Getting Started
Find out what you should be doing to prepare for college each year of high school!
Freshmen
Keep your GPA up
This is one of the most important things you can do during your freshman year! Freshman year is important and colleges will look at it, so make sure that you're doing your best work! Having a good GPA will increase your chances of getting into most colleges and will increase your likelihood of receiving scholarships in the future!
Take the PSAT seriously!
Even though your PSAT score won't really affect you, you should still try your best to do well on it! The PSAT helps prepare you to take the SAT during your junior year. Your SAT score affects your ability to get into and receive scholarships from most colleges! Taking the PSAT seriously now will make it easier to score higher on the SAT when you take it during your Junior year!
Start Researching Careers Now
You don't need to know what you want to do after high school this early, but it's good to have an idea of which direction you want to go in! Spend some time researching careers that fit your interests. You can also reach out to people you know whose jobs interest you! Make sure you also research what type of education you would need for the careers that you're interested in. Check out some resources for researching careers here.
Research Colleges
If you have an idea of what kind of career you want after high school, that's a great place to start when researching colleges! Check out the Researching Colleges page for resources!
This is one of the most important things you can do during your freshman year! Freshman year is important and colleges will look at it, so make sure that you're doing your best work! Having a good GPA will increase your chances of getting into most colleges and will increase your likelihood of receiving scholarships in the future!
Take the PSAT seriously!
Even though your PSAT score won't really affect you, you should still try your best to do well on it! The PSAT helps prepare you to take the SAT during your junior year. Your SAT score affects your ability to get into and receive scholarships from most colleges! Taking the PSAT seriously now will make it easier to score higher on the SAT when you take it during your Junior year!
Start Researching Careers Now
You don't need to know what you want to do after high school this early, but it's good to have an idea of which direction you want to go in! Spend some time researching careers that fit your interests. You can also reach out to people you know whose jobs interest you! Make sure you also research what type of education you would need for the careers that you're interested in. Check out some resources for researching careers here.
Research Colleges
If you have an idea of what kind of career you want after high school, that's a great place to start when researching colleges! Check out the Researching Colleges page for resources!
Sophomores
Keep your GPA up
Your classes might be getting harder, but your GPA is only getting more important to colleges! Try your best in your classes and be sure to ask for help when you need it.
Start Studying for the SAT
The SAT is an important part of most college applications! You can start studying now on Khan Academy for free! For more information about the SAT, click here.
Start Narrowing Down Potential Careers
You definitely still have a lot of time to decide what you want to do after high school, so don't panic if you're still not sure! Now is a great time to start eliminating some options! Try to get in contact with people who are doing what you think you might want to do! You can also check out the Careers page!
Research Colleges
Take a deeper dive into researching colleges this year! Look into things like merit scholarships, housing, and the classes you'd be taking! Be sure to also look at the school's Cost of Attendance!
Start Considering Career Center and Dual Enrollment
Career Center and Dual Enrollment classes can give you a huge head start in college! Talk to your College Adviser or counselor to see what's available!
Your classes might be getting harder, but your GPA is only getting more important to colleges! Try your best in your classes and be sure to ask for help when you need it.
Start Studying for the SAT
The SAT is an important part of most college applications! You can start studying now on Khan Academy for free! For more information about the SAT, click here.
Start Narrowing Down Potential Careers
You definitely still have a lot of time to decide what you want to do after high school, so don't panic if you're still not sure! Now is a great time to start eliminating some options! Try to get in contact with people who are doing what you think you might want to do! You can also check out the Careers page!
Research Colleges
Take a deeper dive into researching colleges this year! Look into things like merit scholarships, housing, and the classes you'd be taking! Be sure to also look at the school's Cost of Attendance!
Start Considering Career Center and Dual Enrollment
Career Center and Dual Enrollment classes can give you a huge head start in college! Talk to your College Adviser or counselor to see what's available!
