College Preparation Checklist for Students

Pre-High School:

• Take challenging classes in English, mathematics, science, history, geography, the arts, and a foreign language.

• Develop strong study skills.

• Start thinking about which high school classes will best prepare you for college.

• If you have an opportunity to choose among high schools or among different programs within one high school, investigate the options and determine which ones will help you further your academic and career interests and open doors to many future options.

• Start saving for college if you haven't already.

• Investigate different ways to save money - buying a U.S. Savings Bond or opening a savings account in a bank, investing in mutual funds, etc.

• Find a mentor who will support your positive goals and help you with questions about plans for your future.

High School:

9TH GRADE

• Take challenging classes in English, mathematics, science, history, geography, a foreign language, government, civics, economics, and the arts.

• Get to know your career counselor or guidance counselor, and other college resources available in your school.

• Talk to adults in a variety of professions to determine what they like and dislike about their jobs and what kind of education is needed for each kind of job.

• Continue to save for college.

10TH GRADE

• Take challenging courses in English, mathematics, science, history, geography, a foreign language, government, civics, economics, and the arts.

• Continue to talk to adults in a variety of professions to determine what they like and dislike about their jobs, and what kind of education is needed for each kind of job.

• Become involved in school- or community-based extracurricular (before or after school) activities that interest you and enable you to explore career interests.

• Meet with your career counselor or guidance counselor to discuss colleges and their requirements.

• Take the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).You must register early. If you have difficulty paying the registration fee, see your guidance counselor about getting a fee waiver.

• Take advantage of opportunities to visit colleges and talk to students.

• Continue to save for college.

11TH GRADE

• Take challenging classes in English, mathematics, science, history, geography, a foreign language, government, civics, economics, and the arts.

• Meet with your career counselor or guidance counselor to discuss colleges and their requirements.

• Continue involvement in school- or community-based extracurricular activities.

• Decide which colleges most interest you. Write these schools to request information and an application for admission. Be sure to ask about special admissions requirements, financial aid, and deadlines.

• Talk to college representatives at college fairs.

• Take advantage of opportunities to visit colleges and talk to students.

• Consider people to ask for recommendations - teachers, counselors, employers, etc.

• Investigate the availability of financial aid from federal, state, local, and private sources. Call the Student Aid Hotline at the U.S. Department of Education (1-800-4FED-AID) for a student guide to Federal financial aid. Talk to your guidance counselor for more information.

• If you are interested, learn more about AmeriCorps by calling 1-800-942-2677 or TDD 1-800-833-3722. Via the Internet, go to www.americorps.org.

• Investigate the availability of scholarships provided by organizations such as corporations, labor unions, professional associations, religious organizations, and credit unions.

• If applicable, go to the library and look for directories of scholarships for women, minorities, and disabled students.

• Register for and take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), the ACT, SAT Subject Tests, or any other exams required for admission to colleges you might want to attend. If you have difficulty paying the registration fee, see your guidance counselor about getting a fee waiver.

• Continue to save for college.

12TH GRADE

• Take challenging classes in English, mathematics, science, history, geography, a foreign language, government, civics, economics, the arts, and advanced technologies.

• Meet with your counselor early in the year to discuss your plans.

• Complete all necessary financial aid forms. Make sure that you fill out at least one form that can be used for Federal aid.

• Write colleges to request information and applications for admission. Be sure to ask about financial aid, admissions requirements, and deadlines.

• If possible, visit the colleges that most interest you.

• Register for and take the Scholastic AsSessment Test (SAT), American College Test (ACT), SAT Subject Tests, or any other exams required for admission to the colleges to which you are applying. If you have difficulty paying the registration fee, see your guidance counselor about getting a fee waiver.

• Prepare your application carefully. Follow the instructions, and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES! Be sure to ask your counselor and teachers at least two weeks before your application deadlines to submit the necessary documents to colleges (your transcript, letters of recommendation, etc.).

There are as many different ways to study as there are different people. The trick is to find the study tips that work best for you. The following list are tips that have worked best for the greatest number of people. Some of them may work for you, some of them won't, but try them all and work out your own study plan.

1) Study in the Same Place - Find a quiet place, away from distractions, with ample room to work. Once you've found it, study at the same place every time. It could be a desk in your bedroom, the kitchen table, or the local library. Laying down on your bed or sprawled across the living room rug are generally not good study places..

2) Study at the Same Time - Figure out what time of day you can concentrate best, and what works into your schedule. Use that time every day to study. Try to make sure it is not too late .

3) Use a Homework Box - Keep all your homework supplies in one place, ready to be used. Keep them organized, and you won't need to waste your time searching for supplies.

4) Cut Out All Distractions - You need to be able to concentrate on your homework and nothing else. The TV should be off, other people's conversations should be in another room, music should be turned down, and phone calls should be taken after you've finished studying. Any other thoughts in your mind should also be set aside for a later time.

5) Do the Hard Stuff First - If you are dreading a particular assignment, or know it requires a lot of extra effort, do it first. Your brain will be fresh. Besides, you won't have to dwell on it while you are working on other homework.

6) Schedule Long Term Projects - Larger projects need to be broken into smaller components to make them manageable. For example, these components could be such things as gathering notes, writing a rough draft, making corrections or additions, writing a bibiography, and completing the final copy. Set yourself a deadline for completing each component and make sure you stick to it.

7) Review Regularly - Homework is not just that which is assigned every night. A regular review of your notes should be a part of your homework plan. This takes just a few minutes each day, but will pay off considerably when it comes to test time.

8) Write Up a Contract - Sit down with your parents and write up a homework contract at the beginning of each term. This sets out in writing what is expected of each of you and gives all of you input into your homework plan.

9) Schedule Each Homework Session - When you sit down to do your homework, make up a quick schedule as to how you are going to use your time. Break it up into blocks of time that you will spend on each task.

10) Avoid Doing a Marathon - If you've followed the previous tips, this last one should never happen. However, you need to know that marathon study sessions are the least productive way to study.