Motto

College and Career Planning

Success is not an accident—it takes careful planning and preparation. At the Academy, we work with every student to develop post-graduation goals and map the path to make these goals a reality. Start right here on your road to success.

College Outreach Resource and Timelines for Grades 9-12

We invite our students and their parents to check out College Outreach, which is a comprehensive timeline and guide to assist you in planning for college or a career after high school.  

Academic Counseling

We encourage students and their parents to talk with a school counselor, teacher, or executive director to learn more about course offerings, the graduation requirements, and early graduation procedures. To plan for the future, each student should work closely with the counselor in order to enroll in the high school courses that best prepare him or her for attendance at a college, university, or training school, or for pursuit of some other type of advanced education.

Our counselor is here to help provide information about entrance exams and application deadlines as well as information about automatic admission to state colleges and universities, financial aid, housing, and scholarships.

Culmination Requirements for Juniors

Juniors, as you begin your journey into the college exploration and application process, be sure that you review the ACA culmination requirements to ensure that you are on the right track to culminate. 

Spring Semester:

  • Study for the SAT. Visit Khan Academy or the SAT online for study helps.
  • Visit the Common Application for essay prompts.
  • Begin working on an outline for college essays.
  • Begin applying for the ACT test.
  • Begin applying for scholarships. A good place to start is FastWeb
  • Begin researching possible colleges that you are interested in attending.
  • Take a school tour if possible or visit school websites for a virtual tour.
  • Do not procrastinate.

Culmination Requirements for Seniors

Seniors, deadlines are the most important thing to be aware of! Please check frequently with your top college choices to make sure you are not missing any important deadlines.

Spring Semester:

  • Re-take the SAT. You may register for the SAT online.  
  • Continue applying for scholarships.
  • If you have not applied to a college or university, please make sure to request your teacher recommendations and transcripts in time.

    ACT Resources

    • Prep for the Future - Offers some ACT prep seminars in Colorado, and they may have some sessions available in the area.
    • Doorway to College - ZAPS does offer some ACT prep offered in different locations around the Denver area, and they offer live webinars.
    • Kaplan - A costlier option that will help you select the course that best meets your individual needs and goals.
    • Lifelong Learning ACT - Boulder Valley School District does offer several ACT prep courses for reasonable pricing, and students outside of the BVSD can sign up for those classes. They offer prep courses for the entire ACT and also boot camps by subject area.

    SAT Resources

    • Khan Academy SAT - Offers free SAT prep and practice testing. Officially affiliated with the SAT organization. 
    • Prep for the Future - Offers some SAT prep seminars in Colorado, and they may have some sessions available in the area.
    • Doorway to College - ZAPS does offer some SAT prep offered in different locations around the Denver area, and they offer live webinars.
    • March 2 Success - A free option offered by the US Army with a lot of college prep info, including practice for ACT and SAT.
    • Lifelong Learning SAT  - The Boulder Valley School District does offer several SAT pep courses for reasonable pricing, and students outside of the BVSD can sign up for those classes. They offer prep courses for the entire SAT and also boot camps by subject area.

    The College Application Process

    The college application process can seem daunting. We’re here to help; start with these first steps to get things rolling:

    Download our 2017-2018 College and Career Planning Information Night Presentation for more details.