Make Sure You are Following These Steps Each Year
Find your Grade Level and start working!
9th Grade - Freshman Year
9th Grade - Freshman Year
- Meet your counselor.
- Review requirements for graduation and college entrance requirements on the high school website.
- Make a four year plan and make any needed adjustments.
- Talk with teachers and community members about career interests.
- Participate in extracurricular such as clubs and sports.
- Start a list of all jobs, volunteering services, club activities and create a resume.
- Remember that class rank and grade point average is calculated beginning in ninth grade.
- Realize that weighted courses are good for college preparation and for increasing your grade point average.
- Create a College Foundation account. www.cfnc.org. Write down your username and password!
10th Grade - Sophomore Year
10th Grade - Sophomore Year
- Schedule an appointment with your counselor to discuss credits earned/needed and future goals.
- Continue to talk with teachers and community members about career interests.
- Participate in extracurricular activities, especially those related to career interests.
- Check into internship opportunities, job shadowing and apprenticeship options.
- Consider visiting college campuses and gather information on Career and College Promise options at MTCC
- Plan ahead for taking Career and College Promise program by taking the placement test when offered at MHS in the Fall or Spring.
- Take the Pre-ACT - offered at no charge to all Sophomores at MHS
- Take PSAT in October for National Merit consideration and use the score report to study for the SAT
- Update account at www.cfnc.org – add any information about award and honors along with extracurricular activities.
11th Grade - Junior Year
11th Grade - Junior Year
- Meet with your counselor to review graduation progress.
- Continue to pursue career interests.
- Continue participation in extracurricular activities and leadership positions.
- Apply for courses at McDowell Technical Community College during registration period at MHS
- Prepare for and practice interviewing skills.
- Keeping adding to your resume.
- Take community college placement test (if not already taken).
- Take PSAT in October for National Merit consideration and use the score report to study for the SAT
- Take the ACT in March – offered at no charge to all Juniors at MHS
- Take the SAT/ACT at least once during the year. MHS will offer in October, November, and May.
- Check college websites for specific requirements and deadlines for submitting applications.
- Update account at www.cfnc.org
- Visit college campuses – you are allowed 1 absence during your junior year to visit colleges. You must make an appointment with the admissions office and bring back a note from them to excuse the absence.
- Organize a notebook on post-high school opportunities. Explore CFNC.org – you can take virtual tours of college campuses and complete career inventories.
- Attend parent/student college fairs and financial aid workshops.
- Search for summer enrichment opportunities that will allow you to explore your interests, improve your academic skills, and ultimately give you a competitive edge on your college applications. The counseling office has information on programs available in our region.
- Get to know your counselors! You will be asking them for recommendations during your senior year!
12th Grade - Senior Year
12th Grade - Senior Year
- Meet with your counselor to review graduation progress.
- Continue to pursue career interests.
- Continue participation in extracurricular activities and leadership positions.
- Continue with and complete courses at MTCC.
- Take placement test (if needed).
- Visit college campuses
- Create/update resume and practice for job interviews.
- Check counseling website weekly for scholarship possibilities.
- Plan ahead for recommendation requests.
- College Application Week - TBD
- Complete the FAFSA in October
- FAFSA Day - at MHS in October
- Take the SAT - Aug 26th and Oct 7th
- Take the ACT - Oct 28th
- Complete college applications.
- Bring a copy of your acceptance letter and all scholarship money offered - to your counselor.
- Complete request for final transcript to be sent to your chosen college.
McDowell High School, 600 McDowell High Dr. Marion, NC 28752 (P) 828-652-7920 (F) 828-652-1101