College

Middle School

• Read: Books, blogs, magazines, newspapers — reading is a great way to exercise your brain and expand your knowledge base. It also develops your vocabulary and comprehension skills.

• Develop your skills: The skills and study habits you’re learning today will prepare you for high school, college and life. Work hard in school and do the best you can on tests. If you’re having trouble, ask for help. There are counselors, teachers, tutors and mentors who can guide you down the right path.

• Get involved: From volunteering to athletics to acting to art — if you enjoy it, keep doing it. And don’t be afraid to try something new. These activities aren’t about building a better résumé. They’re about staying curious and discovering new interests.

• Ask questions: Talk to your teachers, your relatives, your family friends. Ask them where they went to college, what they liked about it, and how it guided their major choice and career. This will expose you to potential fields and majors worth exploring.

9th Grade

• Meet your school counselor: Don’t wait for them to approach you. Find them and tell them you want to go to college. They’ll work with you to outline a path and educate you on the steps you’ll need to take. If you don’t have a counselor, talk to your teachers, administrators, coaches or assistant principals to help you.

• Get involved in activities that interest you: Right now, you have more opportunities than you’ve probably ever had to explore your interests and try something new. Take time to find what you like doing. Then keep doing it.

• Select courses that challenge you: If you’re not feeling stimulated, ask your counselor or teachers about honors or advanced course options. Find out if they’re available, whether you’re eligible, and how to enroll.

• Talk to your parents about paying for college: It’s never too early to start saving for college or figuring out how to pay for it. There are countless resources available to make college more affordable. Now is a great time to understand what they are.

10th Grade

• Study skills: You’re not a stranger to class exams, pop quizzes, or standardized tests. Coursework is getting harder, though, and your teachers are testing you in different ways from middle school and 9th grade. You’re expected to keep up with weekly reading and study on your own. It’s up to you to take charge when you don’t understand something. Meet with your teacher when you need help and assemble peer study groups outside of the classroom. Your grades are important and your study habits will help you succeed.

• Time management skills: You’ve grown accustomed to adults and teachers telling you what to do and when to do it. But as a sophomore (and every year in the future), you’re responsible for managing your own workload and keeping track of test dates and deadlines. With this newfound independence, it’s easy to start procrastinating. Our advice? Make a daily and weekly to-do list to avoid night-before cramming and unnecessary stress. After all, college requires balancing your time. The better you are at time management now, the better prepared you’ll be in the future.

• Critical thinking skills: It’s important to choose courses that both interest and challenge you. You shouldn’t just choose courses that will help you get into college. If you think you’re ready to take on more rigorous coursework, talk to your school counselor or teachers about advanced options. This will ensure you stay on the right academic path.

• Comprehension skills: College entrance exams - like the ACT and SAT - have critical reading sections that will test your ability to retain and understand written English. What’s the best way to sharpen these skills? Read as much as you can. It’s the best way to expand your vocabulary and increase how quickly and accurately you absorb information. That will benefit you at testing time, guaranteed.

11th Grade

• Set goals for the year: Before you even begin your college search, your school counselor can make sure you’re on track to meet your academic obligations and connect you with resources and timelines. Be proactive! It’s up to you to schedule appointments and get help when you have questions.

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT: The PSAT is a standardized exam your high school administers in October. It will prepare you to take the SAT (a standardized entrance exam required by some colleges), but it also serves as a qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

• Compile your initial list of colleges: There are lots of colleges and universities out there and just as many ways to learn which ones might be a good fit for you. Start your search by attending college fairs and meeting with college admission representatives who visit your high school or community. Do your research, take notes, and meet with your school counselor to further shape your college list.

• Study, prepare, and register for standardized tests: Standardized tests - including the SAT, ACT and SAT subject tests - can help colleges assess how ready you are for college-level coursework. Talk with your counselor about what test preparation opportunities may be available, which tests you should take, and how to determine the testing requirements for the colleges you are considering.

• Plan your Senior year class schedule: Your academic record is an important piece of your college application, and admission officers want to see how you’ve challenged yourself. When it’s time to plan your senior year schedule, talk with your teachers and counselors about advanced options, such as Honors, AP, IB, or dual enrollment courses. Keep in mind, just because you can take every advanced class available doesn’t mean you should. It’s important to find the right balance between what will challenge you and where you’ll be successful.

