COLLEGE PREP CHECKLIST
• Take challenging classes in English, math, science, history, a world language, government, civics, economics, and the arts.
• This year’s academic record will go a long way toward either helping or hurting your chances of gaining admission to your schools of choice. You can make up ground if you’ve been slacking and you can keep up the hard work you’ve already exhibited.
• Take the PSAT test in October.
• Meet with your school counselor to discuss colleges and their requirements.
• Ask your high school counselor for suggestions as to colleges you should consider but might not have thought of on your own (based on major, scholarships, location, etc.)
• Talk to college representatives at college fairs.
• Visit colleges and talk to students.
• Decide which colleges/universities most interest you. Go to their websites to request information and an application for admission.
• Get to know the admission criteria for your top schools. Know where you stand in relation to those requirements and work toward changing what you can (if you fall short).
• Consider people to ask for recommendations— teachers, counselors, employers, etc.
• Investigate the availability of financial aid from federal, state, local, and private sources as well as scholarships. Talk to your school counselor for more information.
• Register for and take the ACT, SAT, or SAT Subject Tests or any other exams required for admission to the colleges you might want to attend.
• Attend an ACT/SAT preparation workshop (if you can’t, you should utilize practice books, software, etc. to help you prepare).
• Continue involvement in school- or community-based extracurricular activities.
• Run for leadership positions in the organizations you’re involved in.
• Continue to keep track of all of the extracurricular and volunteer activities you participate in, leadership positions you hold, and any honors/awards you receive.
• Register with NCAA Clearinghouse by the end of your junior year if you want to play competitive sports in college (Division I or II).
• Continue/begin to save for college.