11th Grade
The Path to High School Graduation and Beyond
We want to make sure you know what you should be thinking about as you prepare for high school. The following is an action plan for you to follow. We will revisit this plan each year, but we want to give you a game plan so you can start your Junior year feeling informed and ready to start making the correct choices now!
Fall Semester
STUDY:
Work hard to get A’s and B’s in all courses. Do at least 1 – 2 hours of homework/study per night.
TAKE THE PSAT:
Register to take the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test). The PSAT is a practice exam for the SAT Reasoning test.
Take the PSAT test, given in October, at Santana High School. The PSAT test results will give you an idea of your academic strengths and the areas you need to improve in as you prepare for college admission.
RESEARCH COLLEGES AND CAREERS:
Attend the Future Fest College Career event in the fall (usually in October).
Do research on colleges. You can use the Internet to look at colleges, noting their majors, admission requirements, and deadlines.
Begin visiting colleges of interest. Call ahead to participate in a college tour or meet with the admissions office.
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS:
Continue to update your personal file of transcripts, accomplishments, awards, community service, etc.
Do community service, volunteer, and participate on sports teams and in clubs. Keep track of your hours. You may have to list hours of participation on your college or scholarship applications.
If you plan to take AP (Advanced Placement) exams, register to take them. The AP exams are given in the spring. Scoring well on AP exams may allow you to earn credit for college-level courses.
Make sure your counselor knows you are planning to go to college. Review your transcript with your counselor. Be familiar with the “A-G” college requirements.
APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS:
Check the scholarship link on the Santana website (http://sultans.guhsd.net à Guidance Center à Scholarships & Financial Aide). See the scholarship advisor with questions or for copies of applications. Use the Internet also to look for scholarships. Continue watching and applying for scholarships throughout your senior year. Do your community service—it plays a big role in qualifying for scholarships.
Spring Semester
TAKE THE SAT REASONING, ACT, AND SAT SUBJECT TESTS:
Sign up to take the SAT Prep workshop offered at Santana (typically offered in April).
Register to take your SAT Reasoning or ACT test and SAT Subject tests (if needed). NOTE: The UC’s require the SAT Reasoning or ACT test (plus the Writing component). The CSU’s require the SAT Reasoning or the ACT only. Some colleges may require the Subject tests.(check your college website). You typically have to register at least 1 month before each examination. You can register online at: www.collegeboard.com or www.actstudent.org.
Take your SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject tests. DO NOT POSTPONE TAKING YOUR SAT/ACT TESTS UNTIL YOUR SENIOR YEAR!! Most colleges require that all tests be done very early in the senior year. UC and CSU applications are due November 30th.
APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS:
Check the scholarship link on the Santana website (http://sultans.guhsd.net à Guidance Center à Scholarships & Financial Aide). See the scholarship advisor with questions or for copies of applications. Use the Internet also to look for scholarships. Continue watching and applying for scholarships throughout your senior year. Do your community service—it plays a big role in qualifying for scholarships.