Post-Secondary Planning

For the Class of 2027

We are pleased to guide you through the post-secondary planning process. This will guide you as you prepare for a successful senior year and post-secondary plan!

Review the content on this page to transition to further opportunities for your future success.

Counselors are available for additional meetings to help you navigate high school and prepare for your post-secondary journey. Make an appointment via Bookings with your assigned counselor.

The Basics

Bookmark this Postsecondary section of the website: This will guide you as you prepare for a successful senior year and post-secondary plan!
Use the calendar on this page or click here for a PDF you can download as a checklist to help you prepare!
Check the To Do Now section below: Check this regularly to make sure you are up-to-date on possible necessary steps!

To Do Now

Focus on your well-being, academics, and postsecondary goals!
Make sure to have requested all your required courses for senior year!
Check out your PSAT scores! Click HERE to understand your scores.
- Check below under Resources→Standard Testing for more information regarding SATs Sign-Up, SAT/ACT prep, etc.
Make sure to attend your Individual Junior Meeting!
- Complete the junior survey on Naviance before your meeting.
- The Junior Postsecondary Planning Survey is under the dropbox top right under school surveys.
Explore all your options post-high school. Consider which is the best path for you!
Plan visits to schools of interest.
- Open Houses are great opportunities to learn about schools of interest.

Opportunities for Growth

Dual enrollment information is communicated to students during course selection and via the educational planning guide.

Dual Enrollment

Dual Enrollment Application

If KHS students are interested in taking college-level classes and earning both high school and college credit(s), they will need to complete an application for KHS and the college or university. For more information please reach out to your assigned school counselor.

PRIZE program

The program is at West Chester University for students interested in the field of Education.

Financial Aid Resources

Financial Aid/Scholarships

KHS Scholarship Advice and Scholarship Search Tools
Sign up for a FREE scholarship search engine to get matched with scholarships that fit your profile. Popular search engines include
Get familiar with financial aid applications:
- FAFSA
- Pheaa
- CSS Profile
PHEAA Financial Aid and Scholarship webinars
Elite Collegiate Planning, offers free consultations, workshops and webinars for college planning

Exploration Tools and Options

Find your fit with these tools:
- Big Future
- College Navigator
- Naviance career search
Check out the Chester County Library System for additional resources
PA Career Link - Chester County

College Planning

Applying to College 101 is a FREE online course offered by UPenn and Heights Philadelphia designed to help students and family members navigate each stage of the college search process.
Check out these FREE workshops on writing college essays, standardized tests, and much more for students and parents.
College Planning Process: Figure out the steps involved in figuring out which schools are right for you!
Khan Academy College Admissions Course: course to help with the college admissions process.
College Navigator: use this tool to help you do research on college/trade programs and look for information important to you such as graduation and retention rates; campus safety; net tuition price, and more
Admission 101: Guiding you through the College Admission Process: use this link from Bentley University to help you get started on understanding some of the components of the college process.
Some schools require a Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR). Check out this video tutorial from Penn State. Your STARS can then be used for other applications if required.

Standardized Tests

Here are resources to help you decide whether to take the SAT or ACT.
Register here to take the SAT and here for the ACT.
Study Guides
- for the ACT
- for the SAT
- using practice books, the official guides, and/or virtual test prep through the ACT.
FREE personalized PSAT practice with Khan Academy.
CollegeBoard Accommodation Request Form for students with IEPs and 504s

Colleges to Consider

Trade/Vocational/Certificate Programs

Alternative Options

Student Athletes

Students with Learning Differences

En Español

Employment Resources

College Planning and Mental Health Resources

Refer to KHS Post-Secondary Presentations

College Planning Calendar

Use this as a checklist below to prepare for graduation. Reach out to your counselor for support.

