College Planning

There are many valuable resources to help you explore your college options! Some helpful resources are listed below. You will also find a "To Do List" for each year of high school. This list is not meant to be all inclusive, but rather a starting point.

I highly recommend that your student use Career Cruising or CFNC to track their awards, grades, community, and volunteer hours. This will save you a lot of time when applying to colleges and for scholarships!

9th Grade Year:

• Be mindful that beginning this year all courses count toward your GPA for college applications!
• Start planning early...better to be prepared!
• Start a college savings account
• Keep track of your courses and grades - Career Cruising and CFNC can help with this!
• Learn college entrance requirements
• Visit your guidance counselor and ask questions! Know how many units of required classes you need for colleges you are interested in.
• Work with your Career Development Coordinator to complete an interest inventory. Work with your CDC to learn about Career and Technical Education pathways and courses that can lead to certifications and credentials.
• Create a file for report cards, awards/honors, school/community activities, volunteer hours. There is a great tool in Career Cruising to help you keep track of all of this.

10th Grade Year:

• Take the ACT PLAN test & PSAT
• Start studying for the ACT/SAT
• Explore reasons you like different colleges such as programs offered, location, cost, size
• Take college tours
• Improve reading and study skills
• Get a summer job and volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! Those volunteer hours are so important when it comes to being selected for National Honor Society, colleges, and scholarships!

11th Grade Year:

• Your junior year grades are very important to colleges
• Challenge yourself academically - Take AP or IB classes! Colleges want you to take rigorous classes.
• Take the PSAT - Your scores on the PSAT taken your junior year are considered for the National Merit Scholarship Competition.
• Take the ACT/SAT
• Know admissions requirements for your schools of interest
• Begin researching scholarships http://careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch/ScholarshipCategory.asp?searchtype=category&nodeid=22

12th Grade Year:

• Be a standout in class! You will need to ask teachers for letters of recommendation so the more you participate and achieve in class, the better recommendation they will be able to give you.
• Be prepared for early decision or early action college applications. Approximately 450 schools offer ED or EA. Is your first choice one of them? Know the pros and cons of ED or EA!
• Make transcript requests early and follow up with your counselor
• Do not procrastinate on essays
• Give essays to others for proofreading
• Consult counselor about scholarships
• Know when financial aid applications are due at colleges you have applied to
• Complete the FAFSA beginning January 1. The longer you wait to complete the FAFSA, you run a chance of not receiving the amount of financial aid you need. The earlier you begin this process, the better!
• Make sure parents complete their income tax returns - The earlier they file, the earlier you can complete the FAFSA
• Determine when fees for tuition, room, and board are due and the amount they will cost
• Plan for student health insurance in case of emergencies

Resources to Explore