrichment program or summer job. No slouching during the summer.
11. Take an ACT and/or SAT prep course. (www.princetonreview.com, www.testwise.info)

Eleventh Grade – It’s time to get serious.
1. Choose your classes carefully.  Colleges want you to take the most rigorous courses available. Make sure you are taking the courses that your prospective colleges recommend.
2. Give your greatest effort on grades. Colleges like to see an upward trend, so don’t give up. Check your class rank. Faith will only recognize and publish the top ten percent
3. Take the PSAT/NMSQT on campus at Faith Christian School. Colleges and universities look very favorably upon any student who receives National Merit recognition.
4. Attend a college fair and visit with admission representatives from colleges of interest. You need to know your admission counselor.
5. Continue to explore your interests and career possibilities. Find the colleges that fit those interests and match your criteria of school type, location, size, cost, etc.
6. Visit your top considerations. Sit in on a class, spend the night in a dorm, and eat in the cafeteria. Most colleges and universities offer prospective student weekends. Take advantage of these informational weekends.
7. If you are interested in the military academies, start the application process.
8. If you are interested in college athletics, visit colleges and meet with coaches. Follow the NCAA rules.
9. Prepare for and take the ACT Plus Writing and/or SAT Reasoning Test. Remember, the CEEB code for Faith Christian School is 441411. If the colleges you are considering require SAT Subject II tests, register and sit for those.
10. Stay involved in your co-curricular activities. Colleges look for depth over breadth of activities.
11. Register with the NCAA if you plan to participate in Division I or II college athletics. Register online at www.ncaa.org.
12. Look for scholarships. A beginning place is www.fastweb.com.
13. Apply for a summer internship, job, or enrichment program.
14. Memorize your social security number.
15. Have your senior pictures taken.

Twelfth Grade – You are almost there!
1. Choose a full course load of challenging classes. This is an indicator to colleges that you are a serious student. The additional and stronger courses you take in high school will make a more successful college student.
2. Maintain high grades. Stay focused. Your college will receive a final transcript that includes all of your senior grades.
3. Continue your commitment and leadership in co-curricular activities.
4. Make final campus visits to your top choices of colleges.
5. Keep a college calendar. Mark deadlines for each college admission, financial aid, scholarship and housing application. Stay well ahead of the deadlines.
6. If you are not satisfied with your ACT, SAT, or Subject II scores, take them again early in the fall.
7. Request teacher and counselor recommendations at least two weeks before application deadlines.
8. Prepare and submit a  *complete application packet.  A complete application packet includes the following:
a. The college application. The common application used for Texas public institutions is www.ApplyTexas.org. The Common Application, www.commonapp.org, is used for more than 150 independent colleges. Watch out for the 10 most common errors in college applications.
b. Essay(s). An English teacher should proofread them for you.
c. Official High School Transcript. Make your request through Ms. Mendy’s office. The “Transcript Request” Clipboard is located in the bin outside of her door.
d. Official Test Scores. ACT or SAT scores must be sent from the testing agency. (www.act.org, www.collegeboard.com)
e. Other items may include letter(s) of recommendation, resume, Counselor Report, and a mid-year report. 
f. Application Fee.
9. Apply for campus housing.
10. Search and apply for scholarships
11. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at www.fafsa.ed.gov after January 1 of your senior year.
12. Make your final college choice, and submit your nonrefundable deposit by May 1.
13. Notify the colleges to where you have been accepted for admission but are declining the offer. Sample Letter 
14. Complete registration forms, and submit deposits for housing and orientation.
15. Celebrate your graduation!
16. Make plans to attend Faith's Homecoming Celebration for Alumni.

      * Any item that is recommended by a college should be considered required.