October 2023 Checklists

What to do as the semester settles in

The leaves have changed and just like that we have settled into fall, as your student has hopefully settled into their school year. By now they should feel like they have a good grasp on the trajectory of their year, from involvement in extracurriculars to balancing their appropriate course loads. While freshmen and sophomores are foundation-building, upperclassmen are visiting colleges or in the midst of applying to them. October is a very weighty month for seniors finalizing all EA/ED applications, acquiring letters of recommendation, and writing essays on essays. 

At a glance… 

Upcoming ACT deadlines: 

• Test on October 28th

• November 3rd for the December 9th test*

*Last test until February 2024

Upcoming SAT deadlines:

• Test on October 7th

• October 6th for the November 4th test

• November 2nd for the December 2nd test**

**Last test until March 2024

Critical topics:

• Meeting your guidance counselor

• EA/ED 

• Supplemental essays

9th graders

If you’re a freshman, then your jobs this month are:

• Meet your guidance counselor. It’s okay if you don’t have many questions for them yet, at least put a face to the name and get comfortable with going to their office and asking about what resources are available to you. 

• Assess your extracurriculars. Is there anything you joined that absolutely doesn’t feel like a fit, and could be replaced by something else? Did you spread yourself too thin? 

• Study hard and get good grades. By now you are getting into the groove of things. Maintain good study habits!

• Get organized in a way that works for you. There are so many different methods out there to get organized, benefiting your different needs. Explore different tools, like digital or physical planners, to find something that will consistently work for you. Then practice getting good at using it!