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  3. 4 Year Planning Checklist

4 Year Planning Checklist

4 Year Planning Checklist

Freshmen

  • Develop strong work habits and study skills.  Do as well as you can: freshman grades count!
  • Get involved. Participate in athletics, drama, student government, clubs - follow your interests.
  • Reach out to your teachers and your counselor for support.
  • Seek tutoring if you need extra academic support. Speak with your teacher first about support that they might be able to provide. 
  • Visit the College and Career Center, and start thinking about what you might want to do after high school.
  • Get familiar with UC A-G college entrance requirements. You'll need a C- or higher in every semester class to qualify. The higher your grades, the more options you'll have later!
  • Explore your interests and potential careers via your California Colleges account: how to log in. 
  • Start working on your Academic Plan in Aeries with your School Counselor.

Sophomores

  • Continue building and revising your Academic Plan in Aeries with your counselor to help ensure that you are on track to meet graduation and college entrance requirements.
  • Take the most challenging courses you can, and strive to earn excellent grades.  
  • Remember: UC/CSU will use your 10th and 11th grade 'a-g' courses to calculate your GPA for admission. Some campuses (e.g. Cal Poly SLO) may use freshman grades as well.
  • Begin researching colleges utilizing California Colleges: how to log in, and the College & Career Center.
  • Take the PSAT in October.
  • Consider a summer job, internship or volunteer: more information in the CCC.
  • Participate in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, and/or volunteer work.
  • Consider taking a course at College of Marin. Speak with your Counselor for more information.
  • Attend a Bay Area College Fair in the spring.
  • Become familiar with College and Career Center resources: internships, jobs, college visits, scholarships.

Juniors

  • Take the PSAT in October.
  • Continue building your college list using California Colleges, our resources, and those in the CCC. Remember to target a broad range of schools, from "reach" to "safety". Notes on building your list. 
  • Attend College Night for Juniors in the spring.
  • Start looking into career/major options in the CCC, or via your California Colleges account.
  • Visit colleges that you're considering attending, or take a virtual tour via college admissions websites
  • In the spring, consider taking the SAT and/or ACT.  Many colleges/universities will not consider test scores in the admissions process, but some may. Check the colleges and majors to which you plan to apply in order to determine which would be most advantageous for you to take. More information about college testing. 
  • Consider pursuing an internship related to your interests more information in the CCC.
  • Consider taking a course at College of Marin. Speak with your Counselor for more information. 
  • Read the daily bulletin and check the TL website for announcements about college rep. visits, scholarships, and start researchingscholarships and financial aid resources.

Seniors

Review the Seniors section of our site for resources and detailed recommendations. 

  • Build your college list. Narrow down your college list to 10 or fewer colleges, and research and note admissions requirements for each school to which you plan to apply. 
  • Maintain your grades: Colleges will expect you to continue taking rigorous courses, and to continue to maintain your GPA.  REMEMBER: if your grades drop, your admission offer may be rescinded
  • Attend College Night for Seniors in the fall.  Counselors will meet individually with each senior in the fall to review graduation status and progress toward meeting college entrance requirements.  
  • Attend Financial Aid Night in January. Submit your FAFSA or CA Dream Act application as soon as possible after it opens up in January.  
  • SAT and ACT: Many colleges and universities will not consider test scores in the admissions process (including UC and CSU). Research the requirements for the schools to which you plan to apply. If you decide to, take the SAT or ACT no later than December. PLEASE NOTE: some colleges may not accept tests taken after November: check with each campus. 
  • Application Deadlines: UC & CSU applications are due November 30th.  Private & out-of-state colleges and universities: deadlines vary. Make sure to research the requirements for the colleges/universities to whic you plan to apply.
  • Transcripts: Counselors will submit initial and midyear transcripts via Common Application for Common App schools if requested. UC/CSU do not require transcripts upon initial application. Final transcripts must be requested via our Registrar: more information here.  
  • Letters of Recommendation: Request letters of recommendation from teachers and your counselor if you are applying to private / out-of-state schools that will require them. Give at least one month of advance notice before your first deadline. 
  • Attend meetings with college representatives via the CCC.
  • Check the CCC for information about local scholarships, jobs and internships.
  • Apply for Terra Linda Scholarship Foundation awards in the spring.