A College Prep Timeline for High School Students

By Annie Moran

Preparing for college requires a focused effort that begins four years before that celebrated high school graduation date. As they start high school, students who involve themselves in their school and community, explore and follow their interests, take classes that challenge them and support their goals, build relationships with their teacher mentors, and volunteer for causes they feel passionate about are building a foundation for college acceptance. Staying the course each year with these college timeline tasks takes organization and commitment. And Fusion’s Post-Secondary Counselors are here to help – college prep is a key part of the support we provide!

The Post Secondary Counselor (PSC) relationship is truly an essential part of the high school journey. Our focus is to assist students with the college prep timeline tasks and move them toward their goals. Working with your Fusion PSC, students can explore careers, research and connect to best-fit colleges, evaluate testing options, build a robust resume, plan productive summers, and finalize plans for college admissions.  Start each year off by scheduling a 30-minute consultation with your PSC by finding them here. Utilizing us as a resource can help students stay focused, informed, and equipped throughout the college prep process. We hope you find these timelines useful! They include Fusion-specific language (lead teacher, Director of Student Development, etc.) since I use them with my Fusion students, but they are a good guideline for all.

Learn all about Fusion’s College and Post Secondary Counseling options here.

 

About the Author

Annie Moran, B.S., M.S.S.E., M.S.

Southwest Regional College and Post Secondary Counselor

Annie’s interest in all things scientific began at an early age. She grew up in rural farming areas in Iowa and developed a love of gardening and fascination with nature. Always inquisitive about how things worked, she would also find herself sitting on her dad’s workbench “helping” him build such things as a colored TV from a mail-order kit and an RV that she, her parents and older sister vacationed in. Raised in a musical family, she started her own musical journey in grade school, studying organ, flute and cello. All this led to Annie following her interests to the University of Oklahoma where she played in both the band and orchestra and received her Bachelors of Science degree in Science Education. She spent the next 23 years in Richardson ISD as a Biology, Earth, and Physical Science and AVID teacher, curriculum writer, mentor, instructional specialist, and AVID coordinator and trainer. After earning her Masters of Science degree in School Counseling, Annie has since served as a high school counselor for the past 16 years.

Annie is at her best when helping other people find their balance and realize their goals. When not at school, she loves to cook, do crossword puzzles, work on her fixer-upper home, and spend time with her husband David, her son Brennan, and the family’s four rescued fur babies, Tripper, Mimzy, Roo, and Firefly.

Words to live by: Above all, be kind. For everyone you meet is facing some kind of struggle that, by a simple act of compassion, you may provide the spark to diminish.

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