Postsecondary Planning for Life After High School

Grade 9

• Meet with your counselor to review graduation requirements and discuss your career plan (college, career training, apprenticeship, employment, military, or gap year).

• Complete a 4-year academic plan aligned with your career plan. Focus on required courses as well as CTE, Honors, AP, IB, and/or Dual Enrollment. Don’t forget about electives!

• Join clubs, sports, or other extracurricular activities that interest you.

• Get involved in community service or volunteer work.

• Build study, organization, and time-management habits. Monitor your grades and GPA.

• Explore careers. What careers match your interests? What kind of education/training do they require?

• Explore financial aid basics. What is the FAFSA? What are scholarships? How much are college or trade schools?

• If you are a student-athlete, register with the NCAA Eligibility Center and review the academic requirements.

Grade 10

• Maintain or increase academic rigor. Talk to your counselor when you meet in August or September.

• Take a career interest inventory. Research careers and required education/training.

• Keep expanding your extracurricular activities. Take on leadership roles, try new things, or ask a friend for some help.

• Attend college and career fairs; visit postsecondary institutions (colleges, trade schools, and apprenticeships).

• Begin preparing for standardized tests. We take the PSAT in October of your sophomore year. We take the ACT in February of your junior year.

• Explore summer opportunities, like internships, camps, volunteer, or work experience.

• Discuss financial planning, like savings, financial aid options, and what paying for college or training really costs.

• If you are a student-athlete, maintain your NCAA Certification Account or Profile Page.

Grade 11

• Make sure that your courses match your career plan. This is when you start locking things down and preparing for your next steps after high school.

• Begin preparing for standardized tests. We take the ACT in February/March of your junior year. If you want, you can take the PSAT again in October of your junior year to be considered for the National Merit Scholarship.

• Continue to refine your postsecondary career plan. Ask your counselor if you need any help.

• Try to visit college campuses (if applicable), or go to a career fair/job fair. 

• Create your FSA ID in the spring to prepare for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

• Update your resume with activities, volunteer work, and work experience. 

• Be kind by asking teachers and counselors early if you want them to write a letter of recommendation.

• Plan out your scholarship application strategy. Identify scholarship sources, begin writing essays, and track deadlines carefully.

• If considering military or ROTC/apprenticeship, learn the requirements and deadlines.

Grade 12

• Finalize your career plan and make sure you are on track. Finalize applications for college, career training programs, apprenticeship, employment, or military.

• Submit your FAFSA as close to October 1 as possible. Apply for any other financial aid, scholarships, or grants. Make sure you know the Nevada Promise Scholarship deadlines as well as your Millennium Scholarship eligibility.

• Ensure you are ready for graduation. 

• Be kind by asking teachers and counselors early if you want them to write a letter of recommendation.

• Retake the ACT if you want to improve your scores.

• Notify your school counselor of your final college decision and any scholarships you receive.