Timeline – Grade 11
September
-Begin research on accredited colleges/universities by using the Internet, software, and reference books. -Visit or call your School Counselor or Education Advisor.
-Take online career assessments, interest inventories and/or study skills courses.
-Talk with your School Counselor about your career assessment results.
-Take challenging coursework and focus on producing good results.
-Go to the TOEFL iBT website and take a practice test. http://www.ets.org/toefl
October
-Read online student newspapers from colleges/universities to acquire a different perspective on the -institutions.
-Ask your School Counselor if individual representatives from colleges/universities will be visiting the Kingdom.
-Get the dates for possible College Fairs. Attend with your mother or father and ask questions.
November
-To enhance perspective, pursue discussion with your School Counselor and with people you know who have studied in the U.S.
-Continue your online research, considering factors such as: field of study, quality of institution, ease of admission, location, size, cost, availability of financial aid, housing and international student services.
-Many schools of architecture, film, and the arts will require a portfolio of your work. If this is your area of interest, discover what needs to be in the portfolio you will send one year from now. Begin your preparation.
-E-mail colleges/universities to request information/applications. Most applications are available online. -Be consistent with the spelling of your first and last name throughout the search/application process. -Use the Passport spelling of your name and create a special e-mail account so that you can keep university correspondence organized. When creating your e-mail address, try to use your name as it appears in your Passport.
December
-Get SAT Reasoning Test information from the website http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about.html and review format and questions.
-Take an online SAT Reasoning Test to build your test-taking skills.
-Continue your virtual visits, becoming more and more knowledgeable about application requirements, procedures, and costs. Learn what colleges/universities are looking for in a candidate. List the institutions that interest you most.
January
-Review all the college/university materials you have been collecting and begin to narrow your list from the top 25 to the top 10.
-Discuss this list with your family and your School Counselor. Consider the cost of application fees as you decide on your top 5-10 choices.
-Consider at least one “safe” choice, particularly if you are applying to highly selective colleges/universities.
-Consider applying to summer programs and begin discussion with your family about possible summer visits to university campuses.
February
-Decide which one of the SAT Reasoning Test dates best fits your schedule. (If you are planning to apply to colleges/universities that also require the SAT Subject Tests, then you’ll need to take the May SAT ---Reasoning Test and, at the latest, the December SAT Subject Tests.
-Begin to consider, through discussion with your family, how you will pay for the transportation, living expenses, and tuition/fees.
-Attend College Fairs and ask questions.
-If applicable, go online to research college/university sources of financial aid for international students and, with the help of your School Counselor or Education Advisor, discover if there are sources for financial aid available in your country. Then, download the appropriate financial aid form/applications/materials.
-If you have been enrolled in more than one Secondary School, request that your previous school records be sent to your current School Counselor.
March
-Register online for the May SAT Reasoning Test. Inform your School Counselor of your plan.
-Register online for TOEFL iBT.
-Continue virtual visits to your top choice colleges/universities and, if you intend to apply for financial aid, be sure to download their financial aid applications for international students.
April
-Continue practice sessions for the SAT Reasoning Test.
-Continue discussion with your School Counselor/Education Advisor about your college/university choices.
May
-Take the SAT Reasoning Test
-Begin to think about whom you wish to ask for the confidential letters of recommendation that will be sent to colleges/universities.
June
-Look for opportunities to improve your English language skills and/or visit U.S. campuses over the summer.