11th Grade Planning for College
Fall Semester
Use your Daily Planner:
- Record class assignments
- Maintain good study habits by checking off completed assignments
- Keep track of important deadlines
- Manage your time by planning your schedule
Maintain academic standard:
- Improve grades, if needed
- Take a challenging course load
Stay involved in extracurricular activities:
- Be fully engaged in your activities
- Listen for announcements and look for posted signs regarding meetings
Review National Honor Society requirements:
- Consult student handbook for semesters used to compute GPA
- Attain Scholarship (3.8 cumulative GPA)
- Possess outstanding character
- Develop leadership qualities
- Perform Service (30 community service hours in the previous 12 months)
Perform community service
- Volunteer
- Check to see if volunteer organization is non profit
- Perform a minimum of 15 hours
- Turn in documented community service hours
- Perform community service over summer to count toward senior year
- Do 75 hours of service over all four years for Florida Bright FuturesAcademic Scholars Award
Spring Semester
College Planning Meeting:
- Parents and students are strongly encouraged to attend College Planning Meeting with Ms. Polin, Guidance Director- see newsletter for specifics.
Register for and take SAT I, ACT, and TOEFL tests:
- Check to see whether your list of colleges accept both the SAT I and the ACT
- Colleges look at your best verbal and math score from the SAT I or the best combination of subscores from the ACT
- Send score reports to colleges on your list (code # in registration booklets or online)
- Take the Kaplan SAT prep course offered each quarter at AHS.
Register for and take SAT II subject tests:
- Check to see if any of the colleges on your list require SAT II subject tests and which tests
- Decide whether or not to send scores
Review High School Graduation Requirements for American Heritage:
- Four years of English
- Three years of social studies (world history, American history, American government, economics)
- Three years of mathematics (Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II minimum)
- Three years of science (biology required)
- Two years of the same foreign language
- One year of computer applications
- One semester of fine arts
- One semester of physical education/weight lifting
- Electives (4 academic electives strongly recommended)
- 24 credits total
Review Academic Requirements for College:
- Public four year universities in Florida - 19 academic credits required
- Specific colleges - check requirements online or college catalogue
- Competitive colleges - take highest level courses recommended or additional academic courses
Review Bright Futures scholarship requirements:
- Florida Merit Scholarship (3.0 weighted g.p.a./ 970 SAT or 20 ACT)
- Florida Academic Scholarship (3.5 weighted g.p.a./1270 SAT or 28 ACT)
- Four years of English
- Three years of social studies
- Three years of mathematics
- Three years of science
- Two years of foreign language
- 75 community service hours for the Florida Academic Scholarship
Do a College Search:
- View 4 Year U.S. Universities by State
- Use College Resources located in the library
- Visit Petersons, Collegeboard, and Princetonreview
- Visit Princeton Review
- Consider competitiveness, size, geographic location, cost, majors, and extracurricular opportunities
- Attend college visits at school and/or local hotels to speak with college representatives
- Visit college fairs (online or in local area)
- Make a list of potential colleges and start college files
Send for college applications, brochures, and videos (online or by mail)
- Check resources in our library, College Resource Area
- Ask counselor for advice on appropriate colleges for your ability
Check out NCAA requirements for eligibility:
- See guidance counselor for requirements (do not register until fall of senior year)
- Send SAT and/or ACT scores to colleges and the NCAA (code # 9999)
Register with the Selective Service (male students only):
- Pre-Register at age 17 or register on 18th birthday
- Satisfy a legal obligation
- Protect your eligibility for government financial aid, government employment, and for immigrants, U.S. citizenship
Attend junior spring workshop with parent(s):
- Meet local college representatives
- Obtain information regarding the admission process, what colleges are looking for, etc.
- Receive
 College Admission Process guidebook for American Heritage students
Set up a junior spring conference with your guidance counselor and parent(s):
- Review transcript for accuracy
- Check your GPA and your academic standing in your class
- Choose courses for senior year
- Review college plans and make a time table for submitting applications
Request letters of recommendation:
- Finalize and polish your resume
- Request letters from at least two current teachers
- Check college applications for requirements for number and specific letters needed
Add to resume:
- Include grades, test scores, extra curricular activities, honors, work and volunteer experiences
Compose rough drafts of college essays:
- Preview college applications for essay topics
- Have teacher and/or counselor proofread essay
Search for scholarships and financial aid:
Continue application process for military academies:
Visit Colleges
- Write or call colleges
- Talk to alumni and/or current students
- Set up an appointment with admissions
- Inquire about personal interviews with someone from the department you are considering
- Pick up excused absence form for college visits from Upper School Office
- Send thank you letters to interviewers
Take A.P. (Advanced Placement) exams in May:
- Take exam if enrolled in A.P. course (some honors students take A.P. exams)
- Check college catalogues or college web sites to see how A.P. scores are used by then
Investigate Summer Activities
- Enroll in summer college programs
- Expand your knowledge and experiences
- Earn college credit
- Check out internships
- Work
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