9th Grade

• Create a four-year high school plan. Think about what

you’d like to accomplish in the next four years.

• Make sure you know which high school courses are

required by colleges, and that you’re taking the right

classes as early as the ninth grade. You can ask your

counselor about what those “right” classes are.

• Get to know the levels of courses offered by

your school.

• Start thinking about your life after school, including the

types of jobs that might interest you. Of course, these will

change — often — but it’s good to start thinking about

the possibilities.

• Identify your interests — likes and dislikes — not just in

classes but also in every area. This will help you focus

on your goals.

• Talk to other people, such as your school counselor,

teachers, recent college graduates who are working,

professionals in the community, etc., about careers you

might find interesting.

• Meet with your high school counselor. Your counselor

knows how to help you get the most out of high school. Be

sure to take some time during the school year to discuss

post-high-school plans with him or her.

• Participate in extracurricular activities. Academics aren’t

everything. Explore your interest in a sport, school club,

music or drama group, or community volunteer activity.

• Remember that colleges would rather see real

involvement in one activity instead of a loose

connection to several.

• If you’re interested in playing sports in college, research

the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

eligibility requirements. The NCAA requires completion

of certain core courses; you can find the specifics at

ncaaclearinghouse.net.

• Save for college. It’s not too late to put money aside for

college. Every little bit helps! Learning about financial aid

early on can also help you down the road.

• Explore summer opportunities. Look for a job, internship,

or volunteer position that will help you learn about a field

of interest.

• Get familiar with the PSAT-related assessments and

SAT® Most four-year colleges consider applicants’ scores

on college admission test. Download the free Daily Practice

for the New SAT app to get a feel for the kinds of questions

you might face on test day.