Planning your Future Guide for 9th Graders
Some Things to Do While in High School for 9th Graders
- Meet with your school counselor/career coach to discuss college plans and career goals
- Enroll in challenging classes, especially college prep courses, such as Algebra I & II, Geometry, Honors English, Foreign Language and Biology-Based on diploma choice
- Take electives that meet college admission standards (such as drama or music)
- Begin to get involved in clubs, organizations, activities
- Document any awards, honors, or leadership roles that you participate in this help to start building your Student Resume
- Prepare for ACT or SAT -- Use prep books or attend prep classes
- In the spring, talk to your counselor, career coach and parents to plan your sophomore year.
- Explore summer opportunities such as jobs, internships, job shadowing, volunteer work and summer programs
- Take a look at colleges that you are interested in. Learn about their acceptance or enrollment requirements.
Planning your Future Guide for 10th Graders
Some Things to do While in High School for 10th Graders
- Challenge yourself and focus on you GPA.
- Review your 4 year plan with your Career Coach
- Continue to be involved in clubs, organization and leadership activities
- Build your portfolio or student resume. Continue to log your activities and awards
- Take an interest inventory to help determine majors /careers you are interested in
- Begin making lists of colleges that you may consider, especially colleges that offer degrees in your interests. Be familiar with general college entrance requirements
- Zero in on the type of college you would prefer(two year or four year, small or large, rural or urban)
- Sign up to take the ACT
- Attend College Fairs
- Possibly look at AP classes or Dual Credit Dual Enrollment courses for next year
- If you are interested in a career in military, make plan to set up an appoint with a recruiter. Opt to take the ASVAB test(Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test).
- Look at the possibilities in taking a Career Tech course at Allen Thornton Career Technical Center
- Meet with your Counselor/Career Coach on careers /colleges that interest you. Gather information.
- Get a summer job and begin to save money for college
- Explore summer opportunities such as jobs, internships, job shadowing, volunteer work and summer programs
Planning your Future Guide for 11th Graders
Some Things to do While in High School for 11th Graders
- Concentrate on doing well in your classes. GPA is Important
- Review courses that your high school offers that might relate to your career interest
- Take on more Leadership roles in your activities (in your high school or community). Continue to document all your activities, awards, etc
- Research Colleges/Jobs that interest you. Look at the criteria for enrolling in colleges or skills required of a particular job. Talk with your Counselor/Career Coach
- Make a college visit. When Representatives from colleges attend your school, take time to meet with them
- Make a college folder for yourself. This folder will keep your information, test scores, resume, activity log all in one place
- Get a summer job, internship or volunteer(Continue to save money)
- Visit prospective college campuses
- Call, write or email prospective colleges and request to be added to their mailing list.
- Remember to continue to update your college folder
- Register for the ACT test. Practice this will prepare you for the test. Take a ACT prep class or visit the www.actstudent.org website.
- Look at the possibilities in taking a Career Tech course at Allen Thornton Career Technical Center
- Make sure you are on track for High School Graduation.
- Review your 4 year plan with your Career Coach
College Admissions Info for Seniors
Some Things to do While in High School for Seniors
- Keep working on your grades. Make sure you have have taken the courses necessary to graduate
- Continue to participate in extracurricular and volunteer activities.Demonstrate initiative, creativity, commitment to leadership in each
- Take advance of the College Visit Days and Job Shadowing Days your High School allows
- Register to take the ACT, SAT if needed. Remember colleges will always take the highest score, regardless of how many times you take the test. Have the scores sent to the colleges that you are applying.
- Create a master calendar for yourself, Indicate important dates, timelines for scholarships, financial aid applications and other materials you need such as transcripts, records.
- Ask Teachers, Coaches, etc for recommendation letter to have on hand for scholarship applications (always write them a thank you note)
- Apply for all scholarships that you can. Search the web for independent scholarship given through companies or businesses. Every College has a deadline for scholarship applications)
- Complete your FASFA application (Free Application for Student Financial Aid)
- Remember to keep copies of everything that you apply for or mail/send for your records (place in your College Folder)
- Prepare for the Workkeys test (Please take this test seriously, because several employers /Local Apprentice Programs, etc look at the test)
- Visit with the College or Apprenticeship representatives that come to your school campus.
- If Military is your Career Goal meet with a Recruiter for details
- Respond to college offers of admission or scholarships. Notify the college you are planning to attend, as well as those to which you have accepted but will not attend.
- Ask your Career Coach about an opportunity in Job Shadowing
- If college is not in your future. Be aware of job opportunities and jobs that do on the job training. Your Career Coach can keep you updated on this information.
Financial Info Aid for Seniors
Alabama College Information
ACT Information
Books:
The Real ACT Peterson's Guide to the ACT Princeton Review |
Apps:
ACT for Dummies -- Fee Allen ACT Play2prep ACTup |
Tutors/Resources/Workshops:
Lentz Educational Consulting, LLC, lentzeducational.com, 256-394-1712
Score Plus Academics, 256-740-9536
Southern College Prep School
lorihall@pclnet, [email protected], 256-874-2946
Lentz Educational Consulting, LLC, lentzeducational.com, 256-394-1712
Score Plus Academics, 256-740-9536
Southern College Prep School
lorihall@pclnet, [email protected], 256-874-2946