Counseling

Senior Parent night presentation

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE:  SENIOR CHECKLIST

Tips for applying to a 4 year university, community college
or trade school.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

• • Meet with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements
  • Register for the SAT and/or ACT if you didn’t take a college entrance exam as a junior or want to take one again. Remember: Your counselor can help with fee waivers.
  • Take a look at some college applications. Make note of all the pieces of information you will need to compile.
  • Check with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements.
  • Take every opportunity to get to know colleges. Meet with college representatives who visit your school, attend local college fairs, and visit campuses.
  • Narrow down your list of colleges. Collect information about the application and financial aid process at each school.
  • Create a checklist and calendar to keep track of standardized test dates, college application due dates, and financial aid deadlines. Make note of the other materials, such as recommendations or essays, you’ll need to complete your applications.

OCTOBER

• • File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after Oct. 1 as possible. In addition to determining your eligibility for federal funds, many colleges and states use the form when distributing grants, so don’t delay. Watch the mail for your Student Aid Report (SAR)—it should arrive four weeks after the FAFSA is filed.
  • Some colleges will have deadlines (rolling, priority, early decision, and early action) as early as this month.
  • If you cannot afford the application fees that many colleges charge, ask your counselor to help you request a fee waiver.
  • Finalize your college essay. Many schools will require that you submit at least one essay with your application.
  • Request personal recommendations from teachers, school counselors, or employers.
  • Research scholarships. Ask your counselor, your colleges, and local religious and civic groups about scholarship opportunities. You should never pay for scholarship information.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER

• • Finalize and send any early decision or early action applications due this month. Have a parent, teacher, counselor, or other adult review the application before it is submitted.
  • Every college will require a copy of your transcript from your high school. Follow your school’s procedure for sending transcripts.
  • Make sure testing companies have sent your scores directly to the colleges to which you are applying.
  • Begin to organize regular decision applications and financial aid forms, which will be due in January and/or February.
  • If needed, register for the January SAT. It is the last one colleges will be able to consider for a senior.
  • Many popular and selective colleges will have application deadlines as early as Jan. 1. Others have deadlines later in January and February.
  • If necessary, register for the February ACT (some colleges will be able consider it).
  • In January, ask your guidance office to send first semester transcripts to schools where you applied. At the end of the school year, they will need to send final transcripts to the college you will attend. 

FEBRUARY-MAY

• • Acceptance letters and financial aid offers will start to arrive. Review your acceptances, compare financial aid packages, and visit your final choices.
  • Don’t slack in the classroom. The college you decide to attend will want to see your second semester transcript.
  • March 2nd is the DEADLINE to submit FAFSA!
  • May 1 is the date when the college you plan to attend requires a commitment and deposit. When you’ve made your college decision, notify your counselor. Send in your deposit by the postmark date of May 1. If you’ve been offered financial aid, accept the offer and follow the instructions given. Also notify schools you will not attend of your decision.
  • Request that your final transcript be sent to the college you will be attending.
  • If you are wait-listed by a college you really want to attend, visit, call, and write the admission office to make your interest clear. Ask how you can strengthen your application.

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE:  JUNIOR CHECKLIST

Preparing For Senior Year

SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER

• • Talk with your counselor about the year ahead. Confirm that your courses will put you on the right track for college admission.
  • Ask about test dates for the PSAT, ACT, and SAT. You’ll need to register up to six weeks ahead of time.
  • Start developing a résumé—a record of your accomplishments, activities, and work experience. This will be an important part of your college application.
  • If you haven’t participated in many activities outside of class, now is the time to sign up. Consider clubs at school, team sports, leadership roles, or involvement in a religious or civic community group.
  • Take the PSAT. Taking the test as a junior will qualify you for some scholarship consideration and identify you to colleges as a potential applicant.
  • Begin to prepare for the ACT or SAT. Plan to take at least one of these tests in the spring. Ask your counselor if you qualify for a fee waiver.

