1. Sign up (9/17-10/10) to take the PSAT (10/15 at SHS) in guidance ($13.00 check or money order)
2. Plan to take the SAT and the ACT in the spring of Junior year (at least once, perhaps twice if you want to improve your scores)  NOTE: Students applying to selective colleges may need to take the SAT Subject Tests as well.
3. Sign up for the College Representative Visits in the guidance office (check the bulletin in advisory or guidance for more info)
4. Attend college fairs and collect information/get on mailing lists/ask questions
5. Find a job that helps you learn responsibility and grow as a person
6. Volunteer
7. Do anything (work, volunteer, summer program or camp) that helps define your future career path
8. Stop by any college (all different kinds) and walk around to get a sense of what you like and don't like in a school
9. Think about these important preferences:

• 2 YEAR/4 YEAR COLLEGE AFTER GRADUATION? WORK? MILITARY? VOLUNTEERING?
• If college, how far away from home? Particular part of the country?
• What size school?
• What kind of environment (city, small town, country?)
• What special activities or programs am I looking for?

• Identified things that you like and/or are good at
• Determined how you learn best (seeing, hearing, hands on, writing)
• Practiced setting and working towards your goals
• Improved your time management and study skills
• Selected courses for high school based on your personal interests and goals

9th grade you should have:

• Surrounded yourself with people who support you and encourage you to achieve your goals
• Discovered links between hobbies/interests and possible jobs or college majors
• Tried clubs and activities that may lead you to discover new strengths
• Taken ownership of your education! (NO EXCUSES, JUST CHOICES!)
• Worked for success in all of your classes, so you don't have to spend time making them up over the summer or next year.
• Explored schools or jobs that interest you
• Selected classes/programs for next year that are challenging and in line with your long-term goals

10th grade you should have:

• Researched majors, colleges and careers using CAREER CRUISING, EDUCATION PLANNER or other programs.
• Begun attending programs offered by SHS to educate yourself on the next step in the process.
• Taken the PSAT to get comfortable with the format of the SAT and to determine where you can improve.
• Worked hard in your classes and create a solid Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Started thinking about what kind of college you are interested in (size, location, environment, distance from home, majors offered, sports etc.)