1) Make a 4 -Year tentative Classes Plan & Maintain Your Grades

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 by asking your teachers and counselor.

2) Start Thinking (not stressing!) about life after HS

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.

3) Start Extracurricular Involvement

Discover which activities and clubs most interest you. Don't be afraid to try something new! Even in this virtual world :).

Try looking within your community, like at a local charity or a public library for a project or initiative to get involved in. However, be mindful of the extra time commitment involved in being a leader. You don’t want to take too much time away from your studies.

4) Start Developing Relationships with Your Teachers and Counselors

One important aspect of your college application is securing recommendation letters. Sometimes, teachers barely remember students who ask them to write a recommendation letter, resulting in a generic letter that will not impress colleges. You need to maintain a good relationship with those teachers that you will want to write you a letter of recommendation throughout high school. It’s also a good idea to get to know your guidance counselor now and meet with them routinely. Then they will have years of interaction with you to reflect upon when writing your recommendation letter!

5) Explore summer opportunities. Look for a job, internship, or volunteer position that will help you learn about a field of interest

6) 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.

1) Meet with your high school counselor — again. Be sure to meet with your school counselor to ensure that your course schedule is challenging enough to prepare you for college.

2) Take the PSAT/NMSQT® or PSAT™ 10. Depending on the state of COVID - we may offer the PSAT/NMSQT in October (CANCELLED) or the PSAT 10 in February or March. It provides valuable feedback on your college readiness and a free, personalized plan to help you start getting ready for the SAT — and for college.

3) Are you interested in attending a U.S. military academy? If so, you should request a precandidate questionnaire.

4) Along with your family, do some research about how to obtain financial aid. Many students use financial aid to cover college costs. Find out what financial aid is, where it comes from, and how you can apply for it. Read the U.S. Department of Education’s Funding Your Education (about federal aid programs). Attend the CCFP's 10th Grade Financial Aid Awareness Sessions!

5) Attend college and career fairs (virtually and/or in person). The fairs often take place online during COVID. Check our CCFP Cal for listings.

6) Participate in school activities or volunteer efforts. Extracurricular activities can help you develop time management skills and enrich your high school experience.

7) Talk to your counselor and the CCFP Counselors Lenni and/or Jaime about your plans for life after high school. We can help you plan your schedule, search for colleges, and navigate the financial aid process. The more your counselor knows about you, the more we can help you along the way.

8) Tour college campuses (virutally or in person) . If possible, take advantage of vacation or other family travel time to visit colleges and see what they’re like. Even if you have no interest in attending the college you are visiting, it will help you learn what to look for in a college. There are also MANY schools in the tri state area that you can visit via public transportation!