Below is a list of guidelines for you to follow your sophomore year that will help you prepare for the future.
August:
Beware of scholarship search and financial aid service organizations that charge a fee. Check with your counselor or search for free at www.ICANsucceed.org.
Get involved! Find an activity at your school or in your community that you enjoy.
Stay organized by using a planner or electronic organizer.
September:
Attend college fairs in your area and meet with college representatives who visit your high school.
Keep your grades up. Colleges look at the grades
October:
Talk with your parents about your college and career goals and what it will take to attain them.
Find a mentor who can assist you through high school as well as the college search process, such as a counselor, teacher, parent, family member or family friend.
November:
Visit www.ICANsucceed.org for information on tuition and other fees at colleges and universities in Iowa.
Talk to family members, friends, teachers, counselors and coaches about their college experiences.
Keep a record of your extracurricular involvement in an activities portfolio-a concise summary of your achievements, talents and interests.
December:
College can be affordable! Through financial aid, most colleges help ensure your out-of-pocket costs are manageable.
Talk to your school counselor about college admission requirements so you're taking the right classes.
Education after high school doesn't have to include a four-year degree. There are certificate programs, two-year degrees and other programs.
January:
Become familiar with the types of financial aid available for college. Financial aid includes grants, scholarships, work-study and loans. Grants and scholarships don't have to be paid back. Work-study enables students to earn money by working part time on campus. Loans must be repaid.
What subjects do you like in school? Choices, the state's designated career-management system, can help you search for careers related to those subjects. Find a link to Choices, go to www.ICANsucceed.org.
February:
Begin thinking about college majors. Are there majors that match your skills and interests?
Saving money is the best way to prepare for the cost of a college education.
If you're an athlete hoping to play sports in college, it's important to plan ahead. Find out what the academic requirements are in order to participate at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
March:
Do you know someone who works in a job related to your career interest? Interview them to find out about the educational requirements and what they like most about their work.
Are you getting a summer job? If so, plan to save some of what you earn for college.
If your family is planning a summer vacation, try to visit a few college campuses along the way.
April:
Meet with your school counselor to make sure you're scheduling classes for your junior year that meet the college admission requirements.
Get a taste of a future career through job shadowing, volunteer work or a summer internship.
Participate in hobbies and activities that enable you to explore your career interests.
May:
Check with your school counselor to see if there are AP classes that will fit into your schedule. Challenging courses in high school can better prepare you for college.
Look for a summer job that's related to your interests. Be sure to save some of your summer earnings for college.
June:
Compare several careers. Consider the required education or training, tasks that have to be performed and starting salary, and the characteristics that appeal to you most.
Start a summer reading list. Try reading books that will increase your vocabulary.
Have a great summer!
July:
If you're working this summer, set aside your earnings for college.
Stay in touch with teachers, counselors, coaches and community members. You may need to ask them to write a letter of recommendation for your scholarship and/or college admission applications.