Winter: Junior Year

Spring: Junior Year

Take the SAT or the ACT. Reviewing admissions tests policies and requirements at potential colleges.
Meet with your school counselor to discuss your senior year courses, your college plans, and your academic progress.
Complete and review your results from the Do What You Are and the Career Interest Profiler assessments in Naviance. Use the results to help focus your future career and major choices.
Use online college search engines to find potential college matches and to start your research such as Naviance, College Board, and Cappex
Research the colleges on your preliminary list by visiting college websites, consulting College Internet Resources on the guidance webpage and by speaking with current college students and graduates.
Use the results of your research to begin to narrow the size of your list of colleges. Use the Compare Colleges section of Naviance to help you compare schools.
Discuss your college plans with your parents. Make sure to include a frank discussion about finances in your talks. Check out finaid.org/ for information about college expenses and financial aid.
Visit colleges that interest you. You can arrange visits and tours by contacting college admissions departments.
Identify 2 teachers that you would like to write letters of recommendation to colleges for you. Ask the teachers if they will write recommendations for you in the summer or fall if required by the colleges.
Plan additional college visits for the summer.
Finish your graduation project if you have not already done so! You will lose privileges if you do not.

Summer: After Junior Year

Begin viewing the application requirements for each of your colleges and start filling out the online applications.
- Find out which of the colleges use the Common Application and begin it on www.commonapp.org for those schools.
Begin working on your college application essays.
- For tips, go to the College Board Website (www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/
Schedule campus visits and interviews for any college you’re interested in that you did not visit in the spring.
Schedule second visits to colleges that you want to see again. Try to arrange an overnight stay for second or third visits.
Register to take the SAT or ACT in the fall.
- KHS hosts the SAT in the Fall.
- Register early.
- Indicate at least four colleges to receive your scores for free.
- You will be charged for additional score reports.
Complete your Brag Sheet in Naviance: this will give your counselor valuable information to use in writing letters of recommendation for you.
If you are planning to pursue a major in the arts, start getting your portfolio or audition ready.
Begin viewing the college representative visit schedule on Naviance.
- Sign up to visit with the representatives of colleges that interest you.
Begin searching for scholarships.
- Start by viewing the Scholarship List in Naviance.
- Sort by local & other major specific categories.
- Use other sites such as fastweb.com and scholarships.com to search for national scholarships.

Fall: Senior Year

Check-in with your counselor to review your transcript and discuss college plans. If you are considering applying for early decision, be sure to review this with your counselor.
Encourage your parents to attend the Financial Aid Information Night at KHS!
Continue to research colleges & complete college apps. Make a list of all your deadlines. Submit applications in a timely manner. Prioritize applications for early decision, early action, priority deadline and rolling admissions.
If required, ask teachers to write recommendations for you. You will request letters of recommendation via Naviance after you have turned in the transcript release forms. See “Tips for Submitting Application Materials to Guidance” for more detailed steps.
Whenever you apply to a college, make sure to do the following:
- Submit the completed application online or in paper form directly to the college.
- If you are applying through the Common Application, sign the FERPA waiver in your Common App account and match your Common App account in Naviance within the Colleges I’m Applying To section.
- Submit a signed Transcript Release/Application Submission form to the Guidance Office. Items must be turned into guidance at least 15 school days or one month before the application deadline.
- Submit any required Secondary School Report forms or Counselor Information forms to the guidance office.
  - Make sure you have completed the Brag Sheet on Naviance.
- Send your test scores (SAT, SAT Subject, or ACT) directly from your College Board or ACT account
Use the Colleges I’m Applying To section of Naviance to track when your documents have been sent through the guidance office. Click view detailed status to track the documents that have been sent.
If applying for financial aid, check the financial aid application requirements and deadlines of each college. Submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after October 1 as possible.
Make sure to keep your grades up! Colleges will look closely at your senior grades.
FINISH ANY INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS OVER THANKSGIVING BREAK!

Winter: Senior Year

Spring: Senior Year

Submit copies of all acceptance letters and scholarship awards to the guidance office.
Make sure to complete the Local Scholarship Application which will be mailed to your home by the guidance office. This will ensure your eligibility for the scholarships that are awarded at graduation.
At the end of the school year, counselors will come to classes to help you complete the Graduation Survey in Naviance.
- This survey informs the Guidance Office of your plans for after Graduation, including the school you choose to attend. Your final high school transcript will automatically be sent to this school once available.

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