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Freshmen

Action Plan: High School Freshmen

Fall

  • Meet with your counselor to discuss your college plans. Review your schedule with him or her to make sure you’re enrolled in challenging classes that will help you prepare for college. Colleges prefer four years of English, history, math, science, and a foreign language.
  • Use College Search to find out the required courses and tests of colleges that you might be interested in attending.
  • Start a calendar with important dates and deadlines.
  • Get more involved with your extracurricular activities.
  • Go to college fairs in your area.

Learn about Colleges

  • Learn about college costs and how financial aid works.
  • Use the College Savings Calculator to see how much money you’ll need for college, whether you’re on track to save enough, and what you need to do to reach your goal. Talk to your parents about financing college.
  • Visit colleges while they’re in session.
  • Find out about college firsthand from college friends who are home for the holidays.

Prepare for Tests

  • Talk to your counselor and teachers about taking SAT Subject Tests in your strong subjects this spring. Take Subject Tests such as World History, Biology and Chemistry while the material is still fresh in your mind.

Spring

Stay Focused

  • Sign up for college preparatory courses.

Explore Summer Opportunities

  • Look for a great summer opportunity – job, internship, or volunteer position.
  • Check with your counselor and search online for summer school programs for high school student at colleges.

9th Grade Monthly List of Activities

9th Grade Monthly List of Activities

August
  • Sign up to take challenging classes such as International Baccalaureate or Pre-AP courses.
  • Develop a four year high school plan if you have not already done so.
  • Get to know your counselor & other college resources available in your school.

September
  • Talk to adults to see what they like/dislike about their jobs & what education is needed.
  • Become involved in extracurricular activities.
  • Volunteer in your community.
  • Check out career options using Texas College & Career website and other career websites.
  • Attend the district college fair.

October
  • Update your six-year plan
  • Start keeping all of your report cards, certificates, etc..
  • Become involved in volunteer activities.
  • Challenge yourself in your courses and prepare yourself for post secondary education/training by doing research on the websites and by visiting college campuses.

November
  • Start thinking about your dream career.
  • Collect information in a file.

December
  • Go to career day at your school or elsewhere.
  • Check out Tech Prep courses; get college credit for classes taken in high school.

January
  • Select courses that will prepare you for your career goals.
  • Keep up with your classes; grades are one of the top things universities consider.

February
  • Update your six-year plan
  • Start a savings account.
  • Get to know your graduation plan; plan your classes with your counselor.

March
  • Learn the difference between dual credit, AP and  CTE articulated and dual credit courses
  • Become familiar with college entrance requirements

April
  • Do your best on the state assessment tests.
  • Decide what leadership roles you would like to consider.

May
  • Begin looking at scholarship opportunities.  There are some available for all grade levels but these generally require essays.  Check scholarship sites.

June
  • Learn the difference between PSAT/NMSQT and PLAN® Tests and begin to study for these.  There are test prep programs on line that are available free of charge.
  • Research summer programs that focus on particular subjects, like science or math.