Upper School Guidance
Freshmen & Sophomores
Freshman and sophomore years lay the foundation for your future. Strong grades and consistent attendance prepare you for college entrance tests like the ACT and SAT. Just as important, leadership roles and service opportunities help you stand out—colleges look for well-rounded students who excel both in and out of the classroom.
Create a Student Resume’ - track your service, leadership, and academic progress
Get Involved Early – Join clubs, sports, and service opportunities to explore interests and grow as a leader.
Build Good Study Habits – Stay organized, manage your time well, and ask for help when needed.
Choose Friends Wisely – Surround yourself with peers who encourage you to do your best.
Think Long-Term – Remember that your grades, attendance, and character now shape your future opportunities.
Juniors
Junior year is one of the most important years of high school. Students should focus on keeping their GPA strong, preparing for and taking the ACT/SAT, and beginning to research colleges and scholarships. Leadership roles, community service, and involvement in extracurricular activities also play a big role in shaping college applications. This year sets the stage for senior year and future opportunities.
Maintain Your Student Resume’ - track your service, leadership, and academic progress
Stay Involved – Join clubs, sports, and service opportunities to explore interests and grow as a leader.
Build Good Study Habits – Stay organized, manage your time well, and ask for help when needed.
Visit Colleges – Narrow school to your top three. Visit again!
Think Long-Term – Remember that your grades, attendance, and character now shape your future opportunities.
Seniors
Senior year is the time to put everything together. Students finalize college and scholarship applications, stay focused on maintaining strong grades, and continue serving and leading in their school and community. It’s also a year of transition—preparing academically, socially, and spiritually for life after high school. Staying organized and finishing well ensures students are ready for the opportunities ahead.
Apply to Colleges – Meet deadlines and submit all required documents.
Apply for Scholarships – Stay on top of local and national opportunities. Use your Student Resume’!
Keep Grades Up – Colleges still review senior year performance.
Stay Involved – Continue leadership, service, and extracurricular activities.
Prepare for Transition – Practice time management, independence, and life skills for college or career.
College Entrance Tests
We recommend that all students take the ACT (or SAT) no later than the fall of their junior year. Some students may even benefit from testing earlier, such as during the spring of their sophomore year or the summer before junior year.
Seniors should be especially mindful of college deadlines, as many institutions have a final date by which they will accept updated test scores. Staying ahead of these timelines ensures students don’t miss important scholarship or admission opportunities.
Each fall, LLCA hosts an ACT Bootcamp for Juniors and Seniors in preparation for the October School Day ACT. This resource is free for LLCA students and can potentially boost scores by numerous points. Local businesses join the event to provide lunch and prizes to students.
Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment
Lindsay Lane offers a growing variety of Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment (DE) courses on campus. AP courses follow a nationally standardized curriculum, allowing colleges to clearly understand the rigor and content of each course. Dual Enrollment courses follow the curriculum and requirements of the partnering college and may vary by institution or instructor. Both options provide students with valuable college-level academic experiences, but one may align more closely with a student’s individual strengths and postsecondary goals.
The Academy currently partners with Calhoun Community College, University of North Alabama, and Jacksonville State University to provide on-campus dual enrollment courses.
Students are allowed to take DE classes external to classes offered at LLCA. Classes are approved by the school guidance counselor on a case-by-case basis.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid
What is FAFSA? FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Colleges use your FAFSA data to determine your federal aid eligibility including the PELL Grant and student loans. Many states and colleges use FAFSA data to award their own aid.
The 2027-2028 FAFSA Opens on OCTOBER 1, 2026.
What can you be doing to prepare? Go ahead and create your FSA ID:
Go to http://studentaid.gov then Create account.
To allow for processing time, we recommend you create your FSA ID at least 3 days before you would like to start the FAFSA.
You will need your date of birth, Social Security Number, home address, personal email address, and phone number
When you create your FSA ID, be careful to enter your name and Social Security number exactly as they appear on your Social Security card.
Parent (Contributor) and student each create their own FSA ID
Resources
Contact Mrs. Spivey with any guidance questions - laura.spivey@llcalions.org.