Welcome, ECFS families

• Build a strong academic foundation - take advantage of the support available to you!
• Find your footing as an Upper School Student.
• Challenge yourself with the appropriate level of rigor!
• Remain consistent with current activities and/or discover new interests.

• Spend time reflecting on what you value/ what matters to you. 
• Get involved in summer plans that are meaningful to you.
• Register with NCAA Clearinghouse if interested in intercollegiate sport in Division I,II, or III level.

• Build Academic Confidence
  • Determine academic strengths & areas for growth
  • Build your academic reputation (how do you want to be known academically?)
  • Continue to challenge yourself with the appropriate level of rigor
• Consider visiting a local small college and a local large public university.

• Participate in the PSAT & Mock ACT testing - this will help you learn which one to pursue!
• Begin to casually research colleges
  • One small college, one big university, one mid-size college/university (start close to home)
• Build your own story! 
  • What do you value?
  • What do you enjoy doing? Why?
  • What do you find most challenging and rewarding?
• Get involved in summer plans that are meaningful to you and journal about your experience!

• Attend the Fall College Night for Form V parents.
• Register for the PSAT (for National Merit Consideration).
• Begin standardized test preparation; some students may sit for the October/November/
  December SAT/ACT.
• Make good decisions!

• Receive your college counselor assignment in late January.
• Attend the first family college meeting in February.
• Begin to research colleges with your counselor and schedule college visits over Presidents’ Day and Spring Recess.
• If appropriate, sit for the SAT (March, May, or June) or ACT (February, April, or June). Make
  sure to check the registration deadlines and test site requirements.
• Attend the Junior College Symposium (for juniors and their parents/guardians) in late April.
  Over 70 college and university representatives will be present for a half-day of panel
  discussions, case studies, and presentations.
• Discuss college research, recommendation letters, applications and summer plans with your
  counselor.
• Review senior year course schedules with your counselor.
• Maintain satisfactory grades in an appropriate curriculum.
• Make good decisions!

• Schedule additional college visits.
• Schedule college interviews (if applicable).
• Invest in activities that align with your individual interests, and try to record notes on these
  experiences.
• Make good decisions!

• Maintain strong grades in an appropriate curriculum — senior grades count!
• If applicable, sign up for the SAT (August, September, October, or November) or ACT
  (September, October, or December). Make sure to check the registration deadlines and
  test site requirements.
• Complete the senior narrative worksheet (a form that records activities, community service,
  and summer experiences).
• Sign up for college presentations held at ECFS. Look for presentations held throughout New
  York City as well.
• Schedule an individual family college meeting with your counselor.
• Schedule college visits. In addition to holidays, ECFS offers college visiting days in the fall
  semester.
• Schedule college interviews (if applicable).
• Work with your counselor to complete application requirements.
• Submit Early Action, Rolling Admission, or Early Decision applications (typically November
  1–15). Applications to University of Michigan, University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill, SUNY institutions, and University of California schools are generally due early in the semester. If applying to these schools, prioritize these applications.
• Beginning October 1, complete appropriate financial aid applications (FAFSA and CSS
  Profile).
• Monitor the submission of application materials, and check the financial aid status for every college (if applicable). Inform the College Office if there are missing materials after you submit your application.
• Finish all applications by December 31. If you have essays that need to be reviewed by your
  counselor, submit these BEFORE winter break.
• If admitted Early Decision (or to a first-choice school), promptly withdraw applications to other
  colleges.
• Make good decisions!

• Apply to colleges with January 15–February 15 deadlines (if applicable).
• Check financial aid status at all colleges and universities (if applicable).
• Wait for colleges to release final decisions in mid-March through April 1. During this time, please respect your fellow students and their forthcoming decisions.
• Complete the college results survey and submit it to the College Office.
• Maintain strong grades — colleges are monitoring your final grades!
• Make good decisions!

Class of 2027, Issue Number 4, May 2026
Class of 2027, Issue Number 3, Spring Break 2026
Class of 2027, Issue Number 2, March 2026
Class of 2027, Issue Number 1, January 2026

Class of 2026, Issue Number 11, December 2025
Class of 2026, Issue Number 10, November 2025
Class of 2026, Issue Number 9, October 2025
Class of 2026, Issue Number 8, September 2025
Class of 2026, Issue Number 7, August 2025
Class of 2026, Issue Number 6, June 2025
Class of 2026, Issue Number 5, May 2025
Class of 2026, Issue Number 4, April 2025
Class of 2026, Issue Number 3, March 2025
Class of 2026, Issue Number 2, February 2025
Class of 2026, Issue Number 1, January 2025

Class of 2026, Issue 3, April 2026
Class of 2026, Issue 2, March 2026
Class of 2026, Issue 1, January 2026

Class of 2025, Issue 5, May 2025
Class of 2025, Issue 4, April 2025
Class of 2025, Issue 3, March 2025
Class of 2025, Issue 2, February 2025
Class of 2025, Issue 1, January 2025