10TH GRADE: WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?
This is the time for a student to establish academic and extracurricular credentials. The habits and skills to be developed and improved during this time will be part of the transcript whereby students will ultimately be judged. Not only are “A’s and B’s” and “honors and AP®’s” important in building a high school resumé, so is the awareness of timelines to meet the ultimate goals of graduation, college acceptance, and scholarships. Different things are important in various seasons and in specific months. Outlined below are some important considerations; please keep in mind this is not all inclusive. Students must be aware of specific personal circumstances, high school course offerings, and limitations.
As early as possible, schedule a meeting with your school guidance counselor to establish a personal relationship and start to outline your overall goals and objectives for high school. The school guidance counselor will be an invaluable resource to keep you on track and informed. Regularly meet and make changes or adjustments to long-term plans as needed.
Seasonal Timeline Planning for Students
Fall – Set an appointment to meet your school guidance counselor to create a plan. Your school guidance counselor is ready and willing to help you make sense of your college and career options and will have valuable insight to assist with picking the right mix of classes, not only for this freshman year, but in building a roadmap for all years. Make sure you are enrolled in the appropriate college-prep or tech-prep classes, and that you are taking key core requirements, such as English, math, science, history, and a foreign language. You will have to plan if you are taking AP® classes because test registration fees are due in the coming months.
Be sure to get involved. Extracurricular activities, both school and non-school sponsored, are an important part of high school and during the college admission & scholarship application processes. Make the effort to get involved with groups, clubs, or teams that interest you. These activities are fun and make you a well-rounded student and a good candidate for scholarships. Start your resumé. This is something you will need to update for the rest of your high school career, throughout college, and especially in your adult life as you begin your career/job search.
Winter – Get off to a good start with your grades because they will impact your GPA and class rank, which are determining factors of an exemplary transcript. Although college seems like a long way off right now, grades really do count toward college admission & scholarships. Along the way, explore your interests and possible careers. Discuss your skills and interests with your school guidance counselor and take advantage of Career Day opportunities at your school. Consider taking an aptitude test if you are unsure of where to start (more on aptitude tests in Chapter Four).
Talk to your parents about planning for college expenses. If your family does not have a college savings plan, now is a great time to start. You should look for a college savings calculator on the internet; here is an example:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/college-savings-calculator
Spring/Summer – Build your credentials. Keep track of academic & extracurricular awards, community service achievements, and anything else you participate in. This will come in handy when you want to highlight your accomplishments, such as when you are filling out college applications or creating a resumé. Start learning about college. Look at the college information available in your school guidance counselor’s office and school & public libraries. Use the internet to check out college websites. You may even want to start a list of colleges that might interest you. Begin to get a feel for college life. Visiting relatives or friends who live on or near a college campus is a great way to get a sense of what college is like.
Make summer count. There are plenty of ways to have fun and build your credentials during the summer, such as volunteering, getting a job, or signing up for an enrichment program.
For additional resources, visit:
https://studentaid.gov/resources/prepare-for-college/checklists/9th-grade
9TH GRADE PARENT/SOCIAL SUPPORT PLANNING
Students’ grades appear on the official transcripts starting this year. If your student has particularly strong academic interests, encourage them, but do not lose focus on strengthening areas of weaknesses that should not be ignored. Your student should also start exploring career goals so that courses can be chosen that will complement those goals and serve as good prerequisites for college – this is especially true for scientific and technical fields. As stated earlier, sit down with your student and the school guidance counselor to sketch out a comprehensive academic program of all the classes your student should take in 9th grade and throughout high school. Lay out preliminary plans for extracurricular activities as well, allowing flexibility for interests they may outgrow or new ones they may acquire. As you do this, allow your student’s interests to shape the list. For additional parent/social support resources, visit:
https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/college-prep-checklist.pdf
https://www2.ed.gov/parents/academic/help/parentpower/booklet.pdf
Seasonal Timeline Planning for Parent/Social Support
August to December – The initial weeks of high school can be a difficult adjustment, socially and academically. Keep an open dialogue about how classes are going. If your student is struggling, now is the time to get a handle on it. Similarly, you may want to talk to the school about placing your student in a more advanced class if the work seems too easy. If your student is taking AP® classes, tests are late in the year, but fees are due early in the fall. Do not be afraid to discuss plans to take exams with teachers and/or the school guidance counselor.
