"What Should I Be Doing Now?"

Freshman Year
Anytime Drop by the College Counseling Office to have your questions answered, to say hello, or just to hang out
All Year Adjust to high school; check out clubs, extracurricular activities, and ways to get involved; focus in classes and develop academic interests
Spring Register early for June SAT: Subject tests if completing appropriate coursework (consult teachers or college counselors)—visit www.collegeboard.com
May Take AP Exams if completing AP classes
June Take SAT: Subject Tests if completing appropriate coursework
Summer Recharge, do something interesting, complete summer/salon reading, and visit colleges if convenient
Sophomore Year
Anytime Drop by the College Counseling Office to have your questions answered, to say hello, or just to hang out
All Year Pursue activities of interest in and outside of school
School Holidays Visit college campuses if family travel or trips take you nearby
October Take the PSAT (practice exam for SAT)—Menlo administers this test for all sophomores
Spring Meet with your college counselor/academic advisor for the course selection/sign-up process; register early for June SAT: Subject tests if completing appropriate coursework (consult teachers or college counselors)—visit www.collegeboard.com
May Take AP Exams if completing AP classes
June Take SAT: Subject Tests if completing appropriate coursework (consult teachers or college counselors)
Summer Recharge (junior year is traditionally Menlo’s most challenging), do something interesting, complete summer/salon reading, and visit colleges if convenient
Junior Year
Anytime Drop by the College Counseling Office to have your questions answered, to say hello, or just to hang out
All Year Pursue activities of interest in and outside of school; start to think about what’s important to you and therefore might be important to look for in a college
School Holidays Visit college campuses whenever possible to get a sense of different campus styles and settings
October Take the PSAT (practice for exam for SAT and now competition for the National Merit Program) )—Menlo administers this test for all juniors
November If you are an athlete planning to participate in college varsity athletics, register early for the January SAT: Reasoning test
January Student-athletes, who plan to participate in college varsity athletic programs, take your first SAT: Reasoning Test
Spring Register early for March/April, May, and June SAT: Reasoning or SAT: Subject tests—visit www.collegeboard.com; meet with your college counselor/academic advisor for the course selection/sign-up process; have a follow up meeting to start college list discussions; and make sure all graduation requirements are on track for completion—especially community service and PE
March/April Students (non-athletes) take your first SAT Reasoning Test
May Take AP Exams if completing AP classes; retake SAT: Reasoning Test if interested
June Take at least two, ideally three, SAT: Subject Tests (consult teachers or college counselors)
Summer Recharge (the college application process makes the senior year intense); do something interesting or worthwhile; complete summer/salon reading; visit colleges; have a family meeting with your college counselor to kick off the college application process; do test prep if you think it is necessary; turn in permission slip so that the College Counseling Office can share your grades and scores with colleges; if you are an athlete interested in playing college varsity sports, contact college coaches to confirm your interest in their colleges and athletic programs; and complete the college counseling homework assignment—(1) complete at least one college essay, and (2) prepare a working list of colleges
Senior Year
Anytime Drop by the College Counseling Office to have your questions answered, to say hello, or just to hang out
All Year Pursue activities of interest in and outside of school
School Holidays Visiting college campuses whenever possible to get a sense of different campus styles and settings
Fall Meet regularly with your college counselor to work through the application process; research scholarship/financial aid opportunities and apply; fill out the CSS PROFILE for financial aid; fill out Cal Grant GPA Verification form (the Cal Grant program offers support very low income families with students planning to attend California colleges); and register for the NCAA Clearinghouse if you are an athlete planning to play college varsity sports;
August Hand in the college counseling homework assignment—essay and college list to your college counselor; meet with your college counselor to confirm your college list; Register early for October, November, and December SAT: Reasoning or SAT: Subject tests—visit www.collegeboard.com
September Complete rolling applications as they become available
October Retake SAT: Reasoning Test or any SAT: Subject Tests if desired; prepare any early applications
November Retake SAT: Reasoning Test or any SAT: Subject Tests if desired; submit early applications by deadlines; complete UC application and submit it online; prepare regular applications
December 1 Turn in all counselor forms with envelopes for regular decision applications
December Retake SAT: Reasoning Test or any SAT: Subject Tests if desired; submit all regular applications
December-February Receive early decisions—if you are accepted through an Early Decision program, you must immediately withdraw any other applications that you have already submitted
Soon after anuary 1 Complete FAFSA if applying for financial aid
January-February Write senior project proposal
Spring Continue to research scholarship/financial aid opportunities and apply
March-April Receive college application decisions
May 1 Make college choice by submitting a deposit to one school only!
May Senior Project Month
June Commencement
Summer Celebrate your completion of Menlo’s program and the college process; recharge—the first year in college is wonderful but inevitably challenging