Bringing a College-Going Atmosphere into Mentor Group

Like a family... Younger students learn from the mistakes and successes of the older students. Ask alumni to return to mentor group to talk about their college experience. Monthly reports from everyone on their college readiness progress. Give time in mentor group to work on college readiness activities.

Freshman Year Take challenging classes and make good grades Be active in your school and community Go to bigfuture.collegeboard.org for an interactive college search to help you begin to think about the kind of school you might be interested in attending Get smarter, get connected, or get paid during the summer

Sophomore Year Take challenging classes and make good grades Take as much foreign language and as much math and science as possible Attend the college fair at University of Puget Sound in October. Be active in your school and community Do another college search on bigfuture.collegeboard.org Register for college scholarship clearinghouses like thewashboard.org and fastweb.com During the summer get smarter, get connected, or get paid. Think about what you want to do with your life and how college will help you get there.

Junior Year: First Semester Take challenging classes and make good grades Attend National College Fair in Seattle Visit colleges you are interested in Be active in your community and school

Junior Year: Second Semester Take the ACT and the SAT (register at collegeboard.org and act.org) Identify people to ask for letters of recommendation Create a Brag Sheet Identify schools to apply to (safe, fit, and reach) Pay close attention to scholarships announced for seniors. Can you apply for them next year? Continue college visits Make good grades in challenging classes Participate in an internship

Senior Year Take challenging classes and make good grades Apply for Act Six Scholarship (due late October) Apply for Palmer Scholarship (for students of color, due early November) Take SAT and ACT again Ask people, in person, to write letters of recommendation for you. Give them a brag sheet and plenty of time to write the letter Work on college applications. UW Seattle is due December 1. Many others are due January 15. Ask for help if needed

Senior Year: Second Semester Complete and submit college applications Complete and submit the FAFSA Work on scholarship applications Review financial aid awards from schools you were accepted to. Get help with decision-making if needed Notify the schools of your decision to attend or not attend Pay attention to deadlines for submitting fees, securing housing, etc.