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  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • PROF's BLOG
  • COLLEGE 101
  • PROF'S PEARLS
  • CHARITY
  • CONTACT
  • TEACHER RESOURCES

First Generation 
College Students

    5 – YEAR COLLEGE PLANNING CHECKLIST: Grades 8 - 12


8th Grade Year – It’s Never Too Early!


It’s never too early to start thinking about careers that you might be interested in and possible school choices.  Participate in personal interest inventories and explore your interests. Take full advantage of your junior high school counseling office.  Consult with your counselor before planning your intended high school curriculum and access all available student resources for college planning. Aim to create a complete 4-year course plan if possible.  Discuss your financial situation with your parents and work together to establish a plan for funding your college education.  It’s not too early to start researching financial options.  Work together to create a college savings plan if you have not already done so.

High School Freshman Year

  • Build a college-bound schedule of classes and extra-curricular activities.  Participate in dual-credit programs, advanced placement classes and other college preparatory opportunities. 

  • Get involved in athletics and/or other extracurricular activities that interest you.

  • Start building a portfolio of your accomplishments including awards, certificates of appreciation, recommendation letters, articles about yourself, and activities in which you have participated.  

  • Consider volunteer opportunities that will expand your frame of reference.

  • Schedule college planning meetings with your guidance counselor and utilize their expertise and resources.

  • Maintain a high grade point average and attendance record.

High School Sophomore Year

  • Re-evaluate your high school course selection to make sure it meets college entrance requirements.  

  • If possible, aim to complete the majority of your academic requirements by your junior year.

  • Take the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) and/or the PLAN Program which includes the preliminary ACT in October to prepare you for college entrance exams. The PSAT may qualify you for certain scholarships.

  • Continue making regular visits to the guidance and/or counseling department to explore college catalogs, self-assessments, web resources, and other college materials including financial aid information.

  • If pursuing athletics, familiarize yourself with current NCAA requirements.

  • Maintain a high grade point average and attendance record.

High School Junior Year

Fall Semester -

  • Take the PSAT again in October to practice taking entrance exams and to establish eligibility for potential scholarships.

  • Attend sessions with college representatives who visit your high school and look for opportunities visit local college fairs.

  • Develop a list of possible post-secondary schools that you are interested in attending. Utilize your high school counseling office and/or school library for resources and materials. 

  • Make a personal connection with an admissions representative from each school you are interested in applying for admission.  Be sure you have all the information needed for the decision making and application process.

  • Research scholarship opportunities.  

  • Maintain a high grade point average and attendance record.
Video courtesy of the Texas State University Counseling Center
COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAMS

Talent Search
-
This program encourages disadvantaged students (ages 11 to 18) to complete high school and pursue postsecondary education. It focuses on students who meet low-income guidelines and who will be first generation college students. Talent Search provides academic, career, and financial counseling.

Upward Bound -
Upward Bound helps students better prepare for college. As with Talent Search, it focuses on low-income, first generation students. This program provides academic instruction in mathematics, laboratory sciences, composition, literature, and foreign languages. It also provides counseling to its participants.

GEAR UP -
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) works 
ith schools to boost college awareness among students and parents. GEAR UP provides six-year grants to states and partnerships to offer services at high-poverty middle and high schools.

Project GRAD - Project GRAD motivates low-income students to reach their educational dreams by
providing mentoring, tutoring, and tuition assistance for higher education.

Spring Semester -

  • Take the official SAT and ACT for the first time. Some colleges will prefer one test over the other.  So, cover your bases by taking both.

  • Schedule campus visits to colleges on your short list. Consider an overnight trip that would allow for you to get a feel for what life is like on that particular campus.

  • Continue researching potential scholarship opportunities.

  • Continue building your academic portfolio by including writing samples, speeches, presentations and/or any evidence of skills and talents required for college admission and/or for scholarships.

  • If you plan to play sports in college, develop a resume of your sports experience including athletic accomplishments, relevant articles about your successes, a highlight video and summary of your athletic plans/goals for the upcoming year.  Contact athletic coaches directly at your target schools and register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. 

  • Write rough drafts of application essays.  Seek feedback and proofreading from others.

  • Read all college mail and send reply cards back to schools of interest.

  • Apply for those scholarships whose deadlines are in the fall. You may be too busy once school starts.

  • Maintain a high grade point average and attendance record.

  • High School Senior Year

Fall Semester -

  • Be sure you continue to meet high school graduation and college admission requirements.

  • Record relevant dates and deadlines on a calendar so you can plan your year more efficiently.

  • Register for the Advanced Placement (AP) tests, if needed.

  • Take or retake the ACT or SAT if needed

  • Continue meeting with visiting admissions representatives from the schools that interest you.

  • Arrange visits to schools you are considering and schedule admissions interviews if required.

  • Identify at least two of the following to write solid recommendation forms for you: a teacher, an extracurricular advisor, a counselor, a principal, or an employer. Give the recommendation forms to teachers, counselors, etc. at least one month before they are due. Follow up on the progress of these recommendations.

  • Make the final preparation of your portfolios, audition tapes, writing samples, or other evidence of talent required for admission and/or for scholarships. Finalize your academic resume to send with your applications.

  • Submit your college admissions applications. Watch out for deadlines and keep records of everything you submit.

  • Continue collaborating with your parents about college budgeting.

