1. Presented by Pam Mason and Rebecca Lyons
Preparing for College: What can be done 9th, 10th , and 11th grade years
Presented by Pam Mason and Rebecca Lyons

2. Make classes count
All semester grades will be posted on the high school transcript. Most college applications are due in the fall or early spring. This means the college application will be based on grades from 9th through 11th grade.
Things to consider:
Take classes that challenge (even through your senior year)
Don’t wait to get help (FIT, tutoring with teacher, tutoring center, etc.)
If a student doesn’t do so well your Freshman year it is never too late to start working harder now. Colleges notice when a student makes improvements from year to year.

3. Get involved In school Join clubs and activities Benefits: Fun
Meet other people with similar interests
Build college resume
Outside of school
Community Activities, Volunteer Work, Jobs, Summer Camp
Benefits:
Allows you to explore career interests
Build college resume
Quality not Quantity are what colleges are looking for in their applicants. It’s better to be involved in a few things that really define the student than to be involved in a lot of things that mean little to the student.

5. Keep track of accomplishments
Suggestions:
Keep a box at home where you can place any awards, certificates, or notes of activities the student has a participated in.
Start an Excel spreadsheet
Utilize the Resume builder in Naviance (activities, accomplishments, and work experience)

9. Start Exploring Colleges and Careers Now
Use the online tools such as Naviance or Big Futures
Attend college and career fairs
Juniors and Seniors can visit with College representatives when they are at Anderson. This give students an opportunity to really ask questions. The reps that visit are often the ones who read the students application, so they are great contacts! Students can sign up in Naviance.
Visit the colleges. Take a tour. Talk to current students.
Ask people you know (Friends, Family and/or people from your community) about their career and college major.

12. Take the PSAT
All 10th and 11th graders will take the PSAT on October 11th.
Students will receive scores in December or January. The score report will outline the students strengths and weaknesses. This information can be used to determine what to focus on before taking the actual test.
Link the PSAT and Khan Academy accounts for personalized SAT online preparation.

13. Register for the ACT and/or SAT
The ACT and the SAT are different tests. Many students do better on one than the other. Colleges will look at your highest scores only.
If possible, take both tests in the spring of your junior year. This gives you time in the fall of your senior year to retake them if you do not get the score you want.
You can buy study guides or check them out from the Library. You can also find study questions through Khan Academy on the student cloud.

15. It’s never too early to start talking about finances
FAFSA4caster
FAFSA workshops
Start saving now
Naviance scholarship list

16. Scholarship List in Naviance
Up Coming FAFSA Workshop for Seniors

17. When you have questions contact us
Counselors ALL 9TH GRADE GEOFF HARTER A-C 10TH-12TH NATALIE SAN MIGUEL D-HM 10TH-12TH LEA ANN ROSS HN-MN 10TH-12TH REBECCA LYONS MO-SAN 10TH-12TH SUSAN DEVANEY SAO-Z 10TH-12TH GARETH HORWOOD College and Career Center Pamela Mason Cathy Painter