Graduation Planning Timelines

Student Planning Timelines for Post-Graduation

Ninth (9th) Grade Year- Freshman

It is important that students remember that this is the first year that admission officials will see a student’s transcript.  Students should keep in mind when choosing courses that they are now choosing courses that will help prepare them for a future occupation.   Students should also consider what courses they would like to take that require prerequisites. This is also the time students have a multitude of extra-curricular activities open to them to choose from.  Please keep in mind that high school transcripts not only include high school grades but also high school extra-curricular activities.  We encourage you to look ahead to future years so testing and suggested career and college exploration does not “sneak up” on you.   

September/October

  • Be aware of academic adjustment.  Are course levels appropriate?

  • Participate in activities, inside and outside of school.  Begin keeping a list of activities as well as accomplishments, awards, and leadership positions.

  • Consider attending College Night at the Jim Thorpe Area High School.  

November

  • If you are interested in the Carbon Career & Technical Institute (CCTI), this will be about the time presentations are offered.

  • Use SmartFutures and other resources to explore career possibilities.


January

  • Evaluate academic progress so far.  How are your grades? Are courses too challenging? Do study habits need improvement?

  • Evaluate your extracurricular involvement.  Are you participating in too few or too many activities?

  • Begin thinking about what your plans will be for the summer (school, camp, job, volunteer work, travel, etc.).

  • All 9th graders will tour CCTI.  Applications may be submitted. 


February

Course selections for the next school year will begin taking place.  Please make sure to pick courses that are appropriate for your ability level and future career goals.  Refer to scheduling guidelines as to specific graduation requirements.


March

  • All 9th graders will participate in SMARTFutures during the school day.

  • May/June

  • Evaluate your progress for your 9th grade year.  What are you proud of?  What needs improvement for next year?  Were there any extra-curricular activities you did not get involved with but would like to try next year? 

  • Do you need to attend summer school?

  • Finalize summer plans.

  • Develop a summer reading list.

Tenth (10th) Grade- Sophomores

September

  • Some sophomores may consider taking the PSAT/NMSQT.  The test will take place on a school day in October at the Jim Thorpe Area High School for a nominal cost.

  • Listen to announcements about college fairs.  Don’t forget to save the date for the one at the Jim Thorpe Area High School.

October

  • PSAT/NMSQT for those sophomores taking it.

  • Attend College Night at the Jim Thorpe Area High School.

November

  • If you are interested in the Carbon Career & Technical Institute (CCTI), this will be about the time presentations are offered.

  • Use SmartFutures and other resources to explore career possibilities.

December

  • PSAT results should be in. Consider SAT prep options, as needed.

January

  • Evaluate academic progress so far.  How are your grades? Are courses too challenging? Do study habits need improvement?

  • Evaluate your extracurricular involvement.  Are you participating in too few or too many?

  • Begin thinking about what your plans will be for the summer (school, camp, job, volunteer work, travel, etc.).

  • Interested 10th graders may tour CCTI.  Applications may be submitted.  

February

  • Course selections for the next school year will begin taking place.  Please make sure to pick courses that are appropriate for your ability level and future career goals.  Refer to scheduling guidelines as to specific graduation requirements.


May/June

  • Evaluate your progress for your 10th grade year.  What are you proud of?  What needs improvement for next year?  Were there any extra-curricular activities you did not get involved with but would like to try next year?  

  • Do you need to attend summer school?

  • Finalize summer plans.

  • Develop a summer reading list.

  • Consider visiting a few colleges that are of interest to you.

  • Begin exploring scholarships.  Some are only open to juniors.  Plan for next year.

Eleventh (11th) Grade Year- Juniors


This year the college search process gets kicked into high gear.  Plan to create a list of schools that are of great interest to you by the spring.  Colleges will look at your junior year grades the most closely, as well as your continuance in extra-curricular activities.


September

  • ALL juniors are strongly encouraged to take the PSAT/NMSQT.  The test will take place on a school day in October at the Jim Thorpe Area High School for a nominal cost.  Only juniors are eligible (based on scores) for National Merit Scholarships.

  • Listen to announcements about college fairs.  College fairs provide you with a wonderful opportunity to see a large number of post secondary options available.  Please take advantage of this valuable opportunity.  Don’t forget to save the date for the College Night at the Jim Thorpe Area High School.

  • Familiarize yourself with guidance office resources.  We are available to help you help yourself.

  • College representatives from various colleges and universities come to the Jim Thorpe Area High School to answer any questions you might have about their school and explain opportunities at their university.  College visitations are on PowerSchool, the announcements, and the guidance bulletin board.  Announcements of what schools are coming and when are made daily.  Simply come to the guidance office to sign up for these valuable opportunities.

  • Utilize SmartFutures and other resources to not only explore careers, but also colleges and financial aid options available.

  • Attend JTAHS’s presentation on the College Application Process & Financial Aid.


October

  • Make sure to take the PSAT/NMSQT!  This qualifies you for a possible National Merit Scholarship.

  • Attend College Night at the Jim Thorpe Area High School.

  • Visit nearby colleges, even if these are places you have little interest in.  Visiting a variety of colleges allows you to gain a better understanding of what will be the best fit for you.

  • Decide when you will be taking the SAT and/or ACT.

  • Consider attending JTAHS’s Financial Aid Night presentation.


December

  • PSAT scores should be in.  Consider SAT prep options, as needed.

  • Continue brainstorming a list of colleges you are interested in.

