College Planning: Preparing for Your Future

Navigating Your Journey to Higher Education | 2026–2027

Whether you are aiming for a four-year university, a local community college, or an honors program, the FTCHS counseling team provides structured support every step of the way.

Use this page to navigate your application requirements, track key admissions milestones, review testing timelines, and prepare your materials for college submission.

Fall Fair, 2026

Daily Senior Support: Block 1 "Prep Zone"

Senior year moves fast. To ensure no student feels overwhelmed, FTCHS provides dedicated application support during 
First Block:

• Tuesdays through Thursdays — Open Lab in the Prep Zone:
  Drop in during 1st Block for hands-on assistance from counselors with Common App completion, personal statements, supplemental essays, fee waivers, and Naviance submissions.
• Mondays: Reserved for targeted pathway cohorts, Act 158 review, and 1-on-1 scheduled appointments.
• Note: Class of 2027 launch sessions begin the week of September 14 in the Auditorium.

2026–2027 College Admissions & Testing Calendar

Fall 2026 (Senior Focus)

• Week of Sept 14, 2026: Senior 1st Block Programming Officially Launches.
• Thursday, Sept 24, 2026: College Admissions Day at FTCHS
• Morning (Block 1): Penn State Application Workshop — Complete your Penn State application with PSU admissions officers on site and receive a 100% Application Fee Waiver (Pre-registration required).
• 5:15 PM (Auditorium): Senior College Panel Discussion & Application Process Night — Hear directly from regional admissions deans about what makes applications stand out, followed by our FTCHS application breakdown.
• 6:00 – 8:00 PM (Gym): FTCHS Fall Future Fair (Meet with 40+ admissions reps during Back to School Night).
• Wednesday, Sept 30, 2026: Senior FAFSA Kickoff (During Study Halls).
• Tuesday, Oct 6, 2026: Senior Parent/Guardian FAFSA & Financial Aid Evening Webinar.
• Friday, Oct 9, 2026: Fall Universal Testing Day — On-campus administration of the School Day SAT and PSAT/NMSQT.
• October – November 2026:
• Instant Decision Days: On-campus admissions interviews and same-day decisions with partner schools including East Stroudsburg University, Widener University, La Salle University, and Shippensburg University.
• Early Action (EA) & Early Decision (ED) application deadlines.
• November 30, 2026: FTCHS Priority FAFSA Completion Target.

Spring 2027 (Junior Focus & Senior Decisions)

• February 2027: Understanding & Comparing Financial Aid Packages Family Workshop.
• April 2027: Spring School Day Testing (Digital PSAT 10 & SAT).
• April 2027: Junior Parent College Night — Preparing the Class of 2028 for the Admissions Cycle.
• May 1, 2027: National College Decision Day — Senior commitment celebration!

Class of 2027 Senior Application Protocol

To ensure your applications and official documents are processed accurately and sent on time, all FTCHS seniors must follow this exact four-step order:

1. Finalize Application List and any Final Teacher Recommendations, THEN Complete Applications

Quantity: 8 to 12 applications are recommended, make note of all application requirements and deadlines. Your earliest deadline is your target. Use the resources in your JPS Team to help guide you, and attend Senior Programming for support.

2. Complete Counselor Check-Out

Once your application is ready to submit and your recommendations are locked in Naviance, complete your Senior Counselor Check-Out during Block 1 Open Lab to verify fee waivers, intended majors, and deadlines.

3. Submit Your Application First

Submit your application through the Common Application, an institutional portal (e.g., Penn State Portal), or via an FTCHS Instant Decision Day.

4. Official Transcript Package Release

Your Transcript Package is the final piece sent to the college. It contains your official high school transcript, the FTCHS school profile, counselor recommendation/report, and NACAC/College Board fee waivers (if eligible).

• Package Allotment: Each senior receives up to 12 transcript packages free of charge.
• Additional Submissions: Transcripts 13+ require a $5 fee each. Applying to more than 15 schools requires a formal counselor review.
• Processing Lead Time: Allow at least 10 school days for counseling to compile and transmit packages prior to college deadlines.

Class of 2028 Junior Planning Roadmap

Junior year is when preparation turns into action. During the fall semester, Juniors will learn about the various pathway options available after high school. In the spring semester, 11th-grade students should focus on a deeper understanding of their preferred pathway.

Junior College Planning Steps

1. Building a Balanced List in Naviance:
   Target 6–10 institutions featuring a healthy mix of Likely (Safety), Target (Match), and Reach schools using Naviance Scattergrams.
2. Attending College Rep Lunch Visits:
   Dozens of admissions counselors visit FTCHS during cafeteria lunch blocks throughout the year. Drop by their tables to ask questions and demonstrate interest.
3. Drafting Your Activity Sheet / Resume:
   Begin compiling clubs, sports, community service, leadership roles, and employment within your Naviance profile.
4. Visiting Campuses:
   Take advantage of spring breaks and weekends for campus tours, open houses, and virtual student panels.

College Planning FAQs

When will my transcript package be sent to my colleges? Counselors begin transmitting complete transcript packages in late September once senior schedules, GPA recalculations, and counselor check-outs are finalized. Please allow at least two weeks (10 school days) between completing your Counselor Check-Out and your earliest application deadline. :::

How do I take advantage of School Day SAT/PSAT testing? FTCHS administers official College Board exams on campus during the school day (Fall: October 9, 2026 and Spring: April 2027). Students take these exams in familiar classrooms without needing to arrange Saturday morning travel or outside test centers. Watch for registration windows in your student email.

How do I access Block 1 Senior Open Labs? All seniors have designated post-secondary time built into their Block 1 schedules. Simply report to the Prep Zone during Tuesday–Thursday lab times. Bring your charged Chromebook, work on your essays or Common App, and raise your hand for 1-on-1 counselor guidance. :::

What is an Instant Decision Day? During Instant Decision Days, admissions representatives from select partner colleges (such as East Stroudsburg, Widener, La Salle, and Shippensburg) visit FTCHS. Seniors who submit their materials in advance meet 1-on-1 with an admissions officer and walk out with an immediate admissions decision (and often merit scholarship offers). :::

Where do I log in to research schools and manage my applications? Everything connects through Naviance. Log into FTCHS Naviance Student using your single sign-on (SSO) school Google credentials to match your Common App, track documents, review college visit schedules, and explore admissions scattergrams. :::

Need 1-on-1 Guidance?

Visit the Main Counseling Office or connect with your counselor during Block 1 Open Lab.
College Planning Questions? Email: [email protected]