Late January of the junior year
Students begin their College Counseling Seminars, which meet weekly throughout the second semester and are led by the staff member who will serve as their College Counselor. In the early weeks of the Seminar, the focus is on the student and the college admission process in general, as opposed to specific colleges.

February and early March
Parents are invited to an an evening program called Nuts & Bolts, which presents a detailed overview of the college admission process and the College Counseling Seminar Program. In addition, students begin one-on-one meetings with their college counselor to discuss goals, assess strengths, and to begin to shape the broad outlines of a college list.

March to June
Individual meetings between counselor and student continue. A family meeting is scheduled after the first individual meeting has taken place. Some students will visit colleges over Spring Break. Typically, SAT Is are taken once in the spring; at least two SAT IIs are recommended in June. A self-assessment questionnaire is completed by all juniors and a workshop on preparing for college interviews is held in May. In most cases, a college list is developed by the end of the school year.

Summer
Families visit colleges. Parents are asked to complete a questionnaire that provides annecdotal information about their children; students are asked to complete a questionnaire that further enhances the self-assessment survey completed in the spring. Individual and family meetings continue by appointment.

September and October of the senior year
Seminars continue to meet once a week. Students review their college lists, consider Early Decision/Early Action options, identify the teachers who will write their recommendations, and plan a timeline for completing the application process. College representatives visit Shipley each week and meet with interested seniors. A unit on college essay writing is presented by the English Department. SAT I is usually taken in October. College counselors are preparing letters of recommendation for each senior and are meeting frequently with students. Penn State applicatioins should be filed by October 31st.

November
Early Decision applications are typically filed on November 1st or 15th. SAT IIs are often taken this month. College lists are firmed-up, essays are revised and polished, the application timeline is reviewed.

December
All secondary school report forms are due in the College Counseling office so that a Shipley transcript and other supporting school documents can be mailed to colleges. This is the last month that we recommend students take the SAT I or SAT II. Early Decision notification is on or about December 15th. All applications due January 1st should be completed.

January
Most regular applications are due between January 1st and February 1st. Students should complete any/all remaining applications. Semester grades are sent to colleges at the end of this month.

Mid-March to April 1st
Admissions decisions arrive. College counselors help students to sort through their options.

May
Final college choices must be made by May 1st.

June
Final transcripts are mailed to colleges.

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