Grades are critical. This is the last year to get grades where they need to be for GPA and rank required to apply to college in the fall. This year's academic record will go a long way toward either helping or hurting your chances of gaining admission to your schools of choice. You can make up ground if you've been slacking and you can keep up the hard work you've already exhibited.
Take the PSAT in October (this one is to qualify for National Merit Scholarship Competition). It can be very important
Attend an ACT/SAT preparation workshop (if you can't, you should purchase practice books, software, etc. to help you prepare)
Work on ACT/SAT preparation in your College Transition course.
Complete the Texas College Bridge program in preparation of the TSI in your College Transition course..
Take the TSI until you pass all three sections, reading, writing and math. This is required to attend any public Texas college. Study first! Go to www.accuplacer.org and study for each subject prior to taking that test. Questions and answers are there. Essay samples are also there. Students are much more successful if they study first. AHS offers the retest after school and Friday mornings in the AHS library.
Take the ACT and/or SAT possibly in the fall for exposure and definitely during the spring semester. That way you'll have at least one score going into your senior year. This is required for university admission as well as for NCAA participation. This also puts you on schools’ mailing lists and gives significant information to the schools you are considering. If you are on free or reduced lunch, you make take each of these tests twice free of charge.
Research possible colleges and request or download information from them.
Visit college campuses (campus tour, visit with advisors/faculty, pick up admission packet). AHS offers 2 College Visit days your junior year and your senior year without counting you absent. Get the form a week ahead from the AHS attendance clerk, get the principal's approval, and bring back the required documents.
Take solid elective courses (extra math, science, foreign language, social sciences, computers, etc.).
Talk to friends and family to gather ideas on colleges.
Run for leadership positions in the organizations you are involved in. Colleges look for the "well-rounded" student.
Use websites suggested in the AHS Beyond the Buzz newsletter to help you find colleges you should consider but might not have thought of on your own (based on major, scholarships, location, etc.)
Get to know the admission criteria for your top schools. Know where you stand in relation to those requirements and work toward changing what you can (if you fall short). You might need to retake the ACT or SAT to meet admission and/or merit scholarship requirements.
Narrow your college search to 3-5 by the fall of your senior year.
Get involved in extracurricular activities.
Volunteer in your community. Keep a record of dates, total time spent, service, and supervisor for your admission and scholarship resume.
Explore careers and job opportunities in those careers. Career exploration websites are found in the AHS Beyond the Buzz newsletter.
Study hard and do well in school – Remember, your grades will count toward college and will show up on your permanent record.
Start to attend events on college campuses (plays, concerts, sporting events, activities related to your major, etc.) Let the East Texas representative from that college know you are coming and visit with them or the admissions office if possible. This often is a factor when choosing students for admission.
Listen carefully to your school counselor's advice and guidance.
Realize that you can do it and go out and do it!
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Copyright 2007 Lance A. Millis
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