College Planning Guide
7th and 8th Grade Students
- Begin thinking about the high school classes that will prepare you for college.
- Ask your parents, guardians, or teachers to help you develop good study habits.
- Practice setting and reaching goals.
- Volunteer in your community.
- Take interest and skills assessments to help you think about possible career options.
- Talk with the School Counselor and parents about careers that interest you.
- Create a tentative high school class plan.
- Enroll in a summer enrichment program
9th and 10th Grade Students
- Take interest and skills assessments to help you explore careers that interest you.
- Talk with School Counselor about college and career options, and the education required for those careers.
- Talk with your family about paying for college.
- Talk with your friends, teachers, School Counselor, and parents about college.
- Participate in extracurricular activities.
- Take the ASPIRE in 10th grade to prepare for the ACT, and to identify areas where you need improvement.
- Review your high school class plan. Take the most difficult classes you can handle. Stay focused on your schoolwork.
- Explore internships and apprenticeships.
- Enroll in a summer enrichment program.
- Sign up for classes that will earn you college credit during your junior year of high school.
11th Grade Students
- Attend college and financial aid fairs.
- Mentor others and have a mentor for yourself.
- Take the PSAT in the fall to prepare for the SAT or ACT, and to identify areas you need improvement.
- Take the ACT and/or SAT in the fall. If you are going to a community college, check for their requirements because you may not have to take the ACT.
- Consider possible career options and investigate the education that is needed.
- Request materials from schools that interest you, and visit their websites.
- Arrange campus visits to those schools that interest you. Mett with an admissions officer, a financial aid representative, faculty members, and college students.
- Participate in extracurricular activities.
- Request admissions and financial aid forms.
- Sign up for classes that will earn you college credit during your senior year of high school.
- Take the ACT and/or SAT in the spring.
- Review your high school class plan. Take the most difficult classes you can handle. Stay focused on your schoolwork. Make sure you are meeting you high school graduation requirements.
- Enroll in a summer enrichment program.
- Get a job to earn and save money for college, or explore your skills through an internship or apprenticeship.
- Research your private scholarship options.
12th Grade students
- Sign up for classes that will earn you college credit during your last year ofhigh school.
- Meet with School Counselor to review your high school class plan. Take the most difficult classes you can handle. Stay focused on your schoolwork.
- Arrange campus visits to those schools that interest you.
- Take or retake the ACT and/or SAT in the fall. If you are going to a community college, check for their requirements. You may not have to take the ACT.
- Select the schools to which you will apply. Make a list of important admissions and financial aid deadlines for each school.
- Attend a financial aid event
- Participate in extracurricular activities.
- Create a resume of your academic, athletic, and work activities as well as other achievements. Prepare a portfolio if you’re interested in the arts.
- Search and apply for private scholarships.
- Ask for recommendations (if required) from teachers, counselors, and others who can comment on your abilities and talents.
- Apply to four to six colleges that interest you. Do not wait until just before the deadline.
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after Oct. 1st. You and your parents can use tax information from the previous tax year.
- Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) for accuracy. If you make corrections, return the form as quickly as possible.
- Ask your school counselor to send high school transcripts to those colleges to which you’ve applied.
- Choose a college and send in any required forms or deposits (housing, meal plan, etc). Notify in writing those schools you don’t plan to attend.
- Think about getting a summer job to earn money for college.