Start planning for college by working hard and doing well in your classes, getting involved, and building your résumé.  Colleges look at 9th and 10th grade just as much as any other year.  Your official upper school GPA starts in your freshman year.

Visit www.bigfuture.org, the College Board’s new college-planning site, to help you get started and make a plan for college.

The PSAT will be given in October  to all Freshman and Sophomores.  When PSAT scores are sent home in December, use the score report to improve your skills.  Open an account with College Board using the access code on your PSAT score report.  Get a personalized study plan for the SAT, explanations for questions you answered incorrectly, and free practice tests online.

Research colleges online with your College Board account, or you can do virtual tours of colleges that interest you.  Visit the Guidance Office to learn the specific admissions requirements (required high school courses, grade point averages, SAT scores, etc.) for colleges that interest you.

Visit different types of colleges (large universities, small liberal arts colleges, etc.)  to get an idea of where you might like to attend.  Most people do not think of visiting colleges in 9th and 10th grade, but it is not too early to start.

Learn about the University of Delaware’s Commitment to Delawareans.  Details are available in the Guidance Office and on UD’s website.

Familiarize yourself with the resources and services in the Guidance Office.  This fall, all 9th grade students received information about their transcript, grade point average, extra curricular activities, service hour requirements, etc.  Tenth grade students will take a College and Career Exploration mini-course at the end of their Driver’s Ed course in the fall or spring.