JANUARY-FEBRUARY

• • Work with your counselor to set your senior schedule. Enroll in the most challenging courses.
  • Register for a spring SAT and/or ACT. Ask your counselor whether you should also take an SAT Subject Test.
  • Explore summer opportunities on college campuses—a great way to find out what college life is all about.

MARCH-MAY

• • Start researching colleges and universities. Go to college fairs and open houses. Learn as much as you can about colleges online.
  • Begin planning college visits. Try to visit colleges near you over spring break. Include a large, medium size, and small campus.
  • Develop a preliminary list of colleges that interest you. Go online to request additional information.
  • Take a look at some college applications. Make note of all the pieces of information you will need to compile. Make a list of teachers, counselors, employers, and other adults who could write letters of recommendation.
  • Consider lining up a summer job or internship

JUNE-AUGUST

• • Continue​ investigating colleges.
  • Schedule campus visits at the schools that you interest you.
  • Begin thinking about your applications. Generally, colleges will have their applications online by the beginning of August.
  • Start brainstorming your college essay.

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE:  SOPHOMORE CHECKLIST

Sophomore Year College Checklist!

• Get Involved. Activities: ...
• Get A's and study a lot! Grades really do matter as they say a great deal about your habits and work ethic. ...
• Amp up your academic game. What do I mean by this? ...
• Talk to your parents. ...
• Take the PSAT (if available) ...
• Create a test prep calendar. ...
• Amp up your skills. ...
• Explore!

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE:  FRESHMAN CHECKLIST

Freshman Year

• Meet with your school counselor and find our your high school's graduation requirements. ...
• Perform a Self-evaluation. ...
• Get Active! ...
• Decide if you'd like to take the ACT Aspire exam to evaluate your academic strengths.
• Volunteer or learn a new hobby during your summer break.

• AP Contract 2025-2026

• TUSD AVID Flyer 25-26
• TUSD AVID Flyer-- Español 25-26
• AVID Application '25-'26
• Link to electronic AVID application for students within TUSD.

2025-2026 Leadership Application:

• ASB Cabinet:  Available now until 11/1/24 at 4:00 pm
• Class Officer:  Available 11/4 to 11/22/24 at 4:00 pm
• Commissioner:  Available 11/4 to 1/10/25 at 4:00 pm

Application Link for TUSD students:  https://forms.office.com/r/SRsuEq9FBh

Application for non-TUSD students (hard copy below)

• KHS LEADERSHIP JOB DESCRIPTIONS PDF download
• 2025-2026 Kimball High School Leadership Application
• Teacher Recommendation 2025-26

Incoming freshmen application:  Available now through 12/6 at 4:00 pm (same applications as above).

MHSA REQUIREMENT & EXPECTATIONS

• MHSA Application 2025-2026
• MHSA 9th grade Course Selection Form.
• KHS Course Catalog 2025-2026

Please hand deliver a copy of the student's :

1. MHSA Application (including personal statement) 
2. Transcript of Grades

to the KHS Main Office no later than December 6, 2024 - 4:00 pm.

*** Notifications of acceptance will be made on January 15, 2025.

• Yearbook Application 2025-2026 
   
• Teacher Evaluation

  • As part of your application, you need to have two teachers fill out an evaluation about you.  The teacher evaluations should include one from your English teacher and another one of your choice. 

    • English/ELA Teacher Evaluation Form

    • Gen Ed Teacher Evaluation Form 

  • IMPORTANT NOTICE:  For any questions, please email Ms. Lausier, Jlausier@tusd.net

• Deadlines:

  • Current 8th Graders: Monday, December 16, 2024

  • Current 9th-11th graders: Friday, January 17, 2024

Student's  that would like to be Teachers Aide, Lab Assistant or Office Aide, please contact the Teacher or Mrs. Pajarillo (office) a nomination form for position.