What to do and when
What to do and when - a timeline of activities
Freshmen
- Students attend orientation
- Register for Paly technology: Naviance, Schoology, Infinite Campus
- Parents attend Back To School Night
- Students attend Advisory weekly
- Parents register for Naviance using registration code
- Students initiate 4-Year Academic Plan in Advisory
- Students make 10th grade course selections in February
- Students who have a job must complete a Work Permit and turn it into Guidance
- Students looking for summer programs can check out Enrichment Opportunities in Naviance
Sophomores
- Parents attend Back to School Night
- Students and parents attend College Fair in October
- Students update 4-Year Academic Plan with TA
- Begin exploring career and/or vocational options by taking the Personality Test and Career Interest Survey in Naviance
- Parents attend Sophomore Parent Night
- Students make 11th grade Course Selections in February
- Students who have a job must complete Work Permit and turn it into the Work Experience Office
- Students looking for summer programs can check out Enrichment Opportunities in Naviance
Juniors
- Parents attend Back to School Night
- Parents attend Junior Parent Night in fall
- Students attend Advisory as scheduled
- Students take the PSAT in October (test scores available online in December)
- Students and parents attend College Fair in October
- Students attend College Rep visits in the C&CC
- Students update 4-Year Academic Plan with TA
- Students attend C&CC Orientation with US History classes in January
- Students complete Post High School Planning Survey in Naviance and schedule appointments with College Advisor after orientation
- Students make 12th grade Course Selections in February
- Students take SAT test in March and/or ACT in April:
- If considering colleges requiring SAT Subject Tests, take tests in May or June
- Practice for these exams using Naviance Test Prep (free, online)
- Parents attend Junior Parent/TA Night in March
- Students and parents tour colleges of interest
- Students and parents attend WACAC and/or NACAC Spring College Fair
- Student requests Letters of Recommendation from teachers in March
- Students receive Viking College and Career Planning Guide (distributed in Advisory)
- Students complete Naviance surveys related to college application process in March and April
- Student requests Short Forms from employers, coaches, etc., for TA Letters in spring
- Parents complete Naviance Parent Assessment Survey related to college application process
- If appropriate, students take AP Tests in May
- Students who have a job must complete a Work Permit and turn it in to Guidance
- Students looking for summer programs can check out the Enrichment Opportunities in Naviance
- If considering playing college D1 or D2 sports:
- Register with NCAA Eligibility Center
- Send official test scores and transcript to NCAA
Seniors
- Parents attend Back to School Night
- Students complete Summer Update Survey in Naviance
- National Merit Semi-finalists notified by Paly in September
- Students attend Advisory as scheduled
- Students participate in college workshops on PSAT day
- Students and parents attend Palo Alto College Fair in October
- Students attend College Rep visits in the C&CC
- Parents attend Senior Parent Night in September
- Students take SAT Reasoning test in October and/or ACT test in September (all testing must be completed by December – October for early applicants)
- Students schedule appointments with College Advisors
- Students finalize college lists and:
- Invite and assign Teacher Advisors and teachers in the Common Application
- Submit packets with paperwork for colleges requiring them
- Request transcripts online for non-Common App colleges requiring them; monitor deadlines
- Complete online portion of college applications by deadlines
- Request official SAT or ACT scores be sent to all colleges
- Student should touch base with teachers writing Letters of Recommendation
- Monitor email daily for correspondence from colleges you’ve applied to and take action if needed
- Students request mid-year transcripts for colleges that require them
- Parents attend Financial Aid Workshop in October
- Students track Financial Aid deadlines
- Students and parents complete the FAFSA no later than March 2 for CA colleges/universities
- Students complete and submit Paly Community Scholarship Application in January
- Students attend Community College Forum
- Students receive college notification no later than April 1; attend Admitted Student events on college campus
- Students submit Intent to Enroll at one college by May 1:
- Register to take placements tests, if required
- Submit housing requests
- Sign up for orientation
- Students apply to community colleges in April/May:
- Take placement tests
- Sign up for orientation
- Register for courses
- If appropriate, students take AP Tests in May
- Students request a final transcript online for the college to which they will matriculate
- Students complete Graduation and Evaluation of Guidance Services Surveys on Naviance
- Male students must register for Selective Service with the US Armed Forces when they turn 18 years old
- Students under 18 years of age who have a job must complete a Work Permit and turn it in to Guidance
Who to call?
TEACHER ADVISOR
Please refer to staff directory
TEACHER ADVISOR PROGRAM CO-COORDINATOR
Ann Deggelman 650-329-3814
SCHOOL COUNSELORS
Crystal Laguna (Alpha Letter A-Be & College Pathways)
James Hamilton (Alpha Letter Bh-Gri)
Selene Singares (Alpha Letter Gro-Low)
Charles Taylor (Alpha Letter Lu-Sha)
Jillian Restivo (Alpha Letter She-Z)
Guidance Department 650-329-3712
COLLEGE & CAREER CENTER
Sandra Cernobori
Janet Cochrane
650-329-3818
OUTREACH COUNSELOR/
COMMUNITY COLLEGE & CAREER ADVISOR
Crystal Laguna 650-329-3719
REGISTRAR
Karla Larson 650-329-3822
NAVIANCE QUESTIONS
Learn more
SCHOOLOGY or INFINITE CAMPUS QUESTIONS
Krissy Ludemann 650-329-3933