September
Important dates
September 24: Late phone and online registration deadline for October SAT (Register here)
To do:
Prepare for FAFSA
Get parents' tax information
Pay attention to deadlines - they may be different for federal, state, and college
Start your college list. Make a copy of the College Tracker template to help you stay organized
Use this Yleana blog entry to help you build your college list
Here is a list of schools that are test-optional in 2024. While your mentee should still take the SAT, if they are panicked, their testing sites keep getting cancelled, or their scores aren't what they had hoped for, many schools are now test optional to accommodate COVID-19 disruptions.
However, this list is not comprehensive, so make sure to check individual schools for SAT requirements.
Think about applying to fly-in programs (optional)
Some schools are still doing fly-in programs. They can still be a good way to meet current students at the mentee's school of interest and get to know the school better.
Make sure your mentee makes a Common App account if they are going to apply to schools through the Common App
The Common App has included a COVID-19 and natural disaster question in the Additional Information allowing applicants to describe hardships, limitations, and disruptions in education they've experienced due to COVID-19. Encourage your students to thoughtfully complete this question if it applies to them.
Begin work on the college essay
Begin thinking about who your mentee wants to ask for recommendation letters
Should have 3 individuals in mind
IDEALLY they will ask them by the end of September so that the recommender has as much time as possible to write the letter
at least 1-2 should be a teacher in the subject they wish to major in