As classes progress, encourage involvement in meaningful activities in and out of school. Allow your student to feel out what they are comfortable with and how much time they can dedicate without impacting schoolwork and other priorities negatively.
January to April – Keep up regular conversations with your student about his or her academic progress. Grades should be up to par and course levels appropriate. If not, perhaps your student could use your help in establishing better study habits or creating a better study environment. Develop an improvement plan together if your student is struggling and remember that the best motivation is encouragement. One of the points of high school is for students to explore their interests. Determine if your student is enjoying what they are doing and if any changes need to be made.
You and your student should also start thinking about worthwhile summer plans such as a job, volunteer work, or traveling. Summer is a great time to begin exploring interests that compliment your college or career goals.
May to June – Together, review and evaluate the comprehensive academic program and activities record started earlier in the school year. Make any necessary changes and update accordingly. As summer approaches, develop specific self-improvement goals, which could include a summer reading list, online course review, and/or working with a tutor.
10th GRADE STUDENT PLANNING
For Tenth Grade, you will want to stay on track with your high school classes & activities and begin to narrow down the plan for your future. You want to focus more on what your interests are for your career choices and begin to look at the kinds of classes that you will need to move those decisions forward.
Seasonal Timeline Planning for Students
Fall – Once again, work with your school guidance counselor to make sure you are enrolled in the courses you will need to graduate. Move on to the next level of classes in the core subjects (English, math, science, history, and a foreign language). Remember, if you are taking AP® classes be prepared to pay the test registration fees.
You will begin to take sample tests that will prepare you for the ACT®/SAT® next year. An example is the Preliminary SAT® (PSAT™ 10). Taking this test qualifies you for the National Merit® Scholarship program (PSAT/NMSQT®), which means you could earn money for college. An additional benefit is it also allows you to release your name & scores to colleges, so you can start receiving brochures and information from schools that match your aptitudes (more information on PSAT/NMSQT® in Chapter Three).
Begin learning about the college admission process. Get familiar with general college entrance requirements. The school guidance counselor’s office, the library, college websites, and advice articles are all good sources of information. Continue exploring potential careers. Explore your career options in more detail by researching possible careers to learn about the tasks, education, and training necessary for each occupation.
Winter – Stay involved with your extracurricular activities and work toward leadership positions in the activities you like best. Become involved in community service and other volunteer activities. Take on new challenges. Developing your reading skills will help prepare you for tests and make you a well-rounded individual. Read books that you enjoy, but also read the newspaper or trusted online news sources to stay informed about current affairs. Practice your writing. You will need good writing skills no matter what path you pursue, so work on those skills now to get prepared. Find a teacher or another adult willing to edit and provide constructive criticism about your writing. Meet with your school guidance counselor to make sure you are staying on track and discuss your PSAT™ 10 scores & AP® courses.
Spring/Summer – Continue to keep your grades up and remain focused on doing well in your classes. Remember that your grades affect your GPA and class rank—two factors that colleges consider in the admission process. Start using college search tools to decide what factors are important to you and see a list of colleges that matches your criteria. There are several different types of college fairs students can attend. First, your high school may have a college fair day for local colleges. Second, many colleges have virtual fairs available online. Third, many colleges themselves host fairs on campus. If you are interested in out-of-state schools, the virtual fairs may be the best way to get acquainted.
Get a summer job or do a volunteer project. Finding steady summer work or a volunteer project will look good to prospective colleges and employers and will demonstrate your work ethic & character at the same time.
