CollegeforTN.org - Prepare for College

January:

Take Campus Tours online or in person to further narrow your list of colleges to match your personality, GPA, and test scores.
The Test Prep tutorial sections in CollegeforTN will help you increase your ACT and SAT scores, especially for math.

February:

Register for the March SAT and/or the April ACT tests. Find out from each college the deadlines for applying for admission and which tests to take. Make sure your test dates give colleges ample time to receive test scores. It is a good idea to take the SAT and/or ACT in the spring to allow you time to review your results and retake the exams in the fall of your senior year, if necessary.

March:

Take the March SAT exam.
If you are interested in taking any AP/honors-level exam(s), you should sign up for the exam(s) at this time. If your school does not offer the exams, check with your school counselor to determine schools in the area that do administer them, as well as the dates and times that the exam(s) you are taking will be offered. Scoring well on these exams can sometimes earn you college credit, saving you time and money in the long run.

April:

May:

Take AP/honors-level, SAT, and SAT Subject Tests exams.
Talk to teachers about writing letters of recommendation for you. Think about what you would like included in these letters (how you would like to be presented) and politely ask your teachers if they can accommodate you.

June:

Add any new report cards, test scores, honors, or awards to your file.
Visit colleges. Call ahead for appointments with the financial aid, admissions, and academic advisors at the college(s) in which you are most interested. During your visits, talk to professors, sit in on classes, spend a night in the dorms, and speak to students about the college(s). Doing these things will allow you to gather the most information about the college and the atmosphere in which you would be living, should you choose to attend. Some colleges have preview programs that allow you to do all of these; find out if any of your colleges offer these programs and take advantage of them if they do.
Take the SAT, SAT Subject Tests and the ACT tests a second time. Taking the exams more than once can sometimes be beneficial. The second time you take an exam you are usually more comfortable; being more relaxed during the exams can lead to higher scores.
If you go on interviews or visits, don't forget to send thank you notes.