College Information

Pre-High School
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· Start saving for college if you haven’t already. Look into college savings plans that your state may offer.
· Do your best in school. If you are having difficulty, don’t give up, get help from a teacher, tutor or mentor.
· Become involved in school or community based extracurricular activities that enable you to explore your interests, meet new people and learn new things.
· Go to career information events. Ask employers what kinds of education they expect their employees to have.


9th Grade
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· Take challenging core classes.
· Start planning for college and thinking about your career interests.
· Stay involved in school or community extracurricular activities.
· Talk to your school counselor and other mentors about education after high school. Your counselor can answer questions about what classes to take in high school, how to sign up for standardized tests, and where to get money for college.



Choosing a Career and Major
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Choosing a career or major begins by determining what you are interested in doing and what you are good at. Think about what hobbies and subjects you enjoy. What makes them enjoyable? What skills do you have that make you successful at that hobby or area? Often the most rewarding careers come from things we enjoy doing everyday.

Check out the Choices Planner on FACTS.org for help evaluating your interests and skills. This tool will also provide you with possible career choices that match your interests and skills.

Choices Career Planner:  https://access.bridges.com/auth/login.do?sponsor=7

(You will need to create a portfolio with a login and password to work on a Choices planner)


10th Grade
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· Continue to take challenging core classes.

· Meet with your school counselor or mentor to discuss colleges and their requirements.

· Stay involved in extracurricular activities that help you explore your interests and gain real life experience.

· Begin researching scholarship options.

· Begin visiting colleges with your family to get a feel for the different types of college campus’ and choices that you have.


Selecting a College
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Once you have some ideas about your college major, you need to think about what is important to you in a college. Do you want to stay near home or move farther away? Do you learn better in smaller classes or in large groups? Would you prefer lecture style classes or online learning? What kinds of campus activities are important to you?

If you want to remain in Florida, you can search for colleges that fit your requirements by clicking on the link below:
Finding a Florida College or Program:  http://www.facts.org/


If you are interested in colleges or universities outside of Florida go to:
College Match Maker:  http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/index.jsp


11th Grade
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All Year
· Continue to challenge yourself academically.
· Continue to research and visit colleges that interest you.
· Continue to research scholarships and financial aid requirements.

Fall
· Take the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. You must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for scholarships and programs associated with the National Merit Program.

Spring
· Register for and take exams for college admissions. Many colleges accept the SAT I and/or SAT II: Subject Test, while others accept the ACT. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.


Summer Before 12th Grade
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· Narrow down the list of college you are interested in attending. If you can, make sure you visit those campuses.
· Contact colleges to request information and applications for admissions. Ask about financial aid, admission requirements and deadlines.
· Decide whether you are going to apply under a particular college’s early decision or early action program. Be sure to learn about program deadlines and requirements.


12th Grade
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Fall
· Meet with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements.
· If you haven’t already, register for and take exams such as the SAT or ACT for college admissions.
· Apply to the colleges you have chosen. Prepare applications carefully. Follow the instructions, and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!
· Well before your application deadlines, ask your counselor and teachers to submit required documents (e.g. transcripts, letters of recommendation) to the college to which you’re applying.
· To prepare to apply for federal financial aid, be sure to get a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov so that you can complete your application and access your information online. Your parents must also get a PIN.


Winter
· Encourage your parent(s) to complete income tax forms early. If your parent(s) have not completed their tax forms, you can provide estimated information on your federal student aid application, but remember to make any necessary changes later.
· As soon after January 1 as possible, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), along with any other financial aid applications your school(s) of choice may require.
· After you submit the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within one to three weeks. Quickly make any necessary corrections and submit them to the FAFSA processor.
· Complete scholarship applications. PAY ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!

Spring
· Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll.
· Review your college acceptances and compare financial aid packages.
· Contact a school’s financial aid office if you have questions about the aid that school has offered you.
· When you decide which school you want to attend, notify that school of your commitment and submit any required financial deposit. Many schools require this notification and deposit by May 1.


For a PDF printable version of this checklist go to:  www.studentaid.ed.gov/collprep