Sherwood High School : Countdown to Graduation | Sherwood HS

Skip to main content

Counseling Services Department » Countdown to Graduation

Countdown to Graduation

Guide to Graduation

College/Career Planning Checklist for Freshmen

Month	Action
September	Meet with your counselor. Discuss your academic/career plan, personal, and academic strengths. Get involved in extracurricular and/or community activities. Start collecting materials important for goal setting and resume: grades, activities, honors, awards and standardized test scores. Visit the Career Center and become familiar with the many resources available. It is open before and after school and during lunch.
December	Review your four-year plan with your parents. (Available on line at http://www.mcpscourses.org)
January	Be prepared for first semester exams.
February	Plan for next year with your parents, teachers, and counselor. Fill out your registration form for next year. Both student and parents must sign the form.
April - June	Work on earning your student service-learning hours. Use the Summer Search booklet to locate summer enrichment programs. Be prepared for second semester exams.

College/Career Planning Checklist for Sophomores

Month	Action
September	Continue extracurricular involvement.
October	Sophomores take the PSAT on October 17.
November - April	Take an interest inventory, available in the career center.
December	Review your four-year plan with your parents. (Available on line at http://www.mcpscourses.org)
January	Be prepared for first semester exams.
February - April	Discuss your selection of courses with your parents and counselor. Fill out necessary registration forms. Consult handbooks of universities and colleges, trade and technical schools in the Career Center. Consider career and technology course offerings here and at the Thomas Edison High School of Technology.
March	Meet with counselor to review progress and goals.
April - June	Be prepared for second semester exams. Investigate volunteer summer programs.
July-August	Continue meaningful student service learning hours.

College/Career Planning Checklist for Juniors

Month	Action
September - May	Meet with college representatives who visit SHS and plan college visits. Continue to develop in-depth extracurricular activities & leadership positions. Monitor your student service learning hours. Acquire experiences related to career plans.
October	Register for the PSAT/NMSQT, which will be administered at SHS on October 15,2008.
December	Review your four-year plan with your parents. (Available on line at http://www.mcpscourses.org)
January	Be prepared for first semester exams. Discuss next year’s schedule with your parents, counselor and teachers.
January - June	Make an appointment to research colleges in the Career Center and make list of schools of interest.
March	Register for the May SAT I/ SAT II and/or ACT. Look for college summer programs. Begin looking for a summer job.
February - March	Meet with your counselor to update your career/educational plans. Visit colleges during spring break. Spend time in the College/Career Center exploring materials.
April	Register for the June SAT. Do advance research on college decision making in the Career Center. Prepare for and attend the National College Fair. Be prepared for AP exams.
May - June	Develop resume and activity list from review of high school career. Non-college bound students should look into post-secondary options such as apprenticeships, technical schools and full-time jobs.
June	Be prepared for second semester exams.
Summer	Visit college campuses. Assemble a file of materials collected from colleges.

Month	Action
Summer/September	Meet with your counselor to discuss postsecondary plans. Request and send applications from colleges, trade and technical schools. Register for October SAT I/SAT II and/or October ACT. Register for November SAT I/ SAT II. Review credits necessary for graduation with your parents and counselor. Athletes register for the NCAA Clearinghouse. Update your resume.
September-November	Meet with college representatives. Arrange to tour campuses. (Prior approval is required if you are absent from school.) Complete all forms in the senior packet and return them to the counseling office. Familiarize yourself with the school’s transcript request procedure and follow it. Request letters of recommendations. Complete college applications
December	Register for the January SAT I/SAT II.
December - June	Begin job hunting or researching vocational/technical schools if you do not plan to enter college in the fall.
January	Be prepared for first semester exams. Make sure the registrar has the addresses for colleges to which you want mid-year grades sent. Attend financial aid workshop at SHS.
February - April	Apply for local scholarships. Be prepared for AP exams and senior exams.
May	Complete senior survey and senior information sheet. Give Mrs. Hernandez a stamped addressed envelope for the final transcript to be sent to your college.
June	GRADUATION - Congratulations!