For additional 10th grade resources, visit:
https://studentaid.gov/resources/prepare-for-college/checklists/10th-grade
10th GRADE PARENT/SOCIAL SUPPORT PLANNING
Students, parents, and the school guidance counselor should continue to have an open discussion and strategically map out classes together. Continue to build and focus on classes and activities relative to the student’s areas of interest. This is also an important time because future AP® and honors classes may require prerequisites that your student will need to fulfill this year in order to be eligible.
Seasonal Timeline Planning for Parent/Social Support
August to November – Stay ahead of the game. Mark the date for the PSAT/NMSQT®, which is generally held in the fall around the month of October (more information on PSAT/NMSQT® in Chapter Three). Your student should be doing prep work for this test. Do not forget to maintain an open dialogue on how classes and activities are going. Once again, if your student is taking AP® classes, tests are late in the year, but fees are due early on. Do not be afraid to discuss plans to take exams with teachers and/or the school guidance counselor.
December – PSAT/NMSQT® scores should be back by now and between you, your student, and the school guidance counselor, strategies for improving weak areas should be developed, if necessary.
January to February – Now’s the time to review your student’s grades and participation and determine if changes are necessary or if you should stay the course. Talk with the school guidance counselor and get any input on additional things that he/she thinks will be helpful.
April – If your student desires, registration for summer ACT®/SAT® tests are now open.
May to June – Plan for the coming school year registration by reviewing next fall’s classes and activities. Urge your student to select (or continue) the most challenging classes possible and to participate in at least one community service activity. Formulate a summer reading list together that will continue to develop their reading and comprehension skills. Summer study, jobs, and volunteer work always rate high with college admission officers. With your student’s career goal in mind, see if you can help arrange a day where he or she can “shadow” someone who works in that field. If possible, they could seek a job in that or a related field.
11th GRADE STUDENT PLANNING
This is a key year in the college planning process because you will be taking standardized tests at specific dates, narrowing down your college list, and learning more about financial aid. Additionally, you will need to stay involved in your high school courses and activities. You will be required to complete tasks for your application, scholarship, and financial aid processes moving forward.
Seasonal Timeline Planning for Students
Fall – Meet with your school guidance counselor to evaluate your progress toward graduation. Check on your class rank and GPA, and if they are not up to your expectations, work with the school guidance counselor to create a plan for change. This could include working with a tutor, a study group, and/or adding a study hall into your schedule. Remember to pay any AP® test registration fees. Now is the time to follow a more specific path based on interests and skills. You should decide whether you want to pursue further education through a vocational-technical school, career college, a two-year or four-year college, or a military career. If you are interested in attending a military academy, talk to your school guidance counselor about starting the application process now.
Create a list of potential colleges that match your intended field of study. Your list of colleges should include schools that meet your most important criteria (i.e., size, location, cost, academic majors, or special programs). Weigh each of the factors according to their importance to you and develop a preliminary ranking of the schools on your list. Go to college fairs, attend college nights, and speak with college representatives who visit your high school; use an online college finder and search top college lists. You may be able to narrow your choices or add a school to your list. At the end of the chapter are spreadsheets to help organize your list of college candidates and the pros & cons of each one.
Schedule the dates and locations of college placement tests, the ACT®/SAT®, and mark the dates on your calendar. Your high school will have a scheduled and paid ACT® already set during the spring of your junior year. Annually, there are six or so additional test dates hosted at various testing locations. It is highly recommended that you schedule two or three additional ACT®/SAT® tests on your own to maximize your test score. Students usually choose to take either the ACT®or SAT®, not both. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see which test they accept. Knowing this will affect which test you should take, or if you should take both. The school guidance counselor can also assist with additional insight. Schedule time to study. Specifically, you should be prepared to review math and English. As an example, if you are in Calculus, the test will mainly cover material from Algebra and Geometry, which you may not have reviewed for some time. Make sure you review those specific concepts (more information on college placement tests in Chapter Three).