• Create a CommonApp account: Now is a great time to start exploring the application so you know what questions you’ll be asked. You can create a Common App account at any time, and your account can rollover from year to year, using the same username and password. Your college list and any questions you answer on the ‘Common App’ tab will rollover next year - when you’re ready to apply - so you can begin answering questions in these seven sections: Profile, Family, Education, Testing, Activities, Writing, and Courses & Grades.

• Find your recommenders: Letters of recommendation help colleges get to know you better as a person and student. Don’t wait until senior year to secure your recommenders. Ask one or two teachers while you’re still in 11th grade if they are willing to write a letter of recommendation for your college and scholarship applications.

• Make meaningful Summer plans, but don't forget to relax: By the time summer rolls around, you’ll be ready for a vacation. Reward yourself by taking time to decompress, while also taking part in a meaningful activity or two. Volunteer in your community. Get a part-time job. Consider a summer camp in a sport or area of interest. These activities will do more than develop your character and strengthen your skills. They’ll also tell college admission officers you care about your future.

• Visit college campuses in person or virtually: The best way to get a sense of whether or not a college or university is right for you is to visit the campus. Attend an information session, take a campus tour, talk with students, and visit a class if possible. If you can’t make it to campus in person, take advantage of the virtual tours offered by many colleges and universities.

• Narrow down and discuss your list of colleges: Once you’ve had a chance to research, visit, and/or virtually tour colleges, you’ll have a better idea of what you’re looking for in a school. When you receive your junior year grades and any college entrance exam scores, you’ll know how your credentials stack up to a college’s acceptance ranges. Discuss your college choices with your parents and school counselor to ensure your list is reasonable and balanced.

12th Grade

• Make sure you're on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements: Meet with your school counselor at the beginning of the year so you can adjust your course schedule and register for additional standardized tests, if necessary. Continue to meet throughout your senior year to check in on your college application progress. Be proactive about these meetings. Don’t wait for your counselor to reach out to you.

• Finalize your college list: It’s time to complete your research and decide on the final list of schools you’ll be applying to. Work with your school counselor to ensure you have a list that excites you, meets your needs, and matches your academic credentials. If you have a first choice college, discuss the possibility of applying Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA). Just make sure that you’d be happy to attend each and every college on your list (not just your ED or EA choice).

• Register for standardized tests, if needed: Make sure you understand what the testing requirements are for each school on your list. Consult the official ACT and SAT websites for official exam dates and other registration information.

• Fill out and submit your college applications: Use your college applications to showcase your strengths and tell your personal story. To do this well will take time, effort, and careful attention to detail, so be mindful of deadlines and avoid waiting until the last minute.

• Submit all required supporting school forms: Touch base with your school counselor and teachers to make sure everything gets to each  college you apply to, including your official high school transcript and letters of recommendation.

• If you're applying for financial aid, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Your FAFSA should be done as soon as possible beginning October 1. Some colleges will also ask you to complete the CSS Profile. Consult the Financial Aid Resources tab in your Common App. Pay careful attention to specific financial aid deadlines and requirements for individual colleges so you don’t miss out on any money you are eligible for.

• Review your acceptances and make your decision: This is the most exciting part! Take time to review your admission offers and compare financial aid packages. Most colleges offer special admitted students programs designed to help you make your decision, so visit your top choice schools, if possible. Your parents and school counselor can also help you with this decision-making process -- When you have made your decision, you will need to notify the college you choose of your commitment and submit a financial deposit by May 1st. You cannot submit a deposit to more than one school. You will also need to notify the colleges that you do not plan to attend of your decision. This is an important step in helping to open up seats for other students who may be on a waitlist for those schools.

• Continue to work hard and maintain your grades: Even after you complete your applications and receive admission offers, your entire year of grades still counts. Some colleges require midyear grades to be sent, and the college you choose to attend will receive your final high school transcript at the end of the year. College acceptances are contingent upon successful completion of your coursework, and a noticeable slip in academic performance could alter your scholarship eligibility or offer of admission.

• Celebrate!: Congratulate yourself on making it to the finish line. You are on your way! You are ready for college, and college is ready for you. Don’t forget to thank your parents, counselors, teachers, and mentors for helping you reach this milestone. And remember - those same adults are there to cheer you on and offer support as you continue on your journey.

• CollegeVine: College exploration, college admissions "chancing" calculator, essay guides, etc.

• FairTest: Searchable database of test-optional schools