Jump-Start Your College Planning

Ready, Set...
Have you started your college planning yet? It's amazing, but decisions you make as
early as eighth grade have a huge effect on your college career. They affect how soon you'll go to
college, what type of college you'll attend, and even whether you'll go to college at all.

Get Involved: ​Getting ready for college isn't all work. Find something you really like doing then, dive
into it. Maybe you're drawn to sports, student council, music, or art. You'll develop skills and show
colleges your ability to make a commitment and stick with it.

Take Challenging Courses: ​Colleges look at your grades and they also pay attention to how
difficult your courses are. They want to see that you've challenged yourself. Plus, if you pursue
advanced courses, such as AP, you may be able to get college credit.

Get Help: ​Having trouble in a class? Many schools have peer tutors, students in higher-grade levels
who will help you (for free). Talk to teachers or counselors—let them know you want extra help.

Read: ​Read at least 30 minutes every day, beyond study and homework. People who read more know
more. And when you take PSAT and SAT tests, the time you put into reading will really pay off.

Don't Delay: ​You'll take the PSAT as a junior (or even as a sophomore). Most students take the SAT
in their junior or senior year. Be sure you're taking the solid math and other courses that get you ready.
Talk to your counselor to make sure you're on track.

Get the College-Bound Facts: ​How can you find out about college admissions, work, and campus
life? Ask someone who's done it, such as college students who went to your high school. Get to know
your counselors. Ask a career planner at a local college, or a teacher. Do Web research. (​COME
SEE ME)

Involve Your Family: ​When parents or guardians haven't been to college themselves, they may think
they can't help you. That's not true. They can talk to counselors and help you stay on the right path.

Look for a Mentor: ​Look for adults who can lend their enthusiasm and help you succeed at your
goals. If you're interested in a particular subject or activity talk to a teacher or leader who knows about
it. Find a counselor or teacher you trust to talk about your goals.

Confront Personal Roadblocks: ​If you have a problem that's getting in the way of schoolwork,
don't ignore it. Talk to your friends, family, or another adult—parent, coach, nurse, counselor—who
may be able to offer advice or help.
Roll Up Your Sleeves: ​If you expect to go to college later, expect to study now. No one can do it for
you. Don't talk the college talk—"I'll go to college to get a great career"—without walking the walk.

* from www.CollegeBoard.com*
Helpful Websites
College Search/Information www.collegeboard.com
www.collegeview.com
www.virginiamentor.org
www.acceptedge.com
www.princetonreview.com
www.cappex.com

Career Search/Community College www.vawizard.org

SAT Test www.collegeboard.com

ACT Test www.actstudent.org

SAT/ACT Prep www.Number2.com

www.INeedAPencil.com
www.soundkeepers.com

College/Career Prep www.KnowHow2Go.org

www.MappingYourFuture.org

Admissions Basics www.collegeapps.about.com

Scholarship Searches www.fastweb.com

www.meritaid.com
www.scholarships.com
Scholarship Fund of Alexandria www.AlexScholarshipFund.org

Financial Aid www.finaid.org

www.FAFSA.ed.gov
www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov
Virginia Prepaid 529 Program www.virginia529.com

