News and Events
College Counselor
Nathaniel Calahan
Phone: (480) 839-3402 x129
Fax: (480) 755-0546
Email: njcalahan@tempeprep.org
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Student Life :: College Counseling Calendar
College Counseling Activities
Most college counseling activities focus on juniors and seniors in high school. Juniors have a College Admissions 101 class on most early release days. College counseling events are advertised on the TPA Calendar, as well as on PREPHQ.
College Counseling Calendar
| August - |
- Seniors should sign up for any additional SAT/ACT tests desired. This might be to improve scores, try a different test, or take additional SAT Subject Tests
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| September - |
- Senior Meeting: meet with seniors and their parents about the college application process, senior trip, and senior thesis. Seniors will receive an unofficial transcript at this time with their cumulative GPA, class rank, and best test scores.
- Juniors and sophmores sign up for the PSAT (practice SAT test).
- Sophomores sign up for the PLAN (practice ACT test).
- All seniors should apply to an in-state school.
- Seniors need to plan for college applications, taking into account merit scholarship deadlines, Early Action/ Early Decision deadlines (if desired), and regular application deadlines. Give teachers at least 2 weeks notice for recommendations, along with a Teacher Recommendation Form, a stamped addressed envelope, and any other required forms. Once you have applied, use the “Applied” button in PREPHQ so Mrs. Davies will start tracking transcript requests. PREPHQ will remind you of deadlines and pieces missing.
- College admissions officers start visiting TPA. Sign up in College Corner, especially if the visit occurs during class. Most visits are scheduled during high school lunch.
- National Merit Semifinalist and Commended students are announced.
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| October - |
- PSAT given to juniors and sophomores
- Junior Parent Meeting on College Admissions
- Phoenix College Fair at Phoenix Convention Center
- College admissions officers visit TPA
- One sophomore will be nominated as TPA’s HOBY representative
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| November - |
- Typical Early Decision/Early Action college application deadlines
- PLAN test given to sophomores.
- Junior Parent Meeting on College Admissions repeated.
- Senior Financial Aid Night for seniors and their parents
- College admissions officers visit TPA
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| December - |
- All juniors receive a Winter Packet with PSAT test scores, original PSAT test booklet, and SAT/ACT practice test booklets.
- Sophomores that took the PSAT or PLAN also receive a Winter Packet with their test scores and original test booklets.
- Seniors should plan to have finished all standardized testing (SAT/ACT) by December.
- Seniors applying to ASU should finish their application by December 1 to qualify for merit scholarships.
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| January - |
- All junior families should plan to meet with the college counselor to discuss signing up for standardized tests and college goals. Juniors will receive an unofficial transcript with cumulative GPA and rank.
- Juniors should sign up for SAT/ACT tests given January - June
- Most senior college applications should be completed
- Seniors and their parents should complete the FAFSA (don’t wait until taxes are filed, estimate)
- Seniors, make sure the college counselor has all information needed for Mid-Year Reports
- All high school students should pay attention to Summer Programs (see PREPHQ) and their application due dates.
- Seniors should review Scholarship deadlines (see PREPHQ)
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| February - |
- Lots of deadlines for scholarships and some summer programs.
- Seniors should apply for Boys State and Girls State. TPA is allowed to nominate 2 boys and 2 girls. See PREPHQ for more details.
- National Merit Finalists notified
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| March - |
- Final deadline for Boys State and Girls State (juniors only).
- Senior’s Priority deadline for FAFSA
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| April - |
- Seniors receive college application results
- Seniors should record all Accepted/Denied/Waitlisted status in PREPHQ. Also record all scholarship offers.
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| May - |
- Seniors must inform their chosen college by May 1. Only one college may be accepted.
- Colleges not selected should also be informed.
- Senior information from PREPHQ on college acceptances, scholarship offers, and the chosen college will be used for the Senior Awards Ceremony and Graduation program.
- Seniors must turn in 2 stamped, addressed envelopes for final transcripts: one addressed to the college they plan to attend, and one addressed to themselves.
- National Merit program sends out letters to juniors that will either be semifinalists or commended in September. That’s not what the letter says, but that’s what it means!
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| June - |
- Arizona Board of Regents High Honors Tuition Waiver Scholarship (AIMS Scholarship) information submitted for graduated seniors with a 3.5 GPA, A’s and B’s in selected subjects, and 3 Exceeds in the AIMS tests. This is for tuition at an in-state school. This scholarship may not be combined with the usual state school merit scholarships.
- Official Final Transcripts sent to colleges
- Graduated seniors receive an unofficial final transcript
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| July - |
- Graduated seniors will be notified about the AIMS scholarship (see June entry).
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