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College Preparation Checklist for Students
Pre-High School:
- Take challenging classes in English, mathematics, science,
history, geography, the arts, and a foreign language.
- Develop strong study skills.
- Start thinking about which high school classes will best prepare
you for college.
- If you have an opportunity to choose among high schools, or among
different programs within one high school, investigate the options and
determine which ones will help you further your academic and career
interests and open doors to many future options.
- Investigate different ways to save money buying a U.S. Savings
Bond or opening a savings account in a bank, investing in mutual
funds, etc.
- Start saving for college if you haven't already.
High School:
9th Grade
- Take challenging classes in English, mathematics, science,
history, geography, a foreign language, government, civics, economics,
and the arts.
- Get to know your career counselor or guidance counselor, and other
college resources available in your school.
- Talk to adults in a variety of professions to determine what they
like and dislike about their jobs and what kind of education is needed
for each kind of job.
- Continue to save for college.
10th Grade
- Take challenging classes in English, mathematics, science,
history, geography, a foreign language, government, civics, economics,
and the arts.
- Talk to adults in a variety of professions to determine what they
like and dislike about their jobs, and what kind of education is
needed for each kind of job.
- Become involved in school
- or community-based extracurricular (before or after school)
activities that interest you and/or enable you to explore career
interests.
- Meet with your career counselor or guidance counselor to discuss
colleges and their requirements.
- Take the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). You must register early. If
you have difficulty paying the registration fee, see your guidance
counselor about getting a fee waiver.
- Take advantage of opportunities to visit colleges and talk to
students.
- Continue to save for college.
11th Grade
- Take challenging classes in English, mathematics, science,
history, geography, a foreign language, government, civics, economics,
and the arts.
- Meet with your career counselor or guidance counselor to discuss
colleges and their requirements.
- Continue involvement in school
- or community-based extracurricular activities.
- Decide which colleges most interest you. Write these schools to
request information and an application for admission. Be sure to ask
about special admissions requirements, financial aid, and deadlines.
- Talk to college representatives at college fairs.
- Take advantage of opportunities to visit colleges and talk to
students.
- Consider people to ask for recommendations -
- teachers, counselors, employers, etc.
- Investigate the availability of financial aid from Federal, State,
local, and private sources. Call the Student Aid Hotline at the U.S.
Department of Education (1-800-4FED-AID) for a student guide to
Federal financial aid. Talk to your guidance counselor for more
information.
- Find out more about the domestic Peace Corps, called AmeriCorps,
by calling 1-800-942-2677 or TDD 1-800-833-3722.
- Investigate the availability of scholarships provided by
organizations such as corporations, labor unions, professional
associations, religious organizations, and credit unions.
- If applicable, go to the library and look for directories of
scholarships for women, minorities, and disabled students.
- Register for and take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I), the
ACT, SAT II Subject Tests, or any other exams required for admission
to the colleges you might want to attend. If you have difficulty
paying the registration fee, see your guidance counselor about getting
a fee waiver.
- Continue to save for college.
12th Grade
- Take challenging classes in English, mathematics, science,
history, geography, a foreign language, government, civics, economics,
the arts, and advanced technologies.
- Meet with your counselor early in the year to discuss your plans.
- Complete all necessary financial aid forms. Make sure that you
fill out at least one form that can be used for Federal aid.
- Write colleges to request information and applications for
admission. Be sure to ask about financial aid, admissions
requirements, and deadlines.
- If possible, visit the colleges that most interest you.
- Register for and take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT I),
American College Test (ACT), SAT II Subject Tests, or any other exams
required for admission to the colleges to which you are applying. If
you have difficulty paying the registration fee, see your guidance
counselor about getting a fee waiver.
- Prepare your application carefully. Follow the instructions, and
Pay Close attention to deadlines! Be sure to ask your counselor and
teachers at least two weeks before your application deadlines to
submit the necessary documents to colleges (your transcript, letters
of recommendation, etc.).
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