TISHA RINKER

Getting Ready for College: A Four-Year Checklist for High School Teens

Education

• Checklist for High School Freshmen and Sophomores

• Freshmen should plan to:

• Take challenging classes in core academic courses.

• Work with their school counselor to create a yearly schedule for meeting graduation requirements.

• Talk to an advisor or school counselor about taking AP and honors courses.

• Get involved with community-based and leadership-oriented activities.

• Explore and identify career fields of interest through online research and by attending career fairs and other events.

• Explore The Four Steps to College.

• Keep a running list of accomplishments, awards, and recognitions to use in preparing a resume and college applications.

• Keep in mind that many of these freshman-year activities should continue through all four years of high school. Career planning, in particular, will merit careful, ongoing research; students may need help refining their goals as they learn new information.

• Sophomores should:

• Attend college and career information events.

• Research funding for college, including scholarships, grants, loans, etc.

• Reach out to mentors in the fields of interest.

• Continue exploring college and career options.

• Consider taking a practice test to prepare for the PSAT.

• High School Junior Checklist

• In fall semester, juniors need to:

• Take the PSAT. Students must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for National Merit scholarships and programs.

• Attend in-person or online college fairs and college prep presentations.

• Explore careers and their earning potentials in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

• In spring semester, juniors should:

• Register for college admission exams such as the SAT and ACT; take practice tests to prepare before the big day.

• Research ways to pay for college.

• Identify scholarship opportunities to pursue; note deadlines on calendar.

• Contact colleges to request information and applications.

• High School Senior Checklist

• During the summer, soon-to-be seniors should:

• Start college visits.

• Narrow down the colleges being considered.

• Make decisions regarding early decision or early action programs.

• Enter and/or update information in the FAFSA4caster.

• In fall semester, seniors will need to:

• Register for and take (or retake) the SAT and/or ACT, if not already done.

• Complete and submit college applications prior to deadlines.

• Complete and submit scholarship applications prior to deadlines.

• Request transcripts and letters of recommendation.

• Register for a Federal Student Aid PIN.

• Meet with a counselor to verify that graduation requirements will be met on schedule.

• During the winter months, seniors should:

• Work with parents to complete and submit the FAFSA.

• Review and make any necessary changes/corrections to the Student Aid Report. 

• Finish submitting scholarship applications.

• In spring semester, seniors will need to:

• Visit colleges on their “short list.”

• Consider college acceptances; compare financial aid packages offered.

• Call college financial aid representatives with questions.

• Decide on the college to attend and contact its offices.

• Make informed decisions about student loans.