If you want to play Division I or II sports in college, start the certification process. Check with the school guidance counselor to make sure you take the core curriculum that meets NCAA® requirements, maintain the needed GPA, and fulfill any other special conditions.
Winter – Stay involved with extracurricular activities, refine your college list, and continue to prepare for standardized tests. Colleges look for consistency and depth in the non-academic activities you pursue. Taking on leadership roles and making a commitment to the same groups you have participated in are more important than trying new activities each year.
As you have narrowed down your list of potential college candidates, compile important information such as entrance requirements, tuition, room and board costs, course offerings, student activities, financial aid, employment opportunities, etc. Then begin comparing the schools by the factors that are most important to you and rank your choices. Every institution has a list of regional advisors on their website. If you attend a college fair or tour, procure the business card or contact information of the representatives and make an introduction. They can assist you with the college admission application, financial aid, & transitioning to the institution.
Spring – Start a scholarship search and gather recommendations from other students that you may know. Check with your school guidance counselor for scholarships from local organizations and use online scholarship search tools to find a wider range of options. Spending a little bit of time and effort to find them can pay big dividends. The sooner you start looking for scholarships, the better prepared you will be to select and apply for them during your senior year.
By this time, you should narrow down your college candidate list to four or five leading contenders. Consider writing to schools and asking for more information or consult their respective official website. Visiting those colleges for a personal interview with college admission officers, a professor, or a coach, may prove beneficial. Plan ahead and be sure to set-up an appointment in advance.
Summer – Meet with your school guidance counselor to determine what classes you will take next year and make sure you are on track to graduate. Even though you will be completing the college admission & scholarship application processes the fall of your senior year, colleges will consider your senior year courses and grades, so schedule classes that challenge you.
The college admission & scholarship application process begins this fall. To be prepared when the time comes, create an account on Common Application® (Common App®). Common App® is an online supplementary way through which most institutions will accept college admission applications. Common App® is a non-profit organization that connects college applicants to a diverse array of public & private colleges across 20 countries. When doing your college admission applications through Common App®, be prepared to include an essay, as it may be required on the application. Also begin planning, then executing, supplemental submissions, such as audition tapes, art slides, or portfolios, if necessary. To create your account, visit:
Other important admission options that certain schools offer are Early Decision and Early Action. Early Decision plans are binding, therefore only apply to one, as a student who is accepted must attend that college. Only those who have a clear preference for one institution should apply (usually in November) using this plan. The primary advantage is an admission decision (usually by December) from the college well in advance of the usual notification date (usually in May) and may include greater financial benefits. Early Action plans are nonbinding, meaning students receive an early response (usually in January or February), but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1. Still apply to other colleges under regular admission plans and only withdraw all other applications if accepted by Early Decision.
As part of the college admission process, you may be required to provide a letter of recommendation from one or more references. You will want to reach out to individuals who know you well & have positive things to say, such as an employer, teacher, coach, and school guidance counselor. Consider early on who you want to ask and let them know, so they will have time to prepare before getting flooded with requests in the fall. Generally, they will submit the letter directly to the institution later in the fall, so do not be afraid to follow-up.
Visit the campuses of your top college choices and interview any officials with whom you made an appointment. You may also be able to talk to students on campus if classes are in session. If you have an interview, be sure to send a thank-you letter to the interviewer once you return home. Get advice from other college students, especially if they attend a school you are interested in. To attend a college fair, visit:
https://www.nacacfairs.org/attend/national-college-fairs/
For additional 11th grade resources, visit:
https://studentaid.gov/resources/prepare-for-college/checklists/11th-grade
11th GRADE PARENT/SOCIAL SUPPORT PLANNING
This year, the college search process accelerates and intensifies. Help refine the list of colleges that your student is interested in. Additionally, this year students will take the standardized tests, which are one of the largest determining factors for college admission officers and scholarship awards. Work to provide an environment conducive to learning and make yourself available to help your student study and prepare for these tests. High test scores will grab the attention of college admission officers as well as transcript details, such as GPA and attendance. Colleges will also look for commitment and accomplishment outside of the classroom. Continue to provide support and encouragement, even constructive criticism if needed, and stay involved.
