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College Planning

It's Never Too Soon

               

To Start Planning 
For College

Getting Ready for College: A Four-Year Checklist for High School Teens

WRITTEN BY TISHA RINKER · PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 28, 2012 · UPDATED DECEMBER 21, 2017

 

Checklist for High School Freshmen and Sophomores

Freshmen should plan to:

  • Take challenging classes in core academic courses.

  • Work with their school counselor to create a yearly schedule for meeting graduation requirements.

  • Talk to an advisor or school counselor about taking AP and honors courses.

  • Get involved with community-based and leadership-oriented activities.

  • Explore and identify career fields of interest through online research and by attending career fairs and other events.

  • Explore The Four Steps to College.

  • Keep a running list of accomplishments, awards, and recognitions to use in preparing a resume and college applications.

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Keep in mind that many of these freshman-year activities should continue through all four years of high school. Career planning, in particular, will merit careful, ongoing research; students may need help refining their goals as they learn new information.

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Sophomores should:

  • Attend college and career information events.

  • Research funding for college, including scholarships, grants, loans, etc.

  • Reach out to mentors in the fields of interest.

  • Continue exploring college and career options.

  • Consider taking a practice test to prepare for the PSAT.

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High School Junior Checklist

In fall semester, juniors need to:

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In spring semester, juniors should:

  • Register for college admission exams such as the SAT and ACT; take practice tests to prepare before the big day.

  • Research ways to pay for college.

  • Identify scholarship opportunities to pursue; note deadlines on calendar.

  • Contact colleges to request information and applications.

 
High School Senior Checklist

During the summer, soon-to-be seniors should:

  • Start college visits.

  • Narrow down the colleges being considered.

  • Make decisions regarding early decision or early action programs.

  • Enter and/or update information in the FAFSA4caster.

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In fall semester, seniors will need to:

  • Register for and take (or retake) the SAT and/or ACT, if not already done.

  • Complete and submit college applications prior to deadlines.

  • Complete and submit scholarship applications prior to deadlines.

  • Request transcripts and letters of recommendation.

  • Register for a Federal Student Aid PIN.

  • Meet with a counselor to verify that graduation requirements will be met on schedule.

 

During the winter months, seniors should:

  • Work with parents to complete and submit the FAFSA.

  • Review and make any necessary changes/corrections to the Student Aid Report.

  • Finish submitting scholarship applications.

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In spring semester, seniors will need to:

  • Visit colleges on their “short list.”

  • Consider college acceptances; compare financial aid packages offered.

  • Call college financial aid representatives with questions.

  • Decide on the college to attend and contact its offices.

  • Make informed decisions about student loans.
     

Although the temptation to goof off during the last year of high school may be strong, students should be made aware that college admissions officers will expect to see that they’ve worked hard to keep grades up and continued their involvement in school and community activities. Reassure your aspiring college student that he or she can still enjoy life and time with friends while remaining focused on larger goals.

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Academic Planning

FROM 
         THE 
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COLLEGE
        BOARD

High School Classes Colleges Look For:

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If you're in high school and you're thinking about college-and you should be- you should know that the courses you take now matter.  That's because college admissions officers want to see a solid foundation of learning that you can build on in college.

 

To create that foundation, take at least five solid academic classes every semester. Start with the basics, and then move on to challenging yourself in advanced courses. The courses listed below should prepare you for success in college and beyond.

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English (Language Arts)
Take English every year. Traditional courses, such as American and English literature, help improve your writing skills, reading comprehension and vocabulary.

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Math
Algebra and geometry help you succeed on college entrance exams and in college math classes. Take them early, so you'll have time for advanced science and math, which will help show colleges you're ready for higher-level work.

Most colleges want students with three years of high school math. The more competitive colleges prefer four years. Take some combination of the following:

  • Algebra I

  • Algebra II

  • Geometry

  • Trigonometry

  • Calculus

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Science
Science teaches you how to think analytically and how to apply theories to reality. Colleges want to see that you’ve taken at least three years of laboratory science classes. A good combination includes a year of each of the following:

  • Biology

  • Chemistry or physics

  • Earth/space science

Schools that are more competitive expect four years of lab science courses, which you may be able to get by taking advanced classes in these same areas.

