Take courses that challenge you. Pick courses that you are naturally interested in learning about.
Meet with your school counselor to discuss your educational and course options.
Explore course options and their prerequisites, such as: honors, Advanced Placement (AP) and Career and College Promise (CCP).
Create a free CFNC account to record your courses, activities, and more.
Explore career interests through a variety of online inventories. CFNC.org has a nice career exploration tool.
Research ways to save and pay for college. It's never too early!
Start building your resume. Get involved in school and/or outside of school. Definitely find productive summer opportunities when feasible.
Pursue extracurricular interests, such as dance, sports, clubs, or community service.
Review your goals for the future with your counselor.
Update your CFNC planner.
Start using the free SAT and ACT test prep at CFNC.org, ACT Academy and Khan Academy.
Take the PreACT for ACT practice.
Talk with family and friends about their educational choices, and start visualizing what your educational future may look like.
“Tour” colleges in person and/or online. You can tour college online through CFNC.org. Speak with college representatives who may visit the school. **Look under "College Planning Resources" for questions to ask colleges.
Review your academic plan with your counselor.
Get schedules for college entrance and placement tests.
Use the free SAT and ACT test prep through Khan Academy, ACT academy and/or at CFNC.org.
Take PSAT in October (you may qualify for National Merit Scholarships).
Take ACT in the spring semester (school will automatically register ALL 11th graders).
Check entrance requirements for colleges that interest you.
Attend college fairs and financial aid workshops.
Continue to visit colleges.
Research scholarships, grants, and loans. Use CFNC.org, search the schools that interest you, Ask your parents employer and use scholarships.com or fastweb.com
Talk with coaches about college sports and scholarship eligibility.
Athletes interested in college athletics, register for NCAA clearinghouse
Register and take SAT and/or AP tests for late spring semester.
Narrow down your list of colleges.
Find a summer job or internship in your field of interest.
Review courses, graduation requirements, and scholarship opportunities with your counselor.
Select three to five colleges—a dream school, a safety school, and others in between.
Track application and financial aid deadlines for colleges.
Take the first SAT or ACT offered this fall if you have not tested yet.
Write, edit, proofread, and rewrite your admissions essays early.
Ask teachers, counselors, or references to write letters of recommendation.
Attend college day and participate in College Application Week, if available.
Attend Financial Aid Night hosted by CFNC representative at your high school.
As soon as October 1st, parents are encouraged to complete the FAFSA.gov application for financial aid.
Complete the RDS application
Complete online college applications at CFNC.org, Common application or through your school of choice website before the deadlines.
If you completed your application through CFNC.org, use CFNC.org to send your official high school transcript to colleges.
Send in any other college applications.
Check with college financial aid offices for school-specific scholarship information and forms.
Student athletes request with Ms. Jackson to send your transcripts to NCAA Clearinghouse for eligibility certification.
Complete and submit FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov as soon as possible after October 1st.
For help with your FAFSA, sign up at CFNC.org for a February FAFSA Day near you.
If not accepted by your college of choice, use the College Redirection Module at CFNC.org to find new options.
Compare admission acceptance letters and financial aid packages.
Send in your enrollment deposit to hold your spot at the college you choose.
Apply for education loans, if needed.
Make sure your final high school transcript is sent to your college (goes automatically if CFNC.org sent earlier).
Send in any early college credit course transcripts (community college, middle college).
Take exams for any AP or college-level courses completed.
For community college admission, check with your local campus about placement testing requirements.