9th Grade

☐ Join an extracurricular activity (club/sport/community service/AP Class)

There are a ton of opportunities at East Side to get involved in clubs, sports, community service, and other extracurricular activities. Colleges will be excited to see that you are a dedicated and engaged student, but even more importantly getting involved gives you a chance to explore your interests and learn about yourself. 

☐ Aim for A's

When you apply to college, they will review your grades from every year of high school. Kick off your high school journey right by building good study habits, staying on top of your assignments, and asking for help when you need it. 

☐ Register for College Visits

It is never too early to to visit colleges. There are many schools located throughout New York City as well as New York State. You can either register for a campus tour through the schools website or taking a self guided your at select colleges.  

☐ Plan for the Summer

Two of the main things that students are interested in for their immediate future, getting into a good college (with the money to pay for it) and getting a job (during their teenage years and beyond), are much easier to obtain when a student has the experiences and a resume full of productive and fun things over the summer

10th Grade

☐ Take the PSAT

The Practice SAT Exam (PSAT) will give you chance to see what the SAT will be like. The results will let you know the areas where you're kicking butt and the areas where you might need some extra studying and support. Once you have your results, head on over to Khan Academy for free study materials. 

☐ College Trips

One of the great things about East Side is that you will have chances to tour colleges throughout your time in high school.  Visiting campuses is a great way to get a chance to see how a college feels and start to figure out what kind of environment you want to seek out. Take a few notes on the tours to help you remember the things that stand out to you. 

☐ Stay On Track

If you follow the same checklist from 9th grade, you will be setting yourself up for a strong base for when Junior year comes along. Keep involved, keep up grades, plan every step for the better.