Select a rigorous class schedule while also exploring areas that interest you. Stay focused on your schoolwork.
Meet with your academic counselor to check in on progress you are making on your 4 year plan and graduation requirements. Finalize a plan for what you would like to do after high school, meet with your counselor if needed to discuss.
Select a rigorous class schedule while also exploring areas that interest you.
Meet with your academic counselor to check in on progress you are making on your 4 year plan and graduation requirements. Finalize a plan for what you would like to do after high school, meet with your counselor if needed to discuss.
Participate in extracurricular activities and volunteer in your community. Demonstrate initiative, creativity, commitment, and leadership in each.
Participate in extracurricular activities and volunteer in your community. Demonstrate initiative, creativity, commitment, and leadership in each.
Continue to update your high school brag sheet/resume with your accomplishments, activities, shadowing, volunteering, and work experiences. Update your e-portfolio if you have one. Prepare a portfolio if you're interested in the arts.
Continue to update your high school brag sheet/resume with your accomplishments, activities, shadowing, volunteering, and work experiences. Update your e-portfolio if you have one. Prepare a portfolio if you're interested in the arts.
Visit the campuses of schools you are interested in. Sign-up for campus tours, or visit school websites and take virtual tours. Follow colleges on Social Media that you are interested in.
As you narrow down your career search, think about conducting informational interviews and in-person/ virtual job shadowing. Attend industry related field trips if available.
Attend college visits offered through the Career Center. Attend college and career fairs at your school and in your community, and on-line (virtual). The Tri-Valley College and Career Fair is in October.
If you are interested in transferring to a four year college from a community college, attend presentations for your community college which highlight programs, financial aid, and transfer opportunities.
Attend college visits offered through the Career Center. Attend college and career fairs at your school and in your community, and on-line (virtual). The Tri-Valley College and Career Fair is in October.
Attend presentations for your community college which highlight programs, financial aid, and transfer opportunities.
Continue to explore and update your Interest Profile. You should have saved a profile on California Career Zone, BigFuture or another site and have a list of majors or careers you may be interested in pursuing.
Continue to explore and update your Interest Profile. You should have saved a profile on California Career Zone, BigFuture or another site and have a list of majors or careers you may be interested in pursuing.
Sign-up to take the PSAT in October. Ask your counselor for specific dates the test will be conducted at your school. Not only is it a good precursor to the SAT, your PSAT scores may qualify you for a National Merit Scholarship.
Start to think about teachers, counselors and others who can comment on your abilities and talents that you may want to ask for recommendations for college applications.
Start to think about teachers, counselors and others who can comment on your abilities and talents that you may want to ask for referrals for jobs applications, and scholarships.
Attend the Tri-Valley College and Career Fair in October.
Attend the Tri-Valley College and Career Fair in October.
Take a Mock SAT/ACT if you haven’t already so you know areas where you need to improve.
Attend your school’s Financial Aid Workshop to find out what financial aid will be available to you. Review your family budget to see what colleges will be financially available to you.
Attend your school’s Financial Aid Workshop to find out what financial aid will be available to you. Review savings you have for the potential cost of post-secondary education or training. Review your family budget to see what financial opportunities may be available to you.
If you plan to play college level sports, check in with your counselor to make sure you are taking the correct classes to qualify.
Register to take the ACT and/or SAT, as well as an AP Exams in the Spring.
Submit course selections for Senior year - maintain rigor & balance. Register for classes that interest you and help you explore your intended career path/ college major. Consider Career Technical Education and ROP classes that can earn both high school and college credit, and can provide career exploration opportunities.
Submit course selections for Senior year - maintain rigor & balance. Register for classes that interest you and help you explore your intended career path/ college major. Consider Career Technical Education and ROP classes that can earn both high school and college credit, and can provide career exploration opportunities.
If you plan to apply to four-year colleges, put together a large list of prospective college choices (10-20). Consider career and potential college majors when creating your college list.
Also consider finances as you make your list. Find out a college’s actual cost. Use the Net Price Calculator to discover the potential for financial aid and the true out-of-pocket cost - or net price - for each college.
If interested in apprenticeships, investigate local organizations and meet with representatives regarding application procedures and requirements.
If interested in the military, meet with a recruiter.
Explore summer opportunities.
Look for a job, internship, enrichment or volunteer position that will help you learn about a field of interest.
Find a job/ career-shadowing experience.
Consider taking a concurrent enrollment class at a community college.
Explore summer opportunities.
Look for a job, internship, enrichment or volunteer position that will help you learn about a field of interest.
Find a job/ career-shadowing experience.
Consider taking a concurrent enrollment class at a community college.
Take any SAT/ACT and AP Exams you have scheduled.
Explore common interview questions and responses. Ask your counselor, College and Career Specialist, or other adult to conduct a mock interview with you so you can practice your skills and get feedback. This will help prepare you for college or job interviews.
Students planning to play college level sports need to register through NCAA in March.
Reflect on what skills have you acquired through your jobs and other activities. Take the Skills Profiler assessment at California Career Zone. The Skills Profiler can help you explore occupations that require your skillset. It is good to take stock of your skills as you get closer to applying for post-secondary institutions.
Reflect on what skills have you acquired through your jobs and other activities. Take the Skills Profiler assessment at California Career Zone. The Skills Profiler can help you explore occupations that require your skillset. It is good to take stock of your skills as you get closer to applying for post-secondary institutions.
If you are planning on attending a Military Academy, write to your Congressional Representatives for an application.
Make your recommendation requests for teachers and school officials so you are prepared to send when school starts.
Take ACT/SAT exams as needed.
Familiarize yourself with the financial aid process so you are ready to complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application as soon as it opens in October.
Finalize your college list (~5-8). Make a table of the schools to which you will apply. In the table include: type of application you are using (Common App, Coalition App, or school specific app) required application components (standardized testing, recommendations). Be aware that deadlines can vary greatly among schools. Start to gather all of the necessary college application materials. Many applications are open by August 1st.
Begin to think about college essays/ personal statements/ personal insight questions. If you’re applying for early decision or early action, start writing these essays for that application during the summer. Early Action/Early Decision, most deadlines are Oct 15th, Nov 1st, or Nov 15th. You will want to be prepared.
Create a resume. Practice writing cover letters, recommendation request letters, and thank you notes. These skills will be invaluable as you enter the workplace and as you secure recommenders/ references for college, scholarships, and jobs.
If you plan to take the SAT or ACT in late summer/ early Fall, be sure to register for your test date and prepare for the exam(s).
Spend your summer productively - work part-time, intern, volunteer, take a college class, and/ or participate in an enrichment program. Update your high school brag sheet/ resume.
Spend your summer productively - work part-time, intern, volunteer, take a college class, and/ or participate in an enrichment program. Update your high school brag sheet/ resume.