Preparation for a whole life

A high school profile gives colleges a clear snapshot of a school’s academic context—its grading system, course offerings, performance norms, and student outcomes—so admissions officers can fairly understand each applicant’s achievements.

Gathering Waters School Profile

School CEEB Code
300029

Many of our Morning Lesson blocks offer a voluntary Honors Track for motivated students. This option includes additional reading, more rigorous assignments, and higher expectations for class participation—inviting students to stretch their thinking and engage more deeply with each subject.

Ninth grade is the year for getting accustomed to the new setting, teachers, rhythms, and homework loads of high school. It is the time to enjoy learning and try new activities that interest you, from sports to community service to various arts. It is not a time to stress about college.

Throughout the Year

1. Be organized and use your homework planner. Stay on top of assignments. Turn in your work on time.

2. Work steadily to earn good grades.

3. Demonstrate your good character and strong work ethic. Develop good relationships with your teachers.

4. Learn about grades, the transcript, and GPA (Grade Point Average). Be aware that your grades for all four years are shown on your transcript and are important to colleges.

5. Participate in extracurricular activities from sports to arts. Find activities that you enjoy and pursue these.

6. Volunteer at local non-profit organizations to meet your community service requirements for graduation and for your own interests.

7. As summer nears, explore summer possibilities, including internships, community service, travel opportunities, or other courses offered outside of school.

8. When summer comes, do the summer reading assignments.

9. Part of your summer assignment suggests preparing for standardized tests: the PSAT/SAT and if applicable, the ACT.

10. Enjoy your summertime! Read and read and read! And come back recharged for sophomore year!

Tenth grade is the year to deepen your focus on schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Continue to try new activities. Your grades, work ethic, character, and personal development are important and will become the highlights of a future college application.

Throughout the Year

1. Be organized, use your planner, and stay on top of your assignments and due dates.

2. Strive to earn good grades and to develop good rapport with your teachers. Be in “good standing.”

3. Deepen your extracurricular activities including community service, sports, art, music, etc.
   
   Some preliminary aspects of college readiness arise in the sophomore year, such as preparing for and taking the PSAT.
   
   FALL

4. Mid-fall, the pre- PSAT/NMSQT is given at GW.
   
   WINTER

5. In January, you and your family will meet with the College Guidance staff to review PSAT test scores.
   

   SPRING & SUMMER

6. Make plans for summer activities to deepen areas of interests you have or to discover new interests.

7. During the summer, practice PSATs and SATs questions. (Go online and take the daily question, etc.)

8. Begin to research and get ideas about colleges.

9. During the summer, visit Keene State College and another college, or 2 or 3, to get an idea what college campuses are like. Take a tour offered by the admissions office. This visit can be informative and helpful in forming your ideas.

10. Enjoy the summer! And read, read, read!

Eleventh grade is the time to explore colleges in earnest. To look inward and ask yourself, “What is important to me?” It is the time to evaluate interests and to research colleges that fit you.

FALL

1. September and October: Attend college fairs in Keene and locally: ask questions, take notes, and request materials.

2. Mid-October: Take PSAT/NMSQT at Gathering Waters

3. Attend presentations given by college representatives at GW. Take notes of names of reps and interesting facts.

4. Research and start a list of possible colleges.

   
   WINTER

5. Complete the College Guidance Questionnaire.

6. In January, you and your parents will meet with College Guidance Counselor to discuss grades, test scores, questionnaire, interests, and colleges.

7. Form a preliminary list of colleges to visit/consider.

8. Keep practicing SATs —timed and untimed.

   
   SPRING

9. Visit colleges during February and Spring breaks.

10. SAT: April is the time NH provides a free SAT test to all NH high school juniors. Also consider taking SAT  Subject Tests. Register 5+ weeks prior.

11. 11.   Before summer, ask two teachers (1 humanities, 1 math/science) to write letters of recommendation.

    
    SUMMER

12. Participate in summer activities to deepen your interests. Try new activities. Think about community service, an internship, and/or a summer job. Read.

13. Visit some colleges. Schedule interviews and tours.

14. Keep practicing the SAT for possible retakes in the fall if you want to improve your scores.

The senior year begins the whittling process toward a balanced selection of colleges that are good fits—with stretches and safeties—and the application process. Be organized! Decide whether to apply early action, early decision, or regular. Keep the College Guidance Counselor informed!

FALL

1. September–November: College reps visit Gathering Waters.

2. Submit Transcript Request Forms to College Guidance Counselor—allow a three-week processing time.

3. Check with teachers on recommendation letters.

4. Keep track of application due dates: early action (~Nov 1), early decision (~Nov 1), or regular (~Jan 1).

5. Keep College Guidance Counselor informed about which colleges you apply to.

6. SATs: find dates and register 5+ weeks prior.

7. In October, begin the financial assistance process: register with FAFSA, and, as needed, with CSS/Profile.

   
   WINTER

8. In January, submit requests for mid-year transcripts.

9. Finish applying to colleges.

10. In January or February, submit the FAFSA forms.

11. Keep the College Guidance Counselor informed of all acceptances, rejections, and scholarships

    
    SPRING

12. By April 1, you will hear from the colleges

13. If wait-listed, check with College Guidance Counselor

14. By May 1, you must respond to all colleges where you have been accepted; please regret graciously.

    
    SUMMER

15. Request the final transcript be sent to your college.

16. June 13, Graduation.

17. Bravo!

BOOKS

Excellent Sheep*                     
William Deresiewicz

Paying for College*                
The Princeton Review Board

Colleges That Change Lives 
Loren Pope

The Hidden Ivies
H. Greene & M. Greene

College Admission
Mamlet & Vandevelde

College Guides
Fiske; Barron’s; Peterson

* Recommended reading for parents of 8th graders and up.

WEBSITES

Common Application             
www.commonapp.org

College Board                          
www.collegeboard.org
For the CCS Financial Aid Profile, PSAT, and SAT

 ACT
www.act.org

 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
www.fafsa.ed.gov

National Collegiate Athletic Association
www.ncaa.org

College Search
www.niche.com