Tasks are arranged by grade level. However, within each grade, the tasks are not in a particular order
Middle School
- Enroll in honors or other advanced courses
- Take advanced mathematics courses such as algebra and geometry
- Begin learning a foreign language
- Focus on earning good grades
- Begin researching possible college majors and careers
- Explore your own interests
- Get involved in school-related or community activities
- Read books for pleasure to increase your vocabulary and reading comprehension
- Make your summers meaningful by participating in activities with an academic or extracurricular theme
9th Grade
- Enroll in honors or other advanced courses
- Continue to take advanced mathematics courses
- Continue taking a foreign language
- Focus on earning good grades
- Continue researching possible college majors and careers
- Explore areas of interests
- Get involved in school related and community activities
- Begin researching ways to pay for college, including scholarships and financial aid
- Meet with your school counselor to discuss your future plans
- Talk with your family about college
- Read books for pleasure to increase your vocabulary and reading comprehension
- Make your summers meaningful by participating in activities with an academic or extracurricular theme
10th Grade
- Enroll in honors or other advanced courses
- Continue to take advanced mathematics courses
- Continue taking a foreign language
- Focus on earning good grades
- Continue researching possible college majors and careers
- Explore potential interests
- Get involved in school related and community activities
- Begin researching ways to pay for college, including scholarships and financial aid
- Meet with your school counselor to discuss your future plans
- Talk with your family about college
- Read books for pleasure to increase your vocabulary and reading comprehension
- Explore the websites for colleges you may be interested in attending
- Take the PSAT to prepare for the SAT
- Practice SAT and ACT questions (there are some free resources online)
- Make your summer is meaningful by attending an academic summer enrichment program
11th Grade
- Meet with your school counselor to discuss your future plans and to review your academic record
- Take AP, honors or other advanced courses whenever possible
- Continue to take advanced mathematics courses
- Continue taking a foreign language
- Focus on earning good grades
- Continue researching possible college majors and careers
- Explore potential interests
- Get involved in school related and community activities
- Begin researching ways to pay for college, including scholarships and financial aid
- Talk with your family about college
- Read books for pleasure to increase your vocabulary and reading comprehension
- Research entrance requirements for colleges you are in attending and begin to narrow down your list of potential colleges
- Visit college campuses in your area or while you are on vacation
- Attend school presentations related to college
- Take the PSAT to prepare for the SAT and to possibly qualify for the National Merit Scholarships
- Practice SAT and ACT questions (there are some free resources online)
- Take the SAT or ACT
- Make your summer is meaningful by attending an academic summer enrichment program or by working (or volunteering) in a potential field of interest
Your senior year is the year that you will actually apply to college. Please review the article entitled College Planning Timeline: Senior Year to learn about the college-preparation tasks to complete during your final year of high school.