  • If seeking athletic scholarships, contact the coaches from any new schools you are considering and include a resume of your accomplishments.

Spring  Semester -

  • Apply for financial aid by completing and submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after January 1 as possible. The FAFSA is available from your guidance counselor, from your college's financial aid office, or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

  • Contact schools to confirm that they have received your admissions applications materials, including letters of recommendation and housing applications.

  • Request that your high school send a copy of your transcript to the school where you have applied. Make sure your first semester senior year grades are included on the transcript.

  • The information you receive back after the FAFSA is processed is the Student Aid Report (SAR). If any portion of the information on the SAR is incorrect, please correct it and resubmit it to the processing center.

  • Submit any additional financial aid forms and documentation that is required by the school of your choice. Many of these forms may be available online, including the FAFSA and some admission applications.

  • Make an official notification to responding schools whether you are accepting or declining admission.

  • Review your financial aid award letter with your parents and be sure that you understand the terms and conditions that accompany each kind of aid. Sign your financial aid award letter and return it to the school.

  • Notify the financial aid office of any outside scholarships or grants that you have accepted since your initial application.

  • Be aware of due dates for tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses. Find out how your financial aid will be disbursed and whether you can defer payments until the funds are available.

  • Respond immediately to all correspondence regarding school, scholarships, and financial aid.

  • Participate in summer orientation programs for incoming freshman after graduation.

  • Meet all class registration deadlines.

  • Maintain a high grade point average and attendance record.

  • High School Junior Year

Fall Semester:

  • Take the PSAT again in October to practice taking entrance exams and to establish eligibility for potential scholarships.

  • Attend sessions with college representatives who visit your high school and look for opportunities visit local college fairs.

  • Develop a list of possible post-secondary schools that you are interested in attending. Utilize your high school counseling office and/or school library for resources and materials. 

  • Make a personal connection with an admissions representative from each school you are interested in applying for admission.  Be sure you have all the information needed for the decision making and application process.

  • Research scholarship opportunities.  

  • Maintain a high grade point average and attendance record.

Spring Semester:

  • Take the official SAT and ACT for the first time. Some colleges will prefer one test over the other.  So, cover your bases by taking both.

  • Schedule campus visits to colleges on your short list. Consider an overnight trip that would allow for you to get a feel for what life is like on that particular campus.

  • Continue researching potential scholarship opportunities.

  • Continue building your academic portfolio by including writing samples, speeches, presentations and/or any evidence of skills and talents required for college admission and/or for scholarships.

  • If you plan to play sports in college, develop a resume of your sports experience including athletic accomplishments, relevant articles about your successes, a highlight video and summary of your athletic plans/goals for the upcoming year.  Contact athletic coaches directly at your target schools and register with the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. 

  • Write rough drafts of application essays.  Seek feedback and proofreading from others.

  • Read all college mail and send reply cards back to schools of interest.

  • Apply for those scholarships whose deadlines are in the fall. You may be too busy once school starts.

  • Maintain a high grade point average and attendance record.

High School Senior Year

Fall Semester:

  • Be sure you continue to meet high school graduation and college admission requirements.

  • Record relevant dates and deadlines on a calendar so you can plan your year more efficiently.

  • Register for the Advanced Placement (AP) tests, if needed.

  • Take or retake the ACT or SAT if needed

  • Continue meeting with visiting admissions representatives from the schools that interest you.

  • Arrange visits to schools you are considering and schedule admissions interviews if required.

  • Identify at least two of the following to write solid recommendation forms for you: a teacher, an extracurricular advisor, a counselor, a principal, or an employer. Give the recommendation forms to teachers, counselors, etc. at least one month before they are due. Follow up on the progress of these recommendations.

  • Make the final preparation of your portfolios, audition tapes, writing samples, or other evidence of talent required for admission and/or for scholarships. Finalize your academic resume to send with your applications.

  • Submit your college admissions applications. Watch out for deadlines and keep records of everything you submit.

  • Continue collaborating with your parents about college budgeting.

  • If seeking athletic scholarships, contact the coaches from any new schools you are considering and include a resume of your accomplishments.

Spring  Semester:

  • Apply for financial aid by completing and submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after January 1 as possible. The FAFSA is available from your guidance counselor, from your college's financial aid office, or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

  • Contact schools to confirm that they have received your admissions applications materials, including letters of recommendation and housing applications.

  • Request that your high school send a copy of your transcript to the school where you have applied. Make sure your first semester senior year grades are included on the transcript.

  • The information you receive back after the FAFSA is processed is the Student Aid Report (SAR). If any portion of the information on the SAR is incorrect, please correct it and resubmit it to the processing center.

  • Submit any additional financial aid forms and documentation that is required by the school of your choice. Many of these forms may be available online, including the FAFSA and some admission applications.

  • Make an official notification to responding schools whether you are accepting or declining admission.

  • Review your financial aid award letter with your parents and be sure that you understand the terms and conditions that accompany each kind of aid. Sign your financial aid award letter and return it to the school.

  • Notify the financial aid office of any outside scholarships or grants that you have accepted since your initial application.

  • Be aware of due dates for tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses. Find out how your financial aid will be disbursed and whether you can defer payments until the funds are available.

  • Respond immediately to all correspondence regarding school, scholarships, and financial aid.

  • Participate in summer orientation programs for incoming freshman after graduation.

  • Meet all class registration deadlines.

© 2019 Paige C. Davis