Sophomore Timeline


September – December
  • Develop a filing system for college materials.
  • Talk to your high school guidance counselor about college options.
  • Make a list of factors that are most important to you in a college.
  • Meet with admissions counselors when they visit your high school.
  • Attend college fairs in your area.
  • Check www.naccap.org for the National Christian College Fair schedule.
January – March
  • Read through college publications carefully.
  • Talk to your teachers, guidance counselor, parents, youth pastor and friends about different colleges in which you are interested.
  • Find out from your high school guidance counselor what ACT/SAT prep courses are offered and take practice exams on the Web at www.review.com.
  • Develop a preliminary list of colleges that are of interest to you.
  • Visit colleges. (Fridays are the best days to visit
  • Cornerstone. You can go to chapel, visit class, take a tour, meet with professors and talk to your admissions counselor.)
  • Sign up to take the ACT in April. Your scores will be sent directly to Cornerstone when you put our code (2002) on your registration!
April – May
  • Sign up for college preparatory classes for the next year. Consider taking advanced placement (AP) classes. You can earn college credit or advanced placement for qualifying scores on the AP exam.
  • Look into summer opportunities – jobs, internships, volunteer work or summer school programs.
  • Continue visiting colleges.
  • Get in contact with coaches if you are interested in competing in intercollegiate athletics.
  • Start searching for scholarships. Check with your school counselor, local library and the Internet for scholarship search guides.
  • Contact the admissions counselors from your top schools and let them know you are interested.
June – August
  • Work to earn money for college. Students have been able to contribute at least $3,000 each year in college by working during the summer.
  • Consider taking the ACT/SAT more than one time – you may be able to improve you scores! Cornerstone requires a 19 on the ACT or 1350 on the SAT and a 2.5 GPA.
  • Consider taking early enrollment classes at Cornerstone or a local college while you are still in high school. You can earn college credits before you even graduate from high school.
  • Make a resume of your accomplishments, activities and work experience to send with your applications.
  • Investigate college majors related to your interests and career goals.
Questions to Ask Yourself:
The more you know yourself, the easier it will be to find the college that is right for you. Consider the following questions as you continue your college search:
  • Why do I really want to go to college?
  • How academically competitive am I?
  • How well do I handle pressure?
  • Am I a self-motivated person or do I thrive on close, personal attention?
  • Do I like “being known,” or do I find more freedom in being anonymous?
  • How certain am I of the major(s) I’m considering?
  • Do I feel a strong calling in a certain area?
  • What type of environment will help me grow spiritually?
  • What kind of college environment interests me?
  • Do I like being near family and friends, or is the idea of being far away appealing?
  • What values are truly important to me?
  • How will my college environment affect these values?