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Social Studies
Improve your understanding of local and world events by studying the cultures and history that helped shape them. Here is a suggested high school course plan:

  • U.S. history (a full year)

  • U.S. government (half a year)

  • World history or geography (half a year)

  • An extra half-year in the above or other areas

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Foreign Languages
Solid foreign language study shows that you're willing to stretch beyond the basics. Many colleges require at least two years of study in the same foreign language, and some prefer more.

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The Arts
Research indicates that students who participate in the arts often do better in school and on standardized tests. The arts help you recognize patterns, learn to notice differences and similarities, and exercise your mind in unique ways.

Many colleges require or recommend one or two semesters in the arts. Good choices include studio art, dance, music and drama.

Take at least five solid academic classes every semester.

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Challenging Course Work

To ready yourself for college-level work, enroll in challenging high school courses, such as honors classes, AP courses or IB-program courses. You may even be able to take college courses at your high school or a local college.

How to Prepare for the SAT

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If you’ve started thinking about college, you’ve probably heard about admission tests like the SAT. Colleges use test scores to help them make admission decisions. So it makes sense to plan to do your best on the exam. Here are some tips to help you do that.

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The Best Way to Prepare

The best way to prepare for the SAT is to work hard both inside and outside the classroom. Take challenging courses, study hard, and read and write as much as you can.

It makes sense to plan to do your best on the exam.

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Practice Tips

You can take some simple, smart steps to help you put your best foot forward.

 

Know what to expect. Being familiar with the format of the SAT will help you feel more comfortable on test day. Go to our website and learn about each section or talk to friends or siblings who have already taken it. You’ll feel more confident if you know the test format beforehand, and you can save valuable time during the exam.

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Take preliminary tests. The College Board also offers the PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10 or PSAT 8/9 which are meant to be taken before you take the SAT. These preliminary, or introductory, tests make great practice tests because they have the same formats and question types as the SAT. The PSAT/NMSQT can also can qualify you for millions of dollars in scholarships, identify AP Potential, and help create a personalized practice plan for you to prepare for the SAT.

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Use our free, personalized practice tools. We partnered with the Khan Academy to create Official SAT Practice, world-class test practice that’s free to all students, so there’s no need to spend a lot of money on test prep courses. It’s personalized just for you to show you where you excel and where you need more work. With thousands of interactive problems, instant feedback, and video lessons, you can prepare for the test and keep track of your progress at satpractice.org.

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Take practice tests — for free. You can find free practice exams on our website and at satpractice.org, as well as in study guides in the library, bookstores or your counselor's office. These practice exams can help you discover your strengths and weaknesses and learn to manage your time wisely during the test. Download the SAT Daily Practice app and use our scan and score feature to get your practice test results instantly.

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Check your timing. Be sure to time yourself while you are completing practice tests using Official SAT Practice so you can experience real test-day conditions. Admission tests are strictly timed, and their timing is different from regular high school tests. If you find you finished early and got easy questions wrong, slow down and read questions more thoroughly. If you didn’t finish in time, check out the test-taking tips and study aids on the SAT website or ask your school counselor or a teacher for help.

 

Last-Minute Tips

Taking the following steps will help you arrive on time and stay alert during the test.

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Get a good night's sleep before the exam. Set out your admission ticket, identification, acceptable calculator, No. 2 pencils and erasers before going to bed. Set your alarm so you wake early enough to have time for a good breakfast

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Know where your test center is located. Print out and review directions in advance. Arrive at the test center early. Leave extra time to get there in case you run into delays.

 

Bring a snack. Bring something handy to eat during breaks so you can stay focused and sharp.

 

Be confident. If you’ve been working hard in your classes and practicing for the test, you have what it takes!

Test Preparation

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