The goal of the first year program is to help students adjust to the opportunities and challenges of high school, reflect on their transition to the Upper School, and become familiar with their College Counselor and the Upper School College Guidance Program.  All freshmen take a Pre-ACT Test in October for standardized testing practice and to get an early sense of testing strengths and challenges.  Students play the GPA Game to get a better understanding of GPA and the many other factors that play a role in college admissions, which they can apply to their own high school experience thus far. Parents attend College 101 which provides an overview of the college process over four years and key milestones and timetables. We meet with freshmen in the second semester in a case study exercise to help them select meaningful summer opportunities that will contribute to their personal growth and be useful to them in the college process. Students complete reflections in the fall and spring semesters and we review their scheduling choices for the next year.

• Choose courses and activities with college in mind
• Students take the Pre-ACT in October
• Attend college guidance events (roundtables for parents)
• Advising group meetings and activities with counselors
• "GPA Game" and "Extracurricular Case Study" in advising, showing how decisions have long-term impacts
• Use summer to expand horizons

In the sophomore year, students learn about national standardized testing and how to evaluate the results, and career and aptitude interests to inform their college search.  Sophomores take the PSAT in the fall. We meet individually with sophomores in the spring, and again with parents if they wish, to interpret the results and decide on a plan for future testing. Parents attend Parent Testing Night where we review results and discuss in greater detail the role testing plays in the college process as well as other important factors in the college process. Students are introduced to PowerSchool (formerly Naviance) and its college search features. We encourage students to choose their courses mindfully and to participate in extra-curricular activities wisely.  We also lead students in a mock recommendation writing exercise, allowing them to better understand their strengths and contributions in a learning community. Students complete reflections in the fall and spring semesters and we review their scheduling choices for the next year.

Fall:

• Prepare for and take PSAT
• Consider strengths and weaknesses, intellectual interests
• Continue to take challenging courses and to pursue extracurricular interests

Spring:

• PowerSchool (formerly Naviance) scavenger hunt to learn more about college search tools
• Sophomore parent testing night
• Recommendation letter activities in advising groups
• Individual meetings with counselor to plan standardized testing, and if needed, to explore career and aptitudes
• Strong students in Western Civ, Intermediate-4 language, Pre-Calculus should consider taking SAT World History, Math 1, Language Subject Tests

The college search process accelerates in the junior year.  Students are encouraged to attend meetings with college representatives who visit USM in the fall.  Parents attend Junior Parent Night to learn about the college timetable for junior year. Students and parents participate in the Case Study Night where college admissions officers lead small groups through a realistic committee session. Individual and family meetings with counselors are held throughout the year to evaluate the student’s profile and to develop a more formal list of colleges to consider.  We encourage and help plan campus visits, and there is an optional college trip in the fall to visit different types of campuses. In the second semester, juniors meet in scheduled Guidance Classes to receive instruction about researching schools, the application process, including beginning a Common Application account, seeking financial aid and scholarships, standardized test preparation, and college essay drafting. Junior year is also a key year for national testing.  All juniors take the PSAT in October and should take the SAT Reasoning Test and/or the ACT test and, in some instances, SAT Subject Tests by the end of this year. Students complete reflections in the fall and spring semesters and we review their scheduling choices for the next year. Parents complete two surveys to contribute to prospective lists of schools and recommendation letters.
 
Fall:

• Take PSAT (October) - National Merit Qualifying Test
• Junior parents college night, financial aid night
• Meet with college reps who visit USM
• Case study night in Sept./Oct. for students and parents with admissions officers

Winter/ Spring:

• Individual meeting with counselor and student, followed by family meeting to build college list
• Student begins Guidance Class in second semester to take ownership of college process with guided instruction
• Visit schools if possible; optional junior class college tour
• Prepare for and take standardized tests: ACT (Dec., Feb., April, or June), SAT Reasoning Test (March or May), SAT Subject Tests (May, June, or Aug.). Test prep available through PowerSchool (formerly Naviance) and in Guidance Class
• College essay overview and writing sessions in Guidance Class: Create common application account
• Rising senior parent night
• Ask two teachers for recommendation letters, prepare reflection forms for them

Summer:

• Visit a few more colleges and narrow list down
• Draft at least one college essay for the common application
• Begin working on college applications/setting up application accounts
• Attend one of the College Guidance sessions in summer to fill out basics of common application

The fall of the senior year is spent finalizing the list of schools and completing the applications.  Counselors run a college essay boot camp before school to help students complete their drafts. Once school starts, students attend Guidance Classes twice a cycle to receive additional direct instruction/support on parts of the application and dedicated time to work on supplemental essays and other parts of the application and scholarships with counselors available to help.  Counselors continue to meet with students and families as necessary to address questions and strategize. Many seniors will take the SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Tests, and/or ACT again in the fall. When students learn the results of their admissions and aid applications, counselors are ready to help with the decision-making process.  Parents attend Letting Go, a parent program to address the many issues surrounding a child’s transition to life away from home.
 
Fall:

• Meet with counselor to finalize list; consider early decision or early action with help of counselor
• Complete remaining college essays in Guidance Class and on own time
• Complete and file applications by appropriate deadlines
• Financial aid night (Oct.)
• Obtain financial aid information, requirements and deadlines
• Apply for aid using FAFSA
• Meet with visiting college representatives
• Take SAT Reasoning Test (Oct./Nov.), ACT (Sept./Oct.), and/or SAT Subject Tests (Nov.) and send scores
• Make sure transcripts from any other high schools attended are sent

Spring:

• Keep us informed of all admissions decisions
• Choose one institution and send in deposit by May 1
• Notify institutions that you will not attend
• Pursue wait list opportunities, if desired, with help from counselor