College Counseling

College Process by Grade

10th Grade

Continue working hard in your classes. This is the second year that you are formulating your GPA
Pick challenging classes for your junior year that align with your future plans for college or career of choice- but find a good balance!
Utilize SCOIR to further your college and or career choices
- Complete the Career Interest and PrinciplesYou assessments in Scoir and review results (in Teen Health and Wellness class)
- Begin the college exploration process using the “Discover” feature in Scoir
- View Scattergrams in Scoir
Visit College Campuses-in person and/or virtually
- There are a variety of schools that are close by
- Get a feel for what you like (big/small, rural/suburban/city, etc.)
- April vacation can be a great time to visit as classes are in session and students may be on campus
Take PSAT 10 at LHS (to prepare for mandatory SAT junior year)
Continue to be involved in co-curriculars
- Keep a record of your activities, awards and recognitions (you can use Scoir for this, or just keep a Google doc)
- Plan meaningful summer activities (employment is great)
  - College visits
  - Summer internships/jobs
  - Volunteer work

11th Grade

Fall/Winter of Junior Year

Commit to having a strong academic performance. 11th grade grades are typically the last official grades colleges will see after you apply in 12th grade.
Utilize SCOIR to conduct a college search and begin to compile a list of prospective schools
Meet with College Admissions Representatives that visit LHS throughout the fall
Take the Digital PSAT 11/NMSQT in October (offered on a Wednesday at LHS)
Review your PSAT results and use Bluebook on your Chromebook to do free, personalized SAT prep
Meet with your school counselor for a “Junior Conference” in December/January to formulate a plan
If you are an athlete considering a D1 or D2 school, register with the NCAA Clearinghouse

Spring of Junior Year

Continue to work with your school counselor to refine your college list or talk about career training
Take the ALL School Digital SAT in March/April
Visit prospective schools
Register for strong senior classes (REMEMBER: Colleges will still be looking at you all senior year and the strength of your schedule)
Think about which teachers to write your letters of recommendations and have conversations with them before the end of the year
Finish strong academically

Class of 27: College Prep Handbook

12th Grade

Fall/Winter of Senior Year

Begin the college application process by starting your Common Application or college specific applications
Enter senior year with a list of where you plan to apply andVisit colleges (if you still need to)
Meet with college representatives that come to LHS (VERY IMPORTANT as this is a way to “demonstrate interest” which many colleges keep track of)
Complete your senior questionnaire (this helps your school counselor write a more in- depth letter of recommendation)
Meet with your school counselor to formulate your plan for college applications
Take the SAT again if you would like to improve your scores from the spring (register through your College Board account for a Saturday date)
SEND YOUR SAT SCORES TO THE COLLEGES THAT REQUIRE THEM (through your CollegeBoard account). We cannot do this for you. Scores must arrive by college deadlines (and can take up to two weeks to be delivered)
Have your parents complete the FAFSA (required by all) and CSS Profile (required by some)
Work on your college essay
- You will edit and revise a few times before the final product is ready
Participate in the college interview process (if necessary or required)
Have a strong first quarter- some colleges ask to see your first quarter grades
Most colleges will ask for mid year grades as well
Apply for financial aid/scholarships (usually after January 1)
Keep in close contact with your school counselor or who will support you during this process

Spring of Senior Year

Complete SCHOLARSHIP applications; you can find them in your SCOIR drive
Make sure financial aid information is all submitted by the proper deadline (FAFSA is required by ALL SCHOOLS)
Wait to hear responses from all schools and get financial aid packages before making a final decision
May 1st - commit to college of your choice and let your school counselor know
Finish your senior year strong! (Final transcripts are sent to the college you intend to attend)

Class of 2026: College Application Process

College Application Process Handbook
Senior College Slideshow for Families

College Application Process Handbook

Senior College Slideshow for Families

College Planning Links

Visit the federal student aid site

What is the FAFSA?

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the form that students fill out to apply for financial aid for college or career school. This includes grants, scholarships, work-study, and federal student loans—all of which can help make college more affordable.

Completing the FAFSA is free and should be done every year a student plans to attend college. It’s one of the most important steps in the financial aid process and can open the door to thousands of dollars in support.

Seniors and their families are encouraged to submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after it opens each year to maximize eligibility for aid.

Scoir

scoir login

What is Scoir?

Scoir is a college and career planning platform that helps students explore colleges, build their college list, and manage the application process—all in one place.

With Scoir, students can:

Research schools based on interests, location, and academics
Track application deadlines and requirements
Request letters of recommendation
Send transcripts
Discover scholarship opportunities
And even see where past LHS students have applied and been accepted

Parents and guardians can also create accounts to follow along, support the process, and stay informed.

Our counseling team uses Scoir to communicate important college planning info, so students should check in regularly—especially during junior and senior year!

College Board

search colleges

take the career quiz

What is College Board?

College Board is the organization behind many key programs that support students on their path to college, including the SAT, AP (Advanced Placement) courses and exams, and the PSAT/NMSQT.

Through College Board, students can:

Register for the SAT and send scores to colleges
Access AP Classroom and view AP scores
Take the PSAT, which can qualify juniors for the National Merit Scholarship
Use tools like BigFuture to explore colleges, careers, and scholarships

Students and families should create a free College Board account to track test registrations, scores, and college planning resources throughout high school.

Granite Edvance

Check out upcoming events from Granite Edvance

What is Granite Edvance?

Granite Edvance (formerly known as the NHHEAF Network) is a New Hampshire–based organization that supports students and families with college and career planning, financial aid guidance, and scholarship resources.

They offer free one-on-one counseling, webinars, and tools to help students:

Explore colleges and career pathways
Understand the financial aid process, including the FAFSA
Search for scholarships
Plan for life after high school

Our counseling department partners with Granite Edvance to bring in expert advisors throughout the year—especially during junior and senior planning season. It's a fantastic resource for any student thinking about what comes next.

NCAA

What is the NCAA Eligibility Center?

The NCAA Eligibility Center helps student-athletes register to play Division I or II college sports. If you're thinking about pursuing athletics at the collegiate level, you’ll need to create an account and make sure your high school courses, GPA, and test scores meet NCAA requirements.

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