Education Information/Rankings www.usnews.com/sections/education

Common Application www.commonapp.org

 Freshman Year
● Get to know your ​counselor​ and ​college advisor​. They can help you every step of the way toward
college. Make sure you are taking the ​right courses​ to prepare for college.
● Attend writing, test-taking, and study skills workshops. Try hard to get good grades.
● Read at least 20 minutes a day (newspapers, magazine, books).
● Get involved in your community and get active and stay active in an after-school activity.
● Ask for help if you are having a hard time with classes or if you are having problems in or out of
school.
● Think about what you want to do after high school. Do you want to be a doctor? Play basketball
at a NCAA school? Own a business? Continue exploring career paths.
● Attend workshops with ​counselors​, ​college advisors​, and college representatives about options
after high school.
● Develop a four-year course plan to help you move toward your goals.
● Visit at least one college through a local tour or virtual tour.
● Talk to your parent(s) and/or guardian(s) about a savings plan for college.
● Work with your ​counselor​ to plan your sophomore year courses. Take the most challenging
options available to you. Ask about ​Honors​ courses.
● Learn about and apply for summer programs.
●
Sophomore Year
● Continue to meet with your ​counselor​ and ​college advisor​. Make sure you are taking the ​right
courses​ to prepare for college.
● Take writing, test-taking, and study skills workshops. Try hard to get good grades.
● Read at least 30 minutes a day (newspapers, magazine, books).
● Choose meaningful ​service​ activities that match your interests and improves your community.
● Join extracurricular activities. Continue to work on your resume.
● Ask for help if you are having a hard time with classes or if you are having problems in or out of
school.
● Continue to develop your high school course plan to help you move toward your goals.
● Attend ​college fairs​. Look through brochures and pamphlets. Research schools online.
● Take ​college tours​. Visit different types of schools: community colleges, big and small colleges.
● Look at what the colleges you like require for courses and GPA. How do their requirements
match up against your courses and plan? Make adjustments with your counselor.
● Plan your junior year. Take the most challenging options available to you, such as ​AP​ and ​honors
classes.
● Attend financial planning workshop with your parents. Identify scholarship opportunities.
Junior Year
● Review your course plan and academic progress with your ​counselor​ or ​college advisor​ to be
sure you are taking the right courses to get into the college you want to attend.
● Register for and take the ACT and/or SAT. Enroll in ​ACT​ and/or ​SAT​ prep classes.
● Practice writing and take ​AP​ and ​Honors​ classes.
● Read a lot! Try to read 75 pages a day, including homework and leisure reading.
● Stay involved in extracurricular activities.
● Ask for help if you are having a hard time with classes or if you are having problems in or out of
school.
● Look at the entrance requirements for colleges you like. How do these match up against your
courses and plan?
 ● Continue to research colleges and contact them for information you can’t find or questions you
want answered.
● Plan your senior year courses. Consider taking a fourth year of math and science courses.
Continue taking a foreign language. This will make you more competitive to colleges and
universities.
● Attend ​college fairs​ and schedule college tours ​at the colleges you want to learn more about​.
● Apply for a ​summer internship​ or participate in job shadowing.
● Attend a workshop on financial aid processes. Use ​FAFSA4caster​ to learn about the financial aid
and to estimate your eligibility for aid. Identify scholarship opportunities.
● Start to review the process on how to ​apply for college​ and note application deadlines.
● Write a sample college ​essay​.
Senior Year
● Meet with your counselor to ensure that graduation requirements have been met.
● Take ​AP​ or ​Honors​ classes.
● Keep a detailed calendar of all events, deadlines, requirements, etc. Practice good time
management so you won’t be overwhelmed.
● Read at lot! Aim for 100 pages a day, including homework and leisure. Write a lot!
● Enroll in ACT/SAT prep classes. Take ​ACT​ and/or ​SAT​ a second time if necessary.
● Stay involved in extracurricular activities.
● Ask for help if you are having a hard time with classes or if you are having problems in or out of
school.
● Continue to attend ​college fairs​ and financial aid workshops. Visit the colleges you are most
interested in.
● Choose​ which colleges you’ll apply to. Include safety, target, and reach schools on your list.
● Complete at least five ​college applications​. Make sure each application is complete. Print the
applications and keep copies.
● Apply for at least five ​scholarships​.
● Apply for your FAFSA​ (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) ASAP after January 1​st​. Get
your ​PIN number​ before December 31. Get your parents to apply for PIN number too.
● Follow up on college application status. Send in mid-year grades, if required or requested.
● Check your ​Student Aid Report​ (SAR) as soon as it comes and make corrections as necessary.
● Review college acceptance letters and financial aid award letters with your parents and/or
guardians, ​counselor​ and ​college advisor​.
● Inform schools of your acceptance or decline offers by May 1st.
● Send in housing contracts, any deposits, etc. by their due dates.
● Carefully review materials received from the college you plan to attend. Read any books on the
summer reading list. Attend summer orientation if offered.
*adapted from Chicago Public Schools website*

Checklist for Your Junior Year

Preparing for college isn’t something that just happens in one year; it takes a lot planning and
preparation. Here is a list of things that you can do during your junior year to make sure you’re best
prepared for college. Plus, you will be significantly less stressed!

Evaluate your high school course work.​ ​Did you know that most 4-year colleges require Algebra II
and at least 2 years of a foreign language? Make sure that your course work in high school is going to
help you get to college. Also, make sure you are challenging yourself by taking Honors,
dual-enrollment, and AP classes. Discuss your transcript with your counselor.
Take the SAT and/or ACT at least once as a junior.​ College entrance tests are an essential part of
preparing for college admissions. Taking the tests as a junior will give you an advantage in your senior
year. You want to get experience taking the test in your junior year, take time during the summer to
study, and take the tests one more time to raise your scores.
Visit colleges as often as possible.​ Any time you get a change to visit a college, take advantage of it!
Even if it’s not a school you think you’re interested in, having exposure to different places will help you
decide what suits you best. Be sure to listen for college representatives coming to the College and Career
Center and information about touring schools.
Start profiling yourself for college.​ It’s important to start thinking about the things you want out of the
college you attend and what schools you might be interested in. Be realistic! The sooner you start
thinking about where you might want to be, the easier it will be for you to decide where you’ll
eventually end up.
Consider possible careers.​ Come to the College and Career Center and we can help you figure out what
careers fit you best with a Career Assessment. Discovering what you’re passionate about and want to
pursue as a career will help you develop a career path and determine what college academic programs
will get you there.
Have a different post-high school plan?​ Military? Career or technical program? Workforce? Come see
us so that we can be sure you have access to all of the resources available to get you where you want to
go and to help you make the best choices for your future.
Learn about college admissions.​ Do you know what you need to do to complete a college application?
Speak often with your counselor and ask questions about the college application process. Begin drafting
your resume, personal statement, and college essays.
Get involved.​ Whether you engage in extracurricular activities at school, volunteering in the
community, or paid employment, find something that you like to do and get involved! These activities
will boost your resume and make you a more well-rounded college applicant. If you want to participate
in NCAA Division I or II sports in college, you need to register NOW.
Learn about financial aid and start looking for scholarships.​ The hardest thing about going to
college is usually paying for it. Educate yourself on the FAFSA, financial aid programs at the colleges
you’re interested in, and begin looking and applying for scholarships early.
Ask for help.​ Take advantage of the resources available at school. Visit and ask questions!