College
- Timeline
- Naviance
- Common App
- Handbooks
- SRAR
- Testing
- Letters of Recommendation
- NCAA
- ELO
- Opportunities
Timeline
College Planning Timeline
12th Grade
August
- College Visits: Visit schools that you are interested in learning more about.
- Finalize College List: Confirm your list of colleges, deadlines, and requirements.
- Draft Supplemental Essays: Start working on college-specific essays.
- Application Review: Have someone review your Common App and personal statement.
- Interviews: Schedule on-campus or local representative interviews.
- Letters of Recommendation: Check in with recommenders and provide your Letter of Recommendation Questionnaire.
- Financial Aid Prep: Parents should begin organizing FAFSA and CSS/Profile materials.
September
- Finalize College List: Confirm your list of colleges, deadlines, and requirements.
- College Visits: Visit schools that you are interested in learning more about.
- Supplemental Essays: Complete and finalize supplemental essays.
- Senior Placement Meeting: Schedule a meeting with Mr. Harris.
- Request Letter of Recommendations: Finalize which teachers or outside recommenders, and request in Naviance (make sure you are requesting AT LEAST 2 weeks before the deadline)
- Attend Presentations: Participate in college info sessions and fairs.
- Scholarships: It’s never to early to start looking and applying for scholarships!
October
- Send Test Scores: Ensure your test scores are sent to colleges as needed.
- College Visits: Visit schools that you are interested in learning more about.
- Arts Portfolios: Finalize and prepare materials for December deadlines.
- Finalize & Submit Early Applications: Confirm all Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA) school requirements. Complete and submit ED/EA applications.
- Remember transcripts and recommendations do not need to be submitted before you apply!
- Financial Aid Applications: Start submitting FAFSA and CSS/Profile if available.
November
- College Visits: Complete any last-minute visits to schools.
- Transcripts and Recommendations: Request these to be sent at least 2 weeks before the deadline.
- Log in to your College Portal and confirm all supporting materials are submitted.
- Regular Decision Prep: Begin focusing on RD applications.
December
- Regular Decision Applications: Submit all RD applications by mid-December (or earlier to enjoy the holidays).
- Arts Program Deadlines: Submit materials for December deadlines.
January
- Deferred Applications: Respond to any EA/ED deferrals with updates and letters of continued interest.
- Monitor Applications: Wait for RD decisions and keep application portals up to date.
February
- Scholarship Applications: Begin applying for local scholarships.
- Accepted Student Visits: Plan visits to colleges where you’ve been accepted, if necessary.
March
- Final Decisions: Anticipate admission decisions, typically released by April 1.
- Scholarships: Look out for emails about Scarborough Local scholarships.
- Waitlist Applications: Respond to any waitlists that you are interested in with updates and letters of continued interest.
April
- Evaluate Offers: Review financial aid packages and scholarship opportunities.
- Make a Decision: Commit to a college and submit your deposit by May 1.
- Waitlist Response: Respond to waitlist offers and send updates to admissions reps
May
- Inform School: Notify Mr. Harris or Mrs. Henderson of your college decision and any scholarships received.
- Thank You Notes: This takes a few moments but has a big impact, write your teachers a thank you note for their letters of recommendation.
- AP/IB Exams: Take exams as scheduled.
- Housing: Secure on-campus housing.
June
- Save for College: Continue saving for college-related expenses.
- Orientation Prep: Register for and attend orientation sessions.
July & August
- Supplies: Shop for dorm and academic supplies.
- Roommates: Contact future roommates to coordinate living arrangements.
- Move-In Prep: Finalize travel and move-in arrangements.
- Bank Account: Set up a local bank account if needed.
- Class Registration: Finalize your schedule with your academic advisor.
11th Grade
August - September
- Revisit Values: Reflect on your values and how they influence your extracurriculars and academics. Adjust your activities or explore new ones if needed.
- Extracurricular Activities: Stay engaged or take on leadership roles. Explore new opportunities if your values have shifted.
- Update Activity Log: Add any new achievements, roles, or involvement.
October
- PSAT/NMSQT: Take the PSAT/NMSQT to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship and practice for the SAT.
