Freshman Year

Your Focus: Building strong foundations and discovering your passions within the La Lumiere boarding school community.

• Develop strong study habits and time management skills that will serve you throughout high school, and establish a reading habit that extends beyond coursework.
• Explore co-curricular activities and consider how your interests might align with potential college majors and career paths — this is your time to try new things.
• Attend the second semester parent meeting to learn about college planning foundations and the four-year journey ahead, and plan meaningful summer activities — work, volunteer, learn, or explore.

Sophomore Year

Your Focus: Building on your freshman foundation while challenging yourself appropriately and exploring your interests more deeply.

• Challenge yourself academically while maintaining balance — think growth, not overwhelm — and step up your involvement, including leadership roles, in activities where you’ve found genuine passion.
• Take the PSAT-10 and Pre-ACT onsite at La Lumiere, viewing these as learning experiences rather than high-stakes events.
• Attend the second semester parent information meeting to learn about college planning best practices, and schedule an individual family meeting with Ms. Croft (March – May) for in-depth college counseling discussions.
• Plan a summer that combines personal growth with meaningful contribution — work, volunteer, programs, or interesting courses — and visit college campuses if opportunities arise, focusing on getting a feel for different campus environments.

Junior Year

Your Focus: Launching your formal college search with intention and authenticity.

• Deepen your involvement in activities that truly matter to you, and engage in serious reflection about your values, interests, and goals.
• Meet with college admissions representatives who visit La Lumiere; student-athletes should also connect with college coaches about athletic recruiting, and artists should begin preparing their portfolios.
• Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October as valuable practice for the SAT, then research standardized testing options (SAT, ACT, test-optional policies), create a testing plan, and take the SAT on-site at La Lumiere in March.
• Schedule an individual family meeting with Ms. Croft (December – February) for in-depth college counseling discussions, and participate in the College Counseling Seminar with Ms. Croft in the second semester.
• Begin developing your preliminary college list based on your authentic preferences — considering size, location, academic programs, and campus culture — and plan college visits during spring break and the summer to assess the “feel” factor of different campuses, working toward a balanced list of 10-12 reach, target, and foundation schools.
• Be intentional with your summer: a part-time job, summer program, volunteering, or an academic or enrichment course all strengthen your college application while helping you explore your interests and build valuable skills. Begin drafting your application essays and personal statement with guidance from Ms. Croft to get ahead before fall deadlines.

Senior Year

Fall Semester

Your Focus: Producing powerful early applications while keeping an open mind about all options.

• Finalize your college list and application strategy with Ms. Croft, begin submitting your college applications, and complete standardized testing as appropriate — note that most early action and early decision applications will accept the October SAT/ACT tests.
• Ask two teachers to write letters of recommendation by September 1st, informing them of your first application deadline, and meet regularly with Ms. Croft for personal statement and supplemental essay feedback.
• Continue meetings with visiting college admissions representatives, and keep working on your regular decision applications regardless of your early action outcomes.
• Let your first semester grades show the strength and drive you’ve built — finish strong, because colleges are still watching.

Spring Semester

Your Focus: Living your La Lumiere experience while celebrating your achievements and the amazing journey ahead.

• Stay focused and finish strong — colleges will see your senior year grades, and the effort you put in now sets the tone for your transition to college life, especially for potential waitlist offers. Complete any remaining regular decision applications before deadlines.
• Maintain a positive, balanced, and patient attitude during the waiting period, and remember that no one is “done” with the process until you’ve graduated — discuss admissions decisions and options with Ms. Croft along the way.