Timeline
The college counseling process officially kicks off in the fall of the junior year; however, the College Counseling Office provides resources and programming for all Upper School students.
Ninth Grade
The best things a ninth grader can do to prepare for college are to work hard to get the best grades possible in a curriculum appropriate to his or her ability, and to discover passions both in and outside of the classroom. Colleges look for quality and depth of commitment, and freshman year is the best time to start taking advantage of the many opportunites available to McDonogh students, whether through clubs and activites, athletics, or the fine and performing arts. Find a passion and pursue it!
Tenth Grade
Sophomore year is a good time to take a hard look at yourself. What are your likes and dislikes, and how will they translate into your life after McDonogh? Take a career interest inventory on McDonogh's own Family Connection website to get a sense of what you might like to do in the future. Attend the Sophomore College Preview in the winter term to hear directly from a college admissions professional about current college admisions trends. You will be assigned a college counselor after spring break for the purpose of assistance with junior year scheduling, so be sure to utilize him/her if you are considering a major change in your schedule (dropping an academic discipline, for example). Lastly, sophomores in Honors World History, Honors Chemistry, or Honors Precalculus might want to consider taking the SAT II Subject Test in June. See your college counselor for more information.
Junior Year, Fall
- Throughout the junior year, it is important for you, as a student, to concentrate on your studies at school and to develop or continue to pursue a few, well-chosen activities which are interesting and enjoyable for you. Having a solid academic record and being a contributing member of the McDonogh community is the best way for you to prepare yourself for the college process.
- The college search officially begins in the fall of the junior year with a program for parents and students. College admissions officers serve as guest panelists and provide insight into the process by leading discussions on essays, interviews, and admissions decisions.
- Students are encouraged to meet with the college representatives who will visit McDonogh each fall. You are excused for only three classes for this purpose, so you should choose your colleges carefully.
- Take the PSAT in October.
- Start to think of interesting and creative ways to spend the summer before your senior year.
Junior Year, Winter/Spring
- Juniors will complete a detailed questionnaire in the form of a self-evaluation. Each junior and his/her parents will meet with one of the college counselors to discuss academic and personal interests, future testing, senior year scheduling and the college search between January and May.
- Register to take the SAT I in the spring and the SAT II: Subject Tests in June.
- Inquire for information from colleges, and perhaps use your spring break to visit.
- Attend the AIMS college fair in April. This fair is sponsored by the independent schools in the greater Baltimore area, and features representatives from over 150 selective colleges.
- Choose a senior year program which is both challenging and pertinent to your interests and educational goals. Senior year counts!
- Sign up to attend the summer college essay workshop at McDonogh in August.
Senior Year, Summer: Checklist
- Set up your Family Connection account.
- Contact colleges for information before the senior year.
- Be visible in the College Counseling Office. Make sure your counselor is updated on your college search and any new academic or extracurricular information in order to represent you best to your college choices.
- Get organized and plan ahead! Keep a folder for all college information, noting deadlines carefully.
- Keep track of all CCO e-mails and communications. We can't help you if you don't read or respond to what we send you!
- Memorize your social security number and McDonogh's CEEB test code number: 210750.
- Check your high school transcript for accuracy. Notify your college counselor of inaccuracies immediately.
- Give all Secondary School Report forms or McDonogh's Records Release Form (if your college does not provide a SSR) to Miss Pat one month before application deadlines, filling in the required information on the form first. All January 1 SSRs must be submitted to Miss Pat by November 15. Remember that the University of Maryland needs to receive Part I of their application by November 1 and Part II by December 1.
- Give teacher recommendation forms, with stamped, addressed envelopes to the faculty members you are asking to write for you, indicating deadlines.
- Register for the SAT early! McDonogh has a limited amount of space for test-takers. Go to collegeboard.com.
- Read the SAT Registration Bulletin carefully for test information. It is your responsibility to have test results sent to the colleges to which you are applying. It is less expensive to list the colleges on your SAT I/SAT II registration form.
- Before you submit anything to any college, MAKE A COPY! Things do get lost in the paper shuffle of an Admissions Office!
Senior Year, Fall
- Return to school with a list of ten to fifteen colleges in which you are very interested. Meet with your college counselor to discuss your list. By mid-October, make your final choice of the schools to which you will apply.
- Attend the mandatory college planning program, "It's Time to Apply!" in September for parents and students, held by the college counseling staff.
- Line up college visits and interviews early in the fall. Plan to do college visits on the weekends in September and October when McDonogh has planned no classes for seniors.
- Attend meetings with college representatives visiting McDonogh as appropriate.
- Register for the SAT I in October and the SAT II (if necessary) in November or December.
- Those interested in financial aid should obtain the Financial Aid PROFILE and file it as early as possible. The FAFSA (free federal form for student aid) will be available in November. See "Resources" section for more information on financial aid.
- One month prior to your application deadlines, all transcript requests and Secondary School Reports (SSR's) must be submitted to the College Counseling Office. For applications with a January 1 deadline, these forms must be submitted by November 15.
- All applications to colleges with "rolling" admissions, "priority" deadlines, or state colleges and universities should be mailed by the end of October.
- All applications should be finished by December 1. Set aside blocks of uninterrupted, quality time when you can work on your applications and essays. Budget your time carefully - the more you plan ahead, the less painful the process will be!
Senior Year, Winter/Spring
- Follow up with each college to insure that all application credentials are in place.
- Send financial aid forms to the appropriate places in early January.
- Keep your college counselor updated on any academic or extracurricular developments that could influence your college application (awards won, offices secured, academic improvement/decline, etc.).
- Receive notification of admissions decisions, and notify your college counselor!
- Make final visits to colleges if you haven't decided where to attend.
- Reply to the colleges by May 1 to accept a place. Notify colleges you decide not to attend as soon as possible in courtesy of others on their wait list.
- Take AP exams in May.
- Keep up those final senior year grades! Colleges will ask for a final grade report!
Directions | Site Map | Contact | Employment | Privacy Policy | Directory | Calendar | Library | School Store | Support McDonogh