- College Exploration: Attend college fairs and admission presentations at SHS.
- Preliminary College List: Start compiling a list of colleges and plan family check-ins for scheduling visits.
November
- Career Assessment: Use tools like Naviance or YouScience to explore career paths based on your strengths and interests.
- Academic Challenge: Keep pursuing challenging coursework that aligns with your goals.
December
- Update Activity Log: Record any new extracurricular activities or achievements.
- Testing Prep: Plan your SAT/ACT testing timeline and study schedule.
January
- Summer Planning: Research summer internships, volunteer opportunities, or programs aligned with your goals.
- Midterms: Don’t lose steam study for your Midterms and keep on going!
February
- College Visits: Continue visiting colleges to refine your preferences and explore different school types.
- College List Building: Narrow down your list to include likely, possible, and reach schools.
- Junior Questionnaire: Complete the Junior Questionnaire in Google Classroom.
- Senior Year Courses: Register for a strong senior year course load with five core academic subjects.
March
- Senior Placement Meeting: Make sure you have met with Mr. Harris, reach out or check your Google Classroom to schedule a meeting.
- Scholarship Research: Start researching scholarships and track deadlines in a spreadsheet.
April
- Testing: Take AP exams if applicable. Prepare for upcoming SAT/ACT tests.
- Senior Placement Meeting: Meet with Mr. Harris to discuss college choices, senior year schedule, and testing plans.
May
- AP/IB Exams: Take scheduled exams and use the experience to prepare for college-level work.
- Athletic Recruitment: If you haven't already, set up your NCAA, send sports resumes and recruitment videos to college coaches, and complete recruitment forms if applicable.
- Recommendation Letters: Complete the Letter of Recommendation questionnaire and request letters from two junior-year teachers.
June
- Arts Preparation: Register for Performing & Visual Arts College Fairs. Work on your portfolio or audition materials if applying to arts programs.
July
- Refine College List: Finalize a balanced list of likely, possible, and reach schools.
- Application Research: Organize application requirements for each college on your list.
- Common Application: Start drafting your Common App personal statement and completing other application components.
August
- Visit Colleges: Take additional visits to finalize your preferences and ensure your list aligns with your goals.
- Admission Tracking: Create a spreadsheet to track application deadlines and requirements.
- Scholarship Spreadsheet: Maintain a detailed spreadsheet for scholarship opportunities.
For Athletes
- Recruitment Follow-Up: Send updated resumes and videos to coaches. Complete additional recruitment forms.
For Fine & Performing Arts Students
- Portfolio & Auditions: Finalize portfolio and audition materials. Review submission requirements for each program.
10th Grade
August - September
- Academic Planning: Finalize your course selections, considering advanced or honors classes.
- Values Exercise: Assess your priorities and interests, adjusting your activities and academics to align with your values. Check out Naviance for options.
- Extracurriculars: Deepen involvement in current activities, seek leadership roles, or try new activities that match your interests.
October
- PSAT: Ask your counselor about taking the PSAT for SAT practice and identifying areas for improvement.
- Update Activity Log: Record new extracurricular activities, roles, or achievements.
- Career Exploration: Begin exploring potential careers and how they align with different college majors using tools like Naviance.
November
- Interest Assessment: Take or revisit an interest assessment to refine your career and college major options. Check out Naviance for options on this.
- Strengths Review: Reflect on your strengths and personality assessments from 9th grade to refine your goals and interests.
December
- Academic Review: Evaluate first-semester grades and adjust study habits or seek help as needed.
- Winter Reflection: Reflect on academic progress and extracurricular involvement. Update your activity log and start planning summer activities.
January
- Course Selection: Begin planning next year’s classes, considering advanced or honors courses in your areas of interest.
- Time Management: Continue developing study and time management skills for balancing responsibilities.
February
- College Research: Begin researching colleges, programs, and admission requirements to understand what might interest you.
- Junior Year Courses: Register for a strong junior year course load.
March
- Update Activity Log: Document new achievements and activities that reflect your current goals.
