Welcome to high school! Now, let's start planning for college.
Seem too soon, you say? Believe it or not some of your peers have been planning this for years already and now it's time for you to get moving on it as well.
As a freshman there are several things to consider this year. Likely, your guidance counselor, teachers, and parents have already guided you to enroll in the most appropriate classes this year, but make sure you are taking classes at the level that match your ability and that your electives not only meet the high school graduation requirements but also ensure that you are exposed to a wide range of topics and ideas.
Now is also the time to talk to your guidance counselor about when and where PSATs and PreACTs are given. Print out a 4 year calendar and pencil in these dates so that you are prepared to take them as a sophomore.
Your final task as a 9th grader is to pick out a few extra-curricular activities to explore. Like to run? Try out for the track team? Enjoy painting? Look into the Art Club. Video games your thing? Perhaps there is a STEM Club to join. As you consider opportunities available keep in mind that finding activities that you truly enjoy and that push you to learn are more important then signing up for everything just to pad your resume.
Speaking of resumes, as a 10th grader you can start writing your resume. You need to keep track of your activities and accomplishments so that you have easy access to this information later on when you are applying to colleges. There are lots of great templates online to help you get started.
You'll also want to sign up to take the PSATs and PreACTs sometime this year - the sooner the better in case you don't score well and decide to hire a tutor or to create your own study program. There are lots of books, apps, and online programs to help you prep for both tests.
As a sophomore you'll also want to to start exploring colleges both online and in person. A good place to start is the yearly Best Colleges issue created by US News and World Report. I don't give much credence to their rankings but it's a great place to get ideas of colleges and universities that you might not have heard of before. This it the time to decide how you want to organize all of your research. Will you print information and create a binder to help guide your decision making? Will you use an online tool like LiveBinder or Pinterest or Google Docs? Whatever you choose, you should have some kind of spreadsheet where you keep basic notes on each school.
The summer between your 10th and 11th grade years you should begin visiting colleges, if you haven't already. Talk to your parents, your parents' friends, your teachers, your coaches - anyone who you can engage - about where they went to school. You might find that your best friend's dad went to the school you'd like to attend!
At the beginning of your junior year you'll want to schedule your SATs and ACTs. Get these dates on your calendar because they often conflict with other events and you'll need to prioritize your engagements.
This year you should continue visiting colleges and contacting admissions counselors. Start asking teachers for recommendation letters as they will be very busy and might not get to it if you procrastinate.
You are now probably old enough to work and getting a job is a good way to earn money while showing that you aren't afraid of hard work. This is a good time to start thinking about or even writing your college essays for applications.
As a senior in high school that organization system you created will come in handy. Now is the time to narrow down your school choices and to start applying. Get your essays written and request those recommendation letters if you haven't already. It's go time!
Along with your applications your parents will need to compete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if your family will need assistance paying for college. Other scholarship and grant opportunities are available and with some research and a visit to your guidance office you should be able to locate them. Apply for anything you think you qualify for.
Once you've started receiving acceptance and rejection letters it's decision time. Remember that many schools are now so selective that it's basically a lottery to get in; don't get too upset if you don't get into your top choice. Once you notify your new school of your decision (yay!) you can start thinking about paying for college, deciding where you are going to live, finding roommates - all of the fun things.
Of course, you are only a freshman now. As you ponder your future in college remember that it's most important to take challenging classes throughout your four years of high school, to get involved in activities you enjoy, to make friends, and to have fun. College will be here before you know it!
Other resources that might be helpful as you plan:
Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life
Where You Go is Not Who You Will Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania
NY Times College and University Admissions
Seem too soon, you say? Believe it or not some of your peers have been planning this for years already and now it's time for you to get moving on it as well.
As a freshman there are several things to consider this year. Likely, your guidance counselor, teachers, and parents have already guided you to enroll in the most appropriate classes this year, but make sure you are taking classes at the level that match your ability and that your electives not only meet the high school graduation requirements but also ensure that you are exposed to a wide range of topics and ideas.
Now is also the time to talk to your guidance counselor about when and where PSATs and PreACTs are given. Print out a 4 year calendar and pencil in these dates so that you are prepared to take them as a sophomore.
Your final task as a 9th grader is to pick out a few extra-curricular activities to explore. Like to run? Try out for the track team? Enjoy painting? Look into the Art Club. Video games your thing? Perhaps there is a STEM Club to join. As you consider opportunities available keep in mind that finding activities that you truly enjoy and that push you to learn are more important then signing up for everything just to pad your resume.
Speaking of resumes, as a 10th grader you can start writing your resume. You need to keep track of your activities and accomplishments so that you have easy access to this information later on when you are applying to colleges. There are lots of great templates online to help you get started.
You'll also want to sign up to take the PSATs and PreACTs sometime this year - the sooner the better in case you don't score well and decide to hire a tutor or to create your own study program. There are lots of books, apps, and online programs to help you prep for both tests.
As a sophomore you'll also want to to start exploring colleges both online and in person. A good place to start is the yearly Best Colleges issue created by US News and World Report. I don't give much credence to their rankings but it's a great place to get ideas of colleges and universities that you might not have heard of before. This it the time to decide how you want to organize all of your research. Will you print information and create a binder to help guide your decision making? Will you use an online tool like LiveBinder or Pinterest or Google Docs? Whatever you choose, you should have some kind of spreadsheet where you keep basic notes on each school.
The summer between your 10th and 11th grade years you should begin visiting colleges, if you haven't already. Talk to your parents, your parents' friends, your teachers, your coaches - anyone who you can engage - about where they went to school. You might find that your best friend's dad went to the school you'd like to attend!
At the beginning of your junior year you'll want to schedule your SATs and ACTs. Get these dates on your calendar because they often conflict with other events and you'll need to prioritize your engagements.
This year you should continue visiting colleges and contacting admissions counselors. Start asking teachers for recommendation letters as they will be very busy and might not get to it if you procrastinate.
You are now probably old enough to work and getting a job is a good way to earn money while showing that you aren't afraid of hard work. This is a good time to start thinking about or even writing your college essays for applications.
As a senior in high school that organization system you created will come in handy. Now is the time to narrow down your school choices and to start applying. Get your essays written and request those recommendation letters if you haven't already. It's go time!
Along with your applications your parents will need to compete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if your family will need assistance paying for college. Other scholarship and grant opportunities are available and with some research and a visit to your guidance office you should be able to locate them. Apply for anything you think you qualify for.
Once you've started receiving acceptance and rejection letters it's decision time. Remember that many schools are now so selective that it's basically a lottery to get in; don't get too upset if you don't get into your top choice. Once you notify your new school of your decision (yay!) you can start thinking about paying for college, deciding where you are going to live, finding roommates - all of the fun things.
Of course, you are only a freshman now. As you ponder your future in college remember that it's most important to take challenging classes throughout your four years of high school, to get involved in activities you enjoy, to make friends, and to have fun. College will be here before you know it!
Other resources that might be helpful as you plan:
Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life
Where You Go is Not Who You Will Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania
NY Times College and University Admissions
How to Get Into America's Top Colleges
I like your advice about starting a resume in 10th grade. High school students are involved in so many great activities, a resume is a really good way to keep track if everything. A lot of those activities are going to be very appealing to future employers, even if it's just for a summer job for now.
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