Post-Secondary Planning Information - College and Career Test Dates & Next Steps

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Skyler

Post-secondary planning guidance for juniors and seniors covers recommended timing for the PSAT, ACT, and SAT, plus retake strategies to use the higher score. The sheet provides School/CEEB code and detailed 2026–2027 SAT and ACT test date tables with registration deadlines and late deadlines, directing students to verify updates on official testing sites. Additional sections outline SAT/ACT preparation resources, career/major and scholarship searching steps, college path research, campus visit planning, and support options such as fee waivers and VSAC eligibility.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

PSAT/ACT/SAT Timing Guidance

2026–2027 SAT Test Dates

2026–2027 ACT Test Dates

SAT/ACT Preparation Resources

Step 2: Career Paths, Majors, and Scholarships

College and Career Search Websites

Step 3: Research Colleges or Other Paths

Step 4: Visited/Contacted Plans

College Visits, Military Info, Gap Year, Apprenticeship, and Employment

POST-SECONDARY PLANNING INFORMATION It is recommended that juniors take the PSAT in October and the ACT and SAT in the spring. Seniors should retake the test with the higher score (ACT or SAT) in the fall or repeat both tests. School/CEEB Code-460108 ***Please go to the testing websites to verify dates and deadlines*** 2026–2027 SAT Test Dates Test Date REGISTRATION DEADLINE Late Deadline ►►August 22 ► ► September 12 ►►October 3 ►►November 7 December 5 ██March 6 ██May 1 ██June 5 AUGUST 7 AUGUST 28 SEPTEMBER 18 OCTOBER 23 NOVEMBER 20 FEBRUARY 19 APRIL 16 MAY 21 August 11 September 1 September 22 October 27 November 24 February 23 April 20 May 25 SIGN UP AT WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.ORG 2026-2027 ACT Test Dates Test Date REGISTRATION DEADLINE Late Deadline ► ► September 19 ► ► October 17 December 12 February 27 ██April 10 ██ June 12 ██ July 10 AUGUST 14 SEPTEMBER 11 NOVEMBER 6 JANUARY 22 MARCH 5 MAY 7 JUNE 4 September 1 September 29 November 29 February 9 March 23 May 25 June 22 SIGN UP AT WWW.ACTSTUDENT.ORG (ACT PLUS WRITING IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) ►►DATES RECOMMENDED FOR SENIORS ██DATES RECOMMENDED FOR JUNIORS ***** IF YOU QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH, CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR FORA FEE WAIVER. ****IF NEITHER OF YOUR PARENTS/GUARDIANS GRADUATED FROM A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VSAC SERVICES AND WAIVERS SEE YOUR COUNSELOR FOR MORE INFO ***** SAT/ACT PREPARATION · Bookstores have test preparation materials · Test prep books can be borrowed from both the CHS and Burnham libraries · Colchester Parks and Recreation sometimes offers an SAT Bootcamp · [www.number2.com](www.number2.com) (Free Online Test Prep) · [https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice](https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice) (SAT Site–practice Questions & more) · [www.freerice.com](www.freerice.com) (Vocabulary Game-Can help study for verbal sections of tests) · [www.fairtest.org](www.fairtest.org) (website that lists schools that do not require the SAT or ACT) · [https://www.learningexpresshub.com/ProductEngine/LELIndex.html\#/learningexpresslibrary/l](https://www.learningexpresshub.com/ProductEngine/LELIndex.html#/learningexpresslibrary/l)ibraryhome · There are private companies that offer SAT and ACT preparatory courses for a fee STEP 2: DO A SEARCH FOR CAREER PATHS/MAJORS/SCHOLARSHIPS List 3 potential career paths or majors that interested you during your search 1. 2. 3. COLLEGE AND CAREER SEARCH WEBSITES · SCOIR · [www.PrincetonReview.com](www.PrincetonReview.com) (College Search) · [www.Petersons.com](www.Petersons.com) (College Search) · [www.CollegeBoard.org](www.CollegeBoard.org) (College Search) · [https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges/how-find-your-college-fit](https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges/how-find-your-college-fit) · [www.VSAC.org](www.VSAC.org) · [www.BLS.gov/ooh](www.BLS.gov/ooh) (Occupational Outlook Handbook) · [www.commonapp.org](www.commonapp.org) (The Common Application) · Vermont Department of Labor (Search for jobs and Apprenticeships in Vermont) · CHS Website has MANY resources for financial aid, scholarships, college and career info, and much more · There are apps and websites available such as “College Hunch”,“College Navigator”,“Niche” and many more STEP 3: RESEARCH COLLEGES OR OTHER PATHS Use resources above to come up with at least three specific possibilities (could be colleges, trade schools, jobs, military options, etc. ) If you’re looking at colleges, make sure to have at least one reach, three good fits, and one safety school (you can use the “How do I stack up?” feature on the College Board search engine to determine this). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. STEP 4: FROM THE LIST ABOVE, LIST POSSIBILITIES THAT YOU HAVE VISITED/CONTACTED OR PLAN TO VISIT/CONTACT 1. 2. 3. COLLEGE VISITS, MILITARY INFORMATION, GAP YEAR AND APPR

FAQs

When should juniors take the PSAT and the ACT/SAT?

Juniors are recommended to take the PSAT in October and the ACT and SAT in the spring.

What should seniors do if they want to improve scores?

Seniors should retake the test with the higher score (ACT or SAT) in the fall or repeat both tests.

Where can students find free or reduced-lunch fee waivers and VSAC services?

If students qualify for free or reduced lunch, they should contact their school counselor for a fee waiver. If neither parent/guardian graduated from a four-year college, students may be eligible for VSAC services and waivers by seeing their counselor for more info.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Skyler