- Plan Summer Activities: Research internships, jobs, volunteer work, or academic programs that align with your interests.
April
- Family Check-In: Discuss your academic progress, summer plans, and college goals with your family. Begin exploring college financial planning.
- College Visits: Visit nearby colleges during travel. Even if they’re not on your list, you can learn more about what you want.
May
- Final Exams: Study diligently to maintain or improve your GPA.
- AP Exams: Prepare for AP exams with the help of your teachers if applicable.
- Summer Reading: Select books or materials to enhance your knowledge or interests during the break.
June
- Reflection: Review your academic and extracurricular achievements from the year and set goals for the next school year.
- Activity Log Update: Add any new summer experiences or achievements.
- College Visits: Continue visiting colleges during summer travel to learn more about what you want in a school.
July
- Self-Assessment: Reflect on your strengths, interests, and career aspirations to adjust your academic and extracurricular plans.
- Summer Activities: Participate in internships, jobs, volunteer work, or self-designed projects that align with your goals.
August
- Pre-Start Planning: Organize your schedule, supplies, and materials for the upcoming school year.
- Set Goals: Establish academic, extracurricular, and personal development goals for the school year.
For Athletes
- NCAA/NAIA Registration: Register with the NCAA Clearinghouse or NAIA Eligibility Center if planning to play Division I or II sports in college.
- NCAA Requirements: Confirm that your courses meet NCAA requirements.
For Parents
- Financial Planning: Explore college financing options, research scholarships, and set up a college budget.
9th Grade
August - September
- Start of School Year: Assess your goals and how do these align with your academic planning and resources?
- Academic Planning: Review high school course requirements and set academic goals. Consider challenging classes aligned with your interests.
- Values Exercise: Reflect on your core values to guide decisions about extracurricular activities and academic focus.
October - November
- Extracurricular Engagement: Explore and participate in activities that match your values and interests, both in school and externally.
- Strengths Assessment: Take a strengths assessment through Naviance or another tool to identify personal strengths and growth areas.
- Personality Assessment: Use a personality inventory (e.g., HEXACO or Big 5) to gain insights into your communication and learning styles.
- Family Check-In: Discuss your goals, values, and academic plans with your family. Explore expectations and ways they can support you.
December
- Academic Review: Evaluate first-semester grades and adjust study habits if needed. Seek help from teachers, tutors, or resources like the Study Center.
- Winter Break Reflection: Reflect on your interests and potential college goals. Start an activity log to track extracurricular involvement and achievements.
January
- Time Management: Develop or refine time management skills to balance academics, extracurriculars, and personal responsibilities.
- Midterms: Study for your midterms and finish strong in your semester classes, and don’t loose steam in your year long classes.
February
- Course Registration: Begin planning courses for the next school year based on insights from your strengths and interests assessments.
- Interest Assessment: Use tools like Naviance to explore potential careers and college majors that match your interests.
March
- College Research: Start exploring different colleges, programs, and admission requirements to understand your options.
- Summer Programs: Are there any summer program at colleges and universities that you would be interested in being part of?
- Activity Log Update: Record new achievements and experiences to reflect your growing interests and accomplishments.
April
- Summer Plans: Plan meaningful summer experiences like internships, volunteering, work, or academic programs to explore a passion or interest.
- Family Check-In: Review progress and discuss summer plans with your family.
May
- Final Exams: Study diligently for finals to maintain or improve your GPA.
- Summer Reading: Choose books to enhance your vocabulary and knowledge during the break.
June
- Reflection: Review your academic and extracurricular achievements from the year. Set goals for the upcoming school year.
- Family Check-In: Discuss goals and plans for next year to ensure alignment and support.
July
- Self-Assessment: Reflect on your skills, interests, and goals. Adjust your plans for the new school year based on your insights.
- Activity Log Update: Continue tracking summer achievements and experiences.
August
- Pre-Start Planning: Organize your schedule, supplies, and materials to prepare for the new school year.
- Set Goals: Establish specific academic, extracurricular, and personal growth objectives for the year.
For Athletes
- NCAA/NAIA Awareness: Familiarize yourself with NCAA and NAIA recruiting requirements if interested in college athletics.