Seasonal Timeline Planning for Parent/Social Support
August to December – Continue to study with your student to prepare for the ACT®/SAT®. Check into college fairs and college representative visits to the school. The school guidance counselor should have a schedule. Encourage your student to attend college fairs and become familiar with the college resources available at their school. Schedule a day trip to visit different types of colleges nearby. Even if these are places where your child will not apply, the purpose is to become familiar with colleges and the college environment. Discuss the characteristics of schools, similarities & differences, and pros & cons. Remember, if your student is taking AP® classes, fees are due early on even though tests are late in the year. Discuss plans to take exams with teachers and/or the school guidance counselor if beneficial.
January to February – Continue to evaluate your student’s academic progress. If your student has any concerns or struggles, involve the school guidance counselor to make any needed adjustments. Look ahead to additional ACT®/SAT®registration deadlines beyond the test scheduled by the high school.
March – Continue to compile information from your student’s target colleges in this guide. Use the included sleeves to organize the information and add additional sleeves as needed. If your student is still unsure of his/her college choice, continue refining the search using college websites and call, write, or email target colleges.
April to May – If your student registered to take additional ACT®/SAT® tests, assist in preparing them for the upcoming test dates. If it has not already been done, have your student update their resumé, extracurricular activities record, and other spreadsheets in this guide. Start making initial summer plans for working, studying, volunteering, or attending a summer program.
If your student needs to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL®), check the test dates and help your student get registered. This test measures the student’s mastery of the English language; scores are used as part of the college admission process. For more information, visit:
June – Think about scholarships in advance, even though applications normally become available in the fall. Visit scholarship search and financial aid websites and check out equivalent library resources. Discuss the lineup for senior year classes. Encourage your student to take the most challenging courses available as colleges will consider your student’s senior year courses and grades.
Make sure your student has created an account on the Common Application® (Common App®) website. This will greatly leverage your student’s time as most institutions will accept admission applications through this process. If your student plans to apply Early Decision or Early Action to any school, make sure your student is willing to commit. If your student elects to apply Early Decision, start working on the application as soon as possible because its deadline will be earlier than others. Consider setting up a shared email for you and your student to employ, facilitating open communication between you, your student, and the colleges during the college admission & scholarship application processes.
12th GRADE STUDENT PLANNING
Deadlines are the single most important aspect of your senior year. Stay on track with the college admission & scholarship application processes and do not procrastinate. As stated earlier, it is essential to maintain grades, high scores on any AP® exams, and be prepared for college admission essays. This is the final push. Enjoy your final year, stay motivated, and persist to the end!
Seasonal Timeline Planning for Students
Fall – Applications will now be open for college admission & scholarships. Make this your number one priority! Being the “early bird” will return dividends in this situation, from housing & financial aid, to reduced stress & potential early acceptance. As you begin the process of applying to colleges, you will also create an account with an online transcript provider called PARCHMENT®. This provider will send your transcript digitally to each college for a fee ranging from $3 to $10 and may be paid for by your high school. If your high school does not subscribe to this service, speak with your school guidance counselor as needed. To register, visit:
Winter – Act on the result of an Early Decision application or Early Action applications, if applicable. If you receive an Early Decision acceptance, you must withdraw your applications from other schools.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is the required form to apply for financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college. Your family’s finances, including tax returns, are mandatory for the FAFSA®, so complete it with your parents’ help. To get aid, a new FAFSA® is needed before each academic year in college, so use a permanent email address on the form, not your high school email (more information on FAFSA® in Chapter Six). To apply, visit:
https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
A supplemental financial aid form, known as the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®, is required by certain colleges and has an earlier deadline than the FAFSA®. Check with the institutions to find out if you will need to complete this form. Ask your school guidance counselor to send your mid-year grade reports to the colleges that you applied to. Remember that the schools will continue to keep track of your grades, so it is important to keep working hard throughout your senior year.
