Way2GoMD

Start the College Application Process Early

Use the spring of your junior year and the summer before your senior year to:

Visit colleges.
Meet with college admission and financial aid counselors.
Research financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
Narrow your “wish list” of colleges.
Gather information you will need for the college applications.
Write and revise your college application essay.
Prepare to meet with your high school guidance counselors as soon as you get back to school.

High School

Start attending college information programs, browsing college web sites, and visiting college campuses.
Work with your teachers, guidance counselors, and family to stay on the college-bound path.
Take Algebra II or an advanced math course, such as Trigonometry, Statistics, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus.
Review with your guidance counselor the classes you need to take to be considered for admission to USM universities, including Algebra II and English with emphasis on writing and critical reading.
Students taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes: Register to take the AP exams in the spring. You can earn college credit for AP courses if you score well on the tests.
Register for the SAT or the ACT (American College Testing) a month before the exam. If you take the exam in the spring or summer, you will get the results in time to see if you need to retake it in the fall. Some USM campuses require you to take the SAT by October of your senior year. Learn more and sign up for e-mail alerts at www.collegeboard.com.

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