  • Continue visiting colleges, beginning to visit ones that are of interest.

  • Begin discussions about how you will finance your college experience.  Take an introductory look at financial aid forms just to see what you’ll need by this time next year at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  

January

  • Evaluate academic progress so far.  How are your grades? Are courses too challenging? Do study habits need improvement?

  • Evaluate your extracurricular involvement.  Are you participating in too few or too many?

  • Begin thinking about what your plans will be for the summer (school, camp, job, volunteer work, travel, etc.).  This summer you should be visiting colleges of interest

February

  • Begin looking into taking the SAT and/or the ACT sometime in the spring of this junior year. Please keep in mind that only the PSAT, ACT, & Keystones are administered at the Jim Thorpe Area High School.  Other testing you must register to take at nearby testing sites.  

  • Course selections for the next school year will begin taking place.  Please make sure to pick courses that are appropriate for your ability level.  Refer to scheduling guidelines as to specific graduation requirements.

  • Begin planning your senior year classes.

March

  • Plan to continue visiting colleges of interest.

  • Make sure you are visiting college websites!  It is not too early to begin calling, writing, and e-mailing colleges of interest.

April

  • You are encouraged to take the ACT test, as it is given at JTAHS.

May

  • Keystone tests are administered.

June

  • Evaluate your progress for your 11th grade year.  What are you proud of?  What needs improvement for next year?  Were there any extra-curricular activities you did not get involved with but would like to try next year?  

  • Finalize summer plans.

  • Do you need to attend summer school?

  • Develop a summer reading list.

  • Plan to visit colleges that are of interest to you throughout the summer!!!

  • Begin exploring scholarships and financial aid.


Twelve (12th) Grade Year- Seniors

This is the year when college searching can feel like a full-time job.  It is important to truly consider what YOU are looking for in a college.


September

  • Seriously discuss with your parents what you would like to get out of your college experience.

  • Plan to take any tests (SAT, ACT, etc.) that need to be taken or retaken.  Please check dates for registration and adhere to deadlines to sign up for tests.

  • Listen to announcements about college fairs.  College fairs provide you with a wonderful opportunity to see a large number of post secondary options available.  Please take advantage of this valuable opportunity.  Don’t forget to save the date for the College Night at the Jim Thorpe Area High School.

  • Continue utilizing the resources of the Jim Thorpe Area High School guidance office resources.  We are available to help you help yourself.

  • College representatives from various colleges and universities come to the Jim Thorpe High School to answer any questions you might have about their school and explain opportunities at their university.  College visitations are on Powerschool, the announcements, and the guidance bulletin board.  Announcements of what schools are coming and when are made daily.  Simply come to the guidance office to sign up for these valuable opportunities.

  • Continue visiting college websites.

  • Begin/continue searching for scholarships.

  • Begin finalizing college visit plans. Include campus overnight visits  where possible. Consider spending a day or weekend with a friend at a college of interest to you.

  • Utilize SmartFutures and other resources to not only explore careers, but also colleges and financial aid options available.

  • Attend JTAHS’s presentation on the College Application Process & Financial Aid.

End September/Early October

  • Begin applying to colleges you are interested in!!! We recommend you apply to between three (3) and five (5), at least one (1) of which you are confident that you will be accepted to.

  • Make your school counselor aware of which colleges you are planning to apply to.  Fill out transcript request forms and request counselor recommendations, as needed.

  • Request teacher recommendation letters as needed.

  • Email your extra curricular activities to your guidance counselor so they may be included on your transcript.

October

  • Be aware of early decision application deadlines, if applicable.  

  • Create a schedule of application and financial aid deadlines.

  • Request teacher recommendations, as needed.

  • Continue visiting colleges. When making these visits ask pertinent questions you feel you need answers to.

  • Continue searching for scholarships.

  • Attend College Night at the Jim Thorpe Area High School.

November

  • By Thanksgiving we recommend that you have sent your applications to all colleges you plan to apply to.

  • Continue searching for Scholarships.

  • Plan on attending JTAHS’s Financial Aid Night presentation.

December

  • Get financial aid materials from the Jim Thorpe Area High School Guidance office and the web.  Parents should be gathering income tax information that will be needed for financial aid forms.

  • Continue searching for scholarships.

  • Apply to any last minute colleges that may be of interest.

January

  • Submit FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid).

  • Don’t forget to photocopy everything that’s put on paper, or print out online materials, and save all in accordion files.

  • Evaluate academic progress so far.  How are your grades? Are courses too challenging? Do study habits need improvement?  COLLEGES CONTINUE TO LOOK AT YOUR SENIOR YEAR GRADES, EVEN IF THEY HAVE ALREADY ACCEPTED YOU!!!

  • Evaluate your extracurricular involvement.

February/March/April/May

  • Your wait is nearly over. Decision letters will begin arriving. If you have not yet heard from colleges about acceptance, contact colleges to see if they need any additional information from you.  Congratulations on college acceptances and put rejections in perspective. Re-visit colleges you have been accepted to in order to help you make a final decisions as to which one will be best for you.  Compare financial aid decisions, where applicable. Contact financial aid offices with questions.  Make sure to stick to deadlines colleges have when accepting their admission/financial aid offer and submitting deposits.

  • FAFSA will contact you regarding their decision of whether or not you qualify for FAFSA financial aid.

  • In March you will also be taking the ASVAB career exploration assessment during the school day.

June

  • Write thank you notes to anyone who may have been especially helpful during this process.