Student Timelines
For a grade-by-grade checklist, visit Keys to Success at ktsutah.org
Here are some helpful to-do lists and college planning guidelines for parents and students for each year of middle school and high school:
6th grade
• Make sure you know your learning style - do you learn better by seeing, hearing, or doing?
• Develop good study habits based on your learning style.
• Be sure to attend school regularly, take it seriously, and get good grades.
• Do your homework - homework is practice, and this is how you improve.
• Keep talking to your parents about what you are doing in school each day
Click here for a great article on preparing for college in the middle school years.
7th grade
Participate in school activities such as music or sports.
• Be active in clubs if you have the opportunity.
• Keep doing your homework!
• Begin looking at career options that interest you.
• Explore careers on Utah Futures
• Talk with your parents about career possibilities. You might even be able to "job shadow" by following them to work some day to see first hand what they do in their career.
8th grade
Continue to develop very good study habits and organizational skills!
• Keep doing your homework - homework is practice, and practice makes perfect!
• Keep working hard to get good grades. It is important that you do well in ALL of your subjects, not just your favorites, so you get off to a good start in high school.
• Prepare to take EXPLORE! An assessment offered by your school that does not count against you but is used as a guidance tool to prepare you for high school. This test is taken the beginning of your 9th grade year.
• Review the College Admissions/Financial Aid Timeline.
• Begin thinking about your education beyond high school -Which type of college will you choose: 2 year, 4 year or Career School. Are you considering the military? You have many options, and now is the time to begin exploring them.
• Familiarize yourself with Utah High School graduation requirements
• Meet with your school counselor to discuss your ninth grade courses, the importance that colleges and universities place on grades and at what year in school grades will start to be considered in the admissions process. Also discuss college preparatory, EdNet and other honors-level courses you should be taking in high school (11th through 12th grade).
• Ask your teachers, counselor and parents about academic enrichment programs (including summer and weekend programs) that are available.
• Think about pursuing extracurricular activities (such as sports, performing arts, volunteer work, or other activities that interest you).
• Create your 4 year educational plan with Mrs. Chamberlain in your Career and College Plan lessons in class and with your parents.
• Talk with your parents about how your high school courses, your future educational plans, and your career plans all fit together.
• Use a college calculator to learn about financial aid opportunities that can help pay for your college education. Talk to your parents about what you have learned here.
• Improve your knowledge about money in general and learn about financial aid opportunities.