Spring – You should receive admission decisions & financial aid awards by March or April from regular applications. If you are put on a waitlist, you can follow-up as needed, but you should receive a decision by May. Compare admission offers, scholarships, and financial aid packages, then make your final decision.
Stay focused on any studying for and/or taking AP® or CLEP® tests, if applicable, because these will be the last opportunity for college credit as your senior year winds down. Ask your school guidance counselor to send your final transcript to the college of your choice in June. Check for your FAFSA® acknowledgement or Student Aid Report (SAR) if you applied for a Pell Grant (more information in Chapter Six).
Once you accept an offer, complete enrollment paperwork for that college by the appropriate deadlines. Procure information from the college about orientation sessions, housing arrangements, course scheduling, etc. Decline any outstanding acceptance offers from other institutions.
For additional 12th grade resources, visit:
https://studentaid.gov/resources/prepare-for-college/checklists/12th-grade
Once you have started the college admission & scholarship application processes, you will know the essay prompts, thus compose rough drafts of the essays you will need. Have a parent, teacher, peer, or the school guidance counselor read, edit, and refine the content. Put in the effort, multiple drafts if necessary, as the essays really count. Some key points to consider and then utilize when writing your essay are be concise & clear in answering the prompt, stay on point, and employ an academic tone. It is equally important to focus on sentence structure, grammar, verbiage, and maintaining a scholarly nature. Once you know what the prompt is, brainstorm thoughts & ideas, build an outline, and then organize & compose those ideas into full sentences. Next build the essay starting with an introduction & thesis statement, which is a succinct summary of the central claim or main point of the essay. The body of the essay will cover each element of the thesis – do not be afraid to elicit emotion & provoke deep thought in the reader – and close with a conclusion. You will be required to keep the essay under a specific word count, for example 500 words. Do not submit it without editing it, this may necessitate several drafts before the final version is complete.
Having used this guide to organize your financial aid information, it will be readily available for the college admission & scholarship application processes. If necessary, follow-up on the letters of recommendation you previously requested. It is also a great idea to send those individuals a thank you letter.
Your school guidance counselor can help you stay on track with college admission requirements. Make sure they know which colleges you want transcripts, test score reports, and letters sent to. Give your school guidance counselor any necessary forms much earlier than the actual deadlines so they will have time to send the forms in. Remember AP® exams fees will be due as well.
12th GRADE PARENT/SOCIAL SUPPORT GUIDE
This is the final stretch. The college admission, scholarship, and financial aid deadlines over the next several months are critical. Keeping open and continual communication with your student throughout these milestones will make the process smoother and keep you both on track.
Seasonal Timeline Planning for Parent/Social Support
August to December – Urge your student to start the application process for college admission, scholarships, and financial aid opportunities as soon as they become available. For application & scholarship essays, offer to proofread and provide constructive criticism. Senior year AP® test fees will be due as well.
January to March – Have your student act on the result of an Early Decision application or Early Action applications, if applicable. If your student receives an Early Decision acceptance, be sure to withdraw applications from other schools. File your income taxes early, if possible, as your student will need this information when filling out financial aid forms such as the FAFSA® or CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE®. Remember to regularly check the shared email account used for the college admission & scholarship application processes for acceptance letters.
April to June – Compare scholarship & financial aid offers and contact financial aid offices with any questions. Your student should send an updated transcript and test scores as they become available. Once your student has formally accepted admission to college, gather information about school orientation, housing, course registration, etc.