For Families
- College Financing: Begin researching scholarships, grants, and other financial aid options to plan for college expenses.
Naviance
Naviance
Scarborough subscribes to Naviance, an Internet database that can be helpful in the college search process. Naviance helps students keep track of their prospective colleges and active applications and provides information for over 5,000 colleges and universities.
- How to Log In
- https://student.naviance.com/scarborough > student > Log in with CLEVER
- https://student.naviance.com/scarborough > student > Log in with CLEVER
- Link Common App and Naviance
- Log in to Naviance > Click on "Colleges" tab > "Colleges I Am Applying To > Match Accounts > Enter the e-mail address that you used to set up your Common App Account
Partnership Agreement
As we start this exciting process, it is helpful to know that you, your parents, and your counselor have specific roles to play. This process is a partnership, and it is crucial that members of the partnership understand and follow their roles.
Student Responsibilities
- Treat the college process as an opportunity for growth and self-evaluation and gain a better understanding of yourself.
- Check e-mail frequently.
- Read all communications from the Placement Office.
- Review the Placement Office Handbooks.
- Schedule and attend meetings with Mr. Harris.
- Keep the Placement Office up to date on your plans, progress, and results.
- Research admissions criteria at the colleges you are considering.
- Register for SAT/ACT testing.
- Visit colleges.
- Complete the Questionnaire.
- Ask Questions!
- Request letters of recommendation from teachers.
- Meet with college representatives visiting Scarborough High School.
- Know the deadlines and requirements of applications.
- Complete applications honestly and accurately.
- Send out test scores to colleges that require them.
- Complete and submit your FAFSA and any additional forms schools might need (CSS and SSAR).
Parent Responsibilities
- Be open with your child. Discuss options, including the financial picture and any restrictions. Be open and honest with your child early in the process.
- Complete the Brag Sheet.
- Be aware of deadlines and requirements.
- Help your child send out test scores to colleges. The student is responsible for sending test scores to the colleges that require them.
- Assist your child in visiting colleges if possible.
- Fill out and file financial aid forms if applying for financial aid (FAFSA, CSS Profile).
- Check with them periodically about the progress of their college application process. But that your child should own their college admission process.
- Help your child to recognize and celebrate strengths. A weekly college check-in is a good way to balance the need to stay on top of the process and encourage students to take responsibility for the process.
- Communicate with the Placement Office with any questions.
- Remember that students are works in progress and that this search will evolve as they grow and learn about themselves.
- Encouraging independence and individual growth.
- Letting your child lead the process while providing appropriate support.
- Helping to accept outcomes by promoting, modeling, and encouraging resilience
Placement Office Responsibilities
- Work hard to get to know students – to understand and appreciate their goals, talents, and interests.
- Discuss post-high school planning with students and their parents and help develop a schedule of next steps and, eventually, a balanced list representing suitable matches.
- Provide information about the chances of admission to particular colleges.
- Provide resources and opportunities for students and families to learn about various colleges.
- Be advocates for our students, presenting their transcripts and official school recommendations to the colleges so that they have the strongest chance of being given favorable consideration.
- Listen to, learn from, and communicate with parents.
- Personalize the process to each individual student.
- Make students aware of visitations, special events, open houses at colleges, deadlines, scholarships, and testing.
- Prepare and send school reports, letters of recommendation, and transcripts when requested.
- Prepare a well-written letter of recommendation that portrays the candidate in a positive and honest light, emphasizing strengths and patterns of growth where appropriate.
- Send Quarter 1, mid-year, and final grade reports to the colleges when requested.
- Staying informed of current trends within college admissions.
- Being attuned to pedagogical issues regarding adolescent development.
- Providing access to information and educational opportunities to students of all backgrounds.
- Encouraging students and families to explore the range of excellent educational opportunities nationally and internationally.
- Encouraging students to be careful researchers of individual colleges and universities' diverse admission requirements, policies, and procedures.
- Creating an open and positive atmosphere that encourages students, faculty, and parents to take advantage of the resources available to them.
