Ireland (for EU students, all others apply individually to universities): https://www.cao.ie/
Late August - Late September
Finalize university choices and move them into the Applications Tab in Unifrog. Meet with designated counselor for student/counselor senior meeting. Let your counselor know your earliest deadline.
Attend university visits and fairs! Speak with the university reps as those that visit our school are often the same ones reading your application and making admission decisions!
Take English proficiency tests (if required), sit any other outside testing: UKCAT, BMAT, LNAT and if applying to Cambridge or Oxford, their admission tests.
Ask another teacher (if needed) to write you a letter of recommendation. Do not ask teachers past September.
Work on your personal statement and/or Common App Essay Prompt
Students who have not taken the SAT or are taking it for a second time can sit the October or December administration. Registration for these tests should be done over the summer.
Continue to attend university visits and fairs
October 15th - FIRST DEADLINE FOR UK MED SCHOOL and CAMBRIDGE/OXFORD applicants
Sit any other external exams
Finish up personal statements and share them with your counselor and/or English teacher
Make sure that all of your documents are in with your counselor (teacher letter of recs and transcripts from any old schools)
Meet with your counselor and keep your Unifrog account updated
FASFA (Federal Financial Aid for US Citizens) typically opens on October 1st, get it in soon: studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa
November
November 1st is an Early Decision/Action Deadline for US Universities. Remember, ED is binding and you can only apply to 1 school ED. Early Action is NON binding and you can apply to multiple universities EA.
Send your application and TEST SCORES. Counselors are NOT responsible for sending ANY standardized testing as this responsibility lies with the student.
Make sure you are filling out the CSS profile for US universities. This is a financial aid document needed by many US universities when looking at need based aid: cssprofile.collegeboard.org
December - January
Submit all applications that are due before January 15th, before GAA goes on winter holiday
January 15th: UK DEADLINE (students need to complete applications before the winter holiday)
Take any last SAT tests, SAT II subjects tests, ACT, IELTS/TOEFL
February - April
Apply to any rolling deadlines or late deadlines (Canada and Netherlands have later deadlines, but again, we encourage you to apply earlier)
Admission decisions start rolling in, so check your email CONSTANTLY.
Colleges and Universities will also communicate with students during this time regarding any missing documentation or necessary mid year reports.
Continue to keep grades up, especially IB grades.
Update your Counselor and your Unifrog account for EACH university decision you receive.
May - June
DECISION TIME! US universities typically ask students to make a choice by May 1st.
If you are full IB, meet with DP coordinator to discuss where you would like your scores sent
Make sure you have moved all necessary university email accounts to your personal email before you leave GAA. Your account will be disabled after you graduate.
Complete the Senior Exit Survey to let Counselors know where you want your final transcript sent
Complete a final update on Unifrog regarding all university decisions
Start working on the visa process!
Counselling for each Grade Level
Grade 9 Counselling
Students need to focus on starting out strong in grade 9, as all grades received will go on their official transcript starting this year.
