APRIL

Here is a list of things that you can do RIGHT NOW, at your appropriate grade level, to prepare for college! It's a big, complex question, but I hope that the resources listed below are helpful to you. You can also "look ahead" -- what might you be doing this time next year?

Grade 9 + 10

Build an awesome summer reading list:- Start with picks from this recommended list for excellent teen reads. And consider asking your teachers what their favorite reads were in high school. READING is an excellent and important way to keep yourself sharp!
100 Brave/Interesting Questions + NYT Writing Prompts for Students: If you haven’t already, start keeping a journal and use some of these questions as inspiration.

Grade 11

While we're doing some targeted work in our weekly class, you'll want to make sure that you are doing some important college research on your own! You're in the driver's seat!

Values Exercise (video): Spend some time thinking about your core values by working through this simple exercise. Your answers may help drive how you spend your summer ahead.
How to research colleges without visiting a campus: Learning more about colleges is an exciting and time-intensive process. Make sure to expand your search beyond your local public universities—and use your values as a guide.
Colleges That Change Lives: As you build your college list, consider this set of 44 schools that focus on providing a personalized, student-centered experience. Listen to this podcast, and check out upcoming events.
Explore colleges with 800+ lists: Use this fun online, searchable database from CollegeXpress, which covers everything from academic environments to school spirit.
Think about financial fit: Experiment with the Net Price Calculator to get a rough estimate of what you might likely have to pay for college.

Grade 12

Continue applying for scholarships. Check in with your counselor to see whether there are any local scholarships you might have missed.
Appealing financial aid: Read up on what to do if your financial aid offer doesn’t line up with your budget. And make sure to listen to this podcast before writing an appeal letter.
Making your final college choice: It’s decision time. You need to enroll and submit a deposit by May 1st (or a few days after, depending on the school).