- Understanding and responding appropriately to students' individual needs and promotes self-sufficiency and confidence.
- Providing appropriate support of student writing and applications while empowering students to develop their own voices and make their own choices.
- Promoting experiential learning opportunities, including a gap year, which could complement students' college educations.
- Communicating with and being accessible to parents throughout the college search.
Common App
The Common App
Short for “Common Application,” is a platform that allows students to apply to over 1,000 colleges and universities. The Common App opens on August 1 for that year’s application cycle, and most colleges update their applications sometime between August 1st and mid-August, though some colleges take longer. When registering your account, do not use your school email address.
Link Common App and Naviance:
Students will need to link their Common App and Naviance accounts before Letters of Recommendation and Transcripts are sent to colleges.
- Log in to Naviance > Click on Colleges tab > Colleges I am applying to > Match Accounts > Enter the e-mail address that you used to set up your Common App Account
FERPA WAIVER
Students will submit the FERPA release authorization within the Common App account, not their Naviance account. You must first complete the Education section in the Common App, then complete the FERPA release authorization.
- "My Colleges" tab > Select any school on the left side > Recommenders and FERPA > Complete Release Authorization. Follow the instructions
Once you complete this it will be applied to all your colleges that you apply to. Students must add teachers through Naviance but may add outside recommenders and advisors through the Common App.
Handbooks
SRAR
SRAR (Self Reported Academic Record)
The Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR), is a system some colleges and universities in the United States use for applicants to submit their high school academic records. With SRAR, applicants input their grades, courses, and other academic information directly into an online portal. The admissions office then uses this information for evaluation.
Not all colleges and universities use SRAR, make sure to check the specific requirements of each institution. Additionally, some institutions may still require official transcripts even if they use SRAR for initial evaluation.
Fall 2024 SRAR Participants
Below is a list of colleges and universities that utilize the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). Please be sure to double check with each individual college requirements.
- Baylor University
- Clemson University
- Duquesne University
- Florida A & M University
- Florida Atlantic University
- Florida Polytechnic University
- Florida State University
- Kean University
- Louisiana State University
- Montclair State University
- New College of Florida
- New York University (NYU)
- Pennsylvania State University
- Rutgers University, Camden
- Rutgers University, Newark
- Rutgers University, New Brunswick
- Texas A&M University
- United State Air Force Academy
- University at Buffalo, State University of New York
- University of Connecticut
- University of Delaware
- University of Florida
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
- University of Minnesota Twin Cities
- University of North Florida
- University of Oregon
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Rhode Island
- University of South Florida
- University of Tampa
- University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- University of Texas at Arlington
- University of Texas at San Antonio
- University of West Florida
- Virginia Tech
Testing
Upcoming SAT Test Dates
SAT Test Date* | Registration Deadline | Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation, and Late Registration** |
---|---|---|
Mar 8, 2025 | Feb 21, 2025 Register |
Feb 25, 2025 |
May 3, 2025 | Apr 18, 2025 Register |
April 22, 2025 |
June 7, 2025 | May 22, 2025 Register |
May 27, 2025 |
Confirmed 2025–26 Test Dates
Fall 2025
- August 23, 2025
- September 13, 2025
- October 4, 2025
- November 8, 2025
- December 6, 2025
Spring 2026
- March 14, 2026
- May 2, 2026
- June 6, 2026
Upcoming ACT Test Dates
Test Date | Regular Registration Deadline Late Fee Applies After This Date |
Late Registration Deadline | Photo Upload and Standby Deadline |
---|---|---|---|
February 8, 2025 | January 3 | January 24 | January 31 |
April 5, 2025 | February 28 | March 16 | March 28 |
June 14, 2025 | May 9 | May 26 | June 6 |
July 12, 2025* | June 6 | June 20 | July 4 |
https://my.act.org/account/signin?location=https://my.act.org
Test Optional & Test Free Colleges
This list includes bachelor degree granting institutions that do not require all or most recent U.S. high school graduates applying for fall 2024 to submit ACT/SAT results before admissions decisions are made. As the restrictions column indicates, some schools only exempt applicants who meet minimum grade or class rank criteria; others use ACT/SAT scores solely for course placement. Please check with individual schools for details.
