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9th Grade Preparation
9th Grade Preparation
Planning for college starts now! It may seem early, but transitioning from high school into college can be challenging, especially for first-generation college students, who are the first in their families to attend college.
The timeline below breaks down college and career planning strategies that your student can get a start on at the beginning of their ninth-grade year.
Remember: Each student, including yours, is different and will respond to the outlined timeline and strategies differently. That's fine! The idea is to pursue the strategies and familiarize the student with career and college planning, and to provide access to as many Cabrillo High School resources, such as the College and Career Center and Guidance Counseling, as possible.
You can always contact us for additional support or to provide feedback and ideas!
9th GRADE TIMELINE
August
Start the conversation with your student. Ask them about their goals, ideas, and why they want to pursue those goals. Get to know their aspirations and maybe even exchange ideas on different career paths.
This first step is a general conversation for the parent(s) and student. Explore together!
September
Emphasize the importance of connecting with the College and Career Center and guidance counselor. By building a early relationship with these school departments, your student will feel comfortable exploring more complex issues that may arise throughout high school.
October
You discussed goals. You connected your student to school resources. Now is the time to discuss planning. Ask you student how they want to pursue their goals. Is college required? If so, which degree level is required? Encourage your student to explore pathways using high school resources.
November
Around this time, you student will have received their first rating period grades. How are they doing? If they are struggling, discuss the importance of getting additional help and relate it to their goals. Ex. "You want to become a nurse, which is great! Perhaps getting at B or better in biology would help you achieve that goal? Did you ask your teacher for more help?"
December
Encourage your student search for volunteer opportunities that relate to their career goal. Exploring the industry or field now will give you student a sense of what the day-to-day is like within their desired field.
Connect with the College and Career Center. We may have already partnered with companies or organizations that are within your student's field. We may be able to help place your student at a volunteer opportunity.
January
It's the middle of your student's first year in high school and it's a good time to check in on your student's grades. Keep an eye on your child’s study habits—stay involved.
Contact the school or review the parent portal to get a sense of how your student is doing. If you notice anything dropping, be sure to intervene. High school can be tough, but improvement is possible.
February
Has your student started their volunteer opportunity, yet? If not, you may want to get on top of this. Explain to your student that it is crucial to gain real-world experience in their desired field.
The goal here is to avoid planning for, spending on, and attending college, only to find out the student does not like working in that field. Getting volunteer experience early on could help your student make very important and well-informed decisions on their future.
March
Now is a good time to explore standardized testing. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges and universities have waived their SAT or ACT testing requirements up to Fall 2024. If your student's college does not require testing, but you test and score well anyway, your student could stand out as a candidate and enhancing their application.
Explore the SAT and the ACT by clicking here. Connect with your guidance counselor or the CCC to explore study strategies and opportunities.
April
Keeping up with their studies, volunteering, exploring testing, identifying career opportunities and pathways--your student may be pretty busy by now. It's a perfect time to explore time management strategies.
When was the last time your student checked in with the CCC and their guidance counselor? There could be some upcoming events or available resources so stopping by could only help!
Has your student picked their 10th-grade classes yet? If not, send them to see their guidance counselor.
May
Does your student have a summer job? If not, the CCC can help. As long as your student is 14 years old or older, the CCC can provide a work permit and help your student find work. No matter the type of work, instilling a strong work ethic starts now!
Building on time management strategies, having a job places a firm barrier between socializing and professional development. Timely arrival, managing responsibilities, and engaging with diverse members of our community are all skills that your student will learn in their first job.
June
It's time for final exams. Emphasize the importance of studying for these exams. Encourage your student to connect with their teachers for additional support. A final exam grade can be weighted as heavily as an entire rating period. This means that a bad score on a final exam or final project can really impact your student's GPA-- a number that college recruiters and scholarships consider before making a decision.
July
It is summer and your student should use this time to work, relax, and to continue to brainstorm majors and career paths.
Look ahead at the timeline for 10th grade. It may be best to incorporate your student's time management skills, sit down with them and help plan an effective way to navigate the challenges and responsibilities that will come up during the 10th grade year.
Three years from this moment your student will be a high school graduate transitioning into a career, college, or both. That's a huge step!
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