Juniors
Keep Your GPA Up
Your Junior year grades are the most important to colleges! This is because Junior Year will be the most recent grades on your transcript when you are applying to colleges during Senior Year. Don't slack off! Make sure you're staying on top of your homework and studying for tests!
Study for and Take the SAT
Your SAT score is an important part of most college applications! TAKE IT SERIOUSLY! It will affect whether or not you get into a college, how much you're offered in scholarships, and placement in classes. You will take the SAT in April and should start studying for it after winter break at the latest. Check out The SAT page for more information!
Continue to Narrow Down Potential Careers
Keep trying to narrow down what it is you'd like to do after high school! If you're able to narrow things down to one field (like healthcare) or to three to four different jobs, you'll be in really good shape for next year! If you're able, try to job shadow, volunteer, or get a job in the field you're interested in.
Continue to Research Colleges
Take a deeper dive into the colleges you're interested in attending. Make sure that they have programs you're interested in doing!!! Be sure to also look at Cost of Attendance, merit scholarships, housing, meal plans, extracurricular activities, and campus resources as well. If you're able to visit, do that too!
Start Looking for Scholarships
Make an account on a scholarship search site like Fastweb or GoingMerry to start looking at scholarships. Make sure you read all of the requirements! For more about scholarships, visit the Scholarships Page!
Consider Dual Enrollment Classes
If you haven't already taken Dual Enrollment classes, see if you can fit one or two into your Senior Year. Dual Enrollment can save you a lot of money, especially if you start early. The classes will be harder than your regular classes, but the college credit will be worth it!
Your Junior year grades are the most important to colleges! This is because Junior Year will be the most recent grades on your transcript when you are applying to colleges during Senior Year. Don't slack off! Make sure you're staying on top of your homework and studying for tests!
Study for and Take the SAT
Your SAT score is an important part of most college applications! TAKE IT SERIOUSLY! It will affect whether or not you get into a college, how much you're offered in scholarships, and placement in classes. You will take the SAT in April and should start studying for it after winter break at the latest. Check out The SAT page for more information!
Continue to Narrow Down Potential Careers
Keep trying to narrow down what it is you'd like to do after high school! If you're able to narrow things down to one field (like healthcare) or to three to four different jobs, you'll be in really good shape for next year! If you're able, try to job shadow, volunteer, or get a job in the field you're interested in.
Continue to Research Colleges
Take a deeper dive into the colleges you're interested in attending. Make sure that they have programs you're interested in doing!!! Be sure to also look at Cost of Attendance, merit scholarships, housing, meal plans, extracurricular activities, and campus resources as well. If you're able to visit, do that too!
Start Looking for Scholarships
Make an account on a scholarship search site like Fastweb or GoingMerry to start looking at scholarships. Make sure you read all of the requirements! For more about scholarships, visit the Scholarships Page!
Consider Dual Enrollment Classes
If you haven't already taken Dual Enrollment classes, see if you can fit one or two into your Senior Year. Dual Enrollment can save you a lot of money, especially if you start early. The classes will be harder than your regular classes, but the college credit will be worth it!
Seniors
Want Month-by-Month Steps? Click here!
Maintain Your GPA
Senioritis is REAL. Don't let it hurt you. If you tank your GPA during your senior year, colleges may reconsider your acceptance or reduce the scholarships you've been offered!
Consider Retaking the SAT
If you think you can do better, it may be a good idea to retake the SAT! Most colleges will always take whatever your best score is, so scoring worse won't hurt you. If you're able to raise your score, you may be able to get more money from colleges in scholarships! Talk to your College Adviser ASAP if you think you want to retake the SAT because you usually have to register about a month in advance!
Try to Get Some Experience in Your Field
This one's not always possible, but if you're able to job shadow, volunteer, or work in your field prior to finishing high school, it will give you a great start for college! You'll also get a better idea of whether or not it's something that you actually want to do!
Apply for Colleges
You should start applying for colleges at the beginning of your senior year! Try to have all of your college applications submitted by November 1st. November 1st is a cutoff date for scholarships at a lot of colleges, so it's best to get your applications in by then! See your College Adviser if you need or want help! For more information about applying to colleges, click here.