Letters of Recommendation
When requesting letters of recommendation:
Please see the following guidelines for helpful information on obtaining your letters of recommendation.
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Remember to request your letter of recommendation at least two weeks before your due date! The following template is available to download and should be completed and provided to the teacher from whom you are requesting the recommendation.
Request for Teacher Letter of Recommendation
NCAA
NCAA has specific requirements for eligibility. Suppose you have aspirations to play NCAA athletics at a Division I or Division II college. In that case, you must meet their core course requirements by specific deadlines, which can be more complicated if you have repeated a grade or gone to an international high school. Students who wish to play a sport in college at Division I, IA, or II levels, must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse by the end of their Junior year.
NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete
At the beginning of 11th grade, you can set up your NCAA account.
- Register to take the ACT/SAT or both and use the NCAA Eligibility Center code "9999" as a score recipient.
- (Test score requirements are listed on the website.)
- Double-check to make sure that you are taking NCAA-approved courses.
- Request that your high school official transcript be sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center after completing your third year of high school.
- Before your senior year of high school, check with your counselor to determine the number of core courses that need to be completed that year.
More detailed information can be found on the NCAA website. Failure to meet requirements could result in you not being able to play Division I or Division II sports in college. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to ensure you have met the NCAA eligibility requirements.
Athletic Recruiting
Contacting coaches: It is the student's responsibility to contact coaches at schools of interest for them. Students can draft a letter of introduction to send to college coaches. These letters should include information about the student's academic and personal background in addition to any relevant athletic information. Mr. Harris will happily review these letters with students. Students can obtain the names and addresses of coaches either from the College Office or from the school's admission or athletic offices. The College Office has sample letters to college coaches which can be provided to students.
NCAA Clearinghouse
Students hoping to compete at Division I or II levels must be deemed eligible by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Students should go online to NCAAClearinghouse.net for more information and forms.
NCAA Initial Eligibility
Students should also be aware of specific practical considerations. For example, student-athletes interested in playing interscholastic sports at any Division I or Division II college or university must meet the NCAA initial eligibility requirements. Student-athletes should visit the NCAA Clearinghouse website for details. To be eligible to play interscholastic sports at Division I or II schools, student-athletes must have earned credits in certain core course areas.
ELO
The Career Pathways Program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore career interests through connections with professionals in their field of interest and hands-on learning experiences. Informational interviews, job shadows, group job site visits, guest speaker programs, internships and other extended learning opportunities (ELOs) encompass the experiences available to SHS students. These ELOs are made possible through connections with local business and community partners.
Please consider donating to the Career Pathways Fund to help us bring more opportunities to our students! Donations to the Career Pathways Fund support:
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Programs that strengthen career awareness, exploration and preparation
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Business education partnerships that offer internships, job shadowing and other work-based learning experiences
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Opportunities for local businesses and organizations to engage with our students through mentoring and guest speaker programs
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Experiential learning through ELOs that inspire and inform decisions about career paths and college investments
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Maine’s future workforce growing up right here in our community
Christy Zavasnik
Career Pathways Coordinator
czavasnik@scarboroughschools.org
Tel: 207.730.5061
Room C106
Opportunities
Summer Programs
Many colleges, universities, or organizations will offer summer enrichment programs for rising juniors and seniors. Do your research about what program would interest you the most. Attending a program will not increase your chances of acceptance to that specific school. However, it will give you opportunities for research, networking, and experiences to use in your applications.
Gap Years
A Gap year is a great opportunity to get your feet wet but not fully commit to a college/university. Attached are resources to help you search for a perfect opportunity!
College Fly In Programs
Attached is a list of colleges and universities offering fly-in programs for students to visit campuses further away. Check out the criteria and contact Mr. Harris if you have questions.
List of College Fly-In Programs
Study in Canada
Studying in Canada is an excellent option for a world-class education that can still be close to home but with an international perspective. Plus, tuition is significantly more affordable! For more information, check out the links below, or come talk with Mr. Harris about options!