Attend Career/College fairs. CHS will host a college fair in the fall. There are also trips to JCC to see their programs (contact is JaconnaBailey@johnston.k12.nc.us).
Sophomores: Register to take the PSAT if appropriate to your post secondary plans (contact is JeannieMaready@johnston.k12.nc.us) All Sophomores will take the PreACT in the fall.
Juniors: Register to take the SAT (www.collegeboard.org) or ACT (www.act.org) if appropriate to your post secondary plans. Do test preparation! All juniors take the ACT for free during the school day in the spring of their junior year.
Create a CFNC.org account if you don’t already have one. There are a ton of interest inventories, ways to research colleges, and information on scholarships and financial aid on this comprehensive website.
Refine your lists of possible schools; eliminate the ones that do not meet your criteria.
Visit those schools, many offer campus tours.
Register for relevant and challenging courses. (i.e., honors, advanced placement, CCP). Make sure you are taking courses required by the university you hope to apply (2 levels of a world language, advanced math beyond Math III, etc.).
Consider volunteer experiences in your area of interest. Not only will it help you discover if it's a path you want to take, but will also help you stand out in the application process!
Develop a resume and keep it updated. CFNC.org can keep track of all of these things for you.
Note all admissions application deadlines for your senior year.
Conduct scholarship research over the summer! You want to start applying for scholarships at the beginning of your senior year.
ATHLETES! If you intend to participate in college athletics at a Division I or II school, start your NCAA Clearinghouse application at the END of the Junior Year.