9th/10th Grade College Planning Timeline
Fall
Meet With Your School Guidance Counselor.
Determine what classes you should take to put yourself in a good position for college. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – your school guidance counselors are a great resource during the college planning process. Sophomores: Check your class rank and GPA.
Get Involved.
Extracurricular activities are an important and fun part of high school. Look for sports, groups and clubs that match your interests and join!
Explore Career Interests.
There are several questionnaires and tests that have been developed in order to help you figure out not only which careers you might be good at, but also which you might enjoy most. Usually these tests work by measuring your abilities in a variety of academic areas in addition to asking you questions about your interests.
One of the more popular and thoroughly tested versions of these tests is the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). The ASVAB was originally developed to encourage students to increase awareness of their skills and interests and to understand how those skills and interests could translate into military and civilian occupations. However, the current version of the ASVAB is designed to assist all students, whether they’re planning on getting a job right out of high school, joining the Military or going to a university, community college or vocational school.
The ASVAB provides you with scores in several different areas that are specifically designed to help you narrow your search for careers (or majors). The results will be provided to you on a summary sheet that not only lets you know how you scored, but also how you compare to other people who took the test. The summary sheet explains each of the scores, what they mean and gives you suggestions on how to proceed.
The ASVAB is only one of many options available in terms of testing, but – besides being well established and thoroughly tested – the ASVAB is free, which makes it worth looking into. Ask your guidance counselor if the ASVAB is offered at your school.
Winter
Focus On Getting Good Grades.
It’s not too early to work hard and develop good study habits. Your freshman and sophomore grades count toward college admission and scholarships.
Start Thinking About Financial Aid.
Have a discussion with your parents or guardian about what they think they can and can’t afford. And if your school offers it, attend financial-aid night together. Such seminars can offer insight on ways to save and information on what is required to apply for college financial aid. If your school doesn’t offer this course, look into local community colleges or adult education classes.
Spring
Sophomores: Take a Practice PSAT.
While sophomore PSAT scores aren’t used for college admission, taking the test early can be a good trial run. It also gets your name on college mailing lists so you can receive information on a wide range of schools.
Track Your Accomplishments.
Keep track of academic and athletic awards, extracurricular accomplishments and community service. Your list will come in handy later as you try to remember everything you’ve done when filling out applications for colleges, loans, grants and scholarships.
Learn About Colleges.
It’s never too early to start researching schools. Get familiar with different college options by searching online. If you have older siblings or friends who are already in college, see if you can visit them at their school.
Summer
Put Thought Into Your Summer Work.
While financial pressure often dictates your summer employment, start thinking about how your summer work may look on a college application. Seek out work, volunteer or internship opportunities that highlight interests, demonstrate your civic duty or display your willingness to learn. These are all traits that your college admissions officer will be looking for.
Keep Learning All Summer.
Summer classes are a great way to explore interests. Check with your guidance counselor to see what’s available in your area. Check into the community college and local adult education classes to explore your interests as well. For a less structured way to learn, try reading more. Ask a teacher or librarian for book recommendations, and consider replacing that magazine in your beach bag with one of the classics.
Chat With College Students Home For the Summer.
Get their take on college, especially if they attend a school you’re considering. It’s always good to get students’ perspectives. Ask questions you don’t find in the pamphlets like "What is dorm room living really like?" and "How’s the food?"