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Welcome CHS Freshmen!
There are some steps you can take as a ninth- and a 10th-grader to make sure you’re on the right track for college. This list will help you navigate the college planning process.
- Your counselor will meet with you during second quarter to create a four-year high school plan.
- Think about what you’d like to accomplish in the next four years.
- Make sure you know which high school courses are required by colleges, and that you’re taking the right classes as early as the ninth grade.
- You can ask your counselor about what those “right” classes are.
- Get to know the levels of courses offered by your school.
- Start thinking about your life after school, including the types of jobs that might interest you.
- Of course, these will change — often — but it’s good to start thinking about the possibilities.
- Identify your interests — likes and dislikes — not just in classes but also in every area. This will help you focus on your goals.
- Talk to other people, such as your school counselor, teachers, recent college graduates who are working, professionals in the community, etc., about careers you might find interesting.
- Participate in extracurricular activities. Academics aren’t everything. Explore your interest in a sport, school club, music or drama group, or community volunteer activity.
- Remember that colleges would rather see real involvement in one activity instead of a loose connection to several.
- If you’re interested in playing sports in college, research the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility requirements. The NCAA requires completion of certain core courses; you can find the specifics at ncaaclearinghouse.net
- Save for college. It’s not too late to put money aside for college. Every little bit helps! Learning about financial aid early on can also help you down the road.
- Explore summer opportunities. Look for a job, internship, or volunteer position that will help you learn about a field of interest.
- Get familiar with the PSAT-related assessments and SAT® . Most four-year colleges consider applicants’ scores on college admission test. Download the free Daily Practice for the New SAT app to get a feel for the kinds of questions you might face on test day.
- Your counselor will meet with you during second quarter to create a four-year high school plan.