File a FAFSA
This is the most important thing to do this year if you're planning on attending college! Filing your FAFSA is the number one thing you can do to make college more affordable for yourself! FAFSA will get you access to grants, scholarships, and loans you wouldn't have access to otherwise. You can file your FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov. For more information about FAFSA, click here.
Apply for Scholarships
Make sure you're applying for local and institutional scholarships! Check out the Financial Aid and Scholarships page for more information! Remember that you can also apply for additional scholarships through your college of choice or online through scholarship search sites like Fastweb or GoingMerry.
Visit Colleges
Make sure that you visit any college that you are seriously interested in attending! It's hard to know what a college is truly like if you've never set foot on campus. Remember, you can get excused absences for college visits! Most colleges also have special weekend visit days that you can attend if you're interested.
Make a Decision
Choosing a college can be difficult! Take your time and ask for help from family, friends, or your College Adviser if you need it! Be sure to analyze your financial aid award letters from each school so that you are aware of all of the expenses involved with each choice! You should decide on which college you are attending by May 1st.
Complete Orientation Steps
After you have decided on a college, you will need to complete some tasks like setting up your new school email, attending orientation, and registering for classes. Be sure to complete all of these steps so that you are able to enroll! If you need help, contact the college or come see your College Adviser!
Graduate!
Make sure that you've taken all of the classes that you need to and get ready to be finished with high school! Remember to celebrate, too! You made it!
Maintain Your GPA
Senioritis is REAL. Don't let it hurt you. If you tank your GPA during your senior year, colleges may reconsider your acceptance or reduce the scholarships you've been offered!
Consider Retaking the SAT
If you think you can do better, it may be a good idea to retake the SAT! Most colleges will always take whatever your best score is, so scoring worse won't hurt you. If you're able to raise your score, you may be able to get more money from colleges in scholarships! Talk to your College Adviser ASAP if you think you want to retake the SAT because you usually have to register about a month in advance!
Try to Get Some Experience in Your Field
This one's not always possible, but if you're able to job shadow, volunteer, or work in your field prior to finishing high school, it will give you a great start for college! You'll also get a better idea of whether or not it's something that you actually want to do!
Apply for Colleges
You should start applying for colleges at the beginning of your senior year! Try to have all of your college applications submitted by November 1st. November 1st is a cutoff date for scholarships at a lot of colleges, so it's best to get your applications in by then! See your College Adviser if you need or want help! For more information about applying to colleges, click here.
File a FAFSA
This is the most important thing to do this year if you're planning on attending college! Filing your FAFSA is the number one thing you can do to make college more affordable for yourself! FAFSA will get you access to grants, scholarships, and loans you wouldn't have access to otherwise. You can file your FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov. For more information about FAFSA, click here.
Apply for Scholarships
Make sure you're applying for local and institutional scholarships! Check out the Financial Aid and Scholarships page for more information! Remember that you can also apply for additional scholarships through your college of choice or online through scholarship search sites like Fastweb or GoingMerry.
Visit Colleges
Make sure that you visit any college that you are seriously interested in attending! It's hard to know what a college is truly like if you've never set foot on campus. Remember, you can get excused absences for college visits! Most colleges also have special weekend visit days that you can attend if you're interested.
Make a Decision
Choosing a college can be difficult! Take your time and ask for help from family, friends, or your College Adviser if you need it! Be sure to analyze your financial aid award letters from each school so that you are aware of all of the expenses involved with each choice! You should decide on which college you are attending by May 1st.
Complete Orientation Steps
After you have decided on a college, you will need to complete some tasks like setting up your new school email, attending orientation, and registering for classes. Be sure to complete all of these steps so that you are able to enroll! If you need help, contact the college or come see your College Adviser!
Graduate!
Make sure that you've taken all of the classes that you need to and get ready to be finished with high school! Remember to celebrate, too! You made it!