• 	REQUEST a list of classes approved to meet the four-year college or community/
technical college requirements.  Your counselor has this list.  	
• 	SELECT academic classes to meet requirements for the type of college you plan 
to 
attend.	
• 	PLAN your classes for each year of high school.  SELECT classes you want to take 
each school year.	
• 	DECIDE on the grade you want to earn this year in each of your classes. 
 TRY to 
earn these grades.	
• 	DEVELOP good study habits.  GET tutoring immediately if you need help in a subject — especially Engl
ish, math, 
science.  	
• 	JOIN school activities such as club, sports, drama, drama crew, debate teams, student government, yearbook, or 
newspaper staff.  Colleges look for students who are involved.           	
• 	VOLUNTEER for leadership roles in the school group (volunteer to become an officer).	
• 	SIGN-UP for a volunteer position in interesting community activities, sports, o
r activity dealing with pets, children, 
disabled, or the elderly.  TALK to your counselor and go to your city’s Recreation Department (usually located near 
city hall) to ask about volunteer jobs.	
• 	START a list of your school activities, volunteer activities, sports activiti
es, awards received, and paid work.            
UPDATE this list at the beginning of each school term.	
• 	VISIT your school’s career center.  USE the internet to learn about types of colleges, entrance requireme
nts, and costs  
of the college.   	
• 	READ about careers in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh).  ASK your counselor or career 
center staff to give you a career interest test.  DISCUSS the results of the career
 interest test with your parents and 
counselor.  ASK if you can JOB SHADOW (follow around for a day) someone who has an interesting job. 	
• 	ATTEND college fairs.  ASK your counselor or career center staff for the dates of college fairs.	
• 	SIGN-UP to attend college recruiter meetings at your school.  LISTEN and talk t
o college recruiters who come to 
your campus to learn about the college.	
• 	READ the local news to become aware of your community's current events.	
• 	DISCUSS college plans with your parents.  	
• 	START saving for college.  Google "FAFSA4caster" website to estimate financial aid available.	
• 	LEARN about college financial aid opportunities by visiting: www.studentaid.gov.  LEARN difference between 
scholarships, grants, loans, work study.  	
THINGS TO DO:  SPRING TERM — UPDATE YOUR CAREER PREP NOTEBOOK
• 	DOCUMENT (write down) school club or volunteer activity you accomplished:  1) Name of activity.  2) What you 
did (job title).  3) Supervisor/advisor's name.  4) Begin/end date.  5) Paragraph on what you learned for each activity.   
6) ASK supervisor/advisor to write letter of recommendation describing the quality of your participation.  7) FILE this  
document in your College Prep Notebook. 	
THINGS TO DO:  SUMMERTIME  
• 	TAKE an extra high school class.  FIND an interesting volunteer job.  VISIT a college campus. 
Permission to use with subscription to usworkworld.com	Freshmen: College Prep Checklist  	
Freshmen: College Prep Checklist

Sophomore: College Prep Checklist	
Sophomore: College Prep Checklist  	
• 	CONSIDER taking practice college entrance tests: Preliminary SAT/Na	-	
tional Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) or PLAN (Pre-
ACT) exam. ASK your counselor for cost and sign-up deadlines. 	
• 	REQUEST a list of classes approved to meet the college or community/
technical college requirements.  Your counselor has this list.  	
• 	SELECT academic classes to meet college requirements.	
• 	PLAN classes.  ASK your counselor about 	Advanced Placement (AP) and 	
IB (International Baccalaureate) 	classes.  SELECT classes.	
• 	DECIDE on the grade you want to earn this year in each of your classes. 
 
TRY to earn these grades. 	
• 	CONTINUE to practice good study habits.  GET tutoring immediately if you need help in a subject!  	
• 	JOIN school groups such as clubs, sports, drama, or debate teams, or stu
dent government, yearbook, 
or newspaper staff.  Colleges look for students who are involved in more than classroom s
tudies.        
VOLUNTEER for leadership roles (volunteer to become an officer) in these groups.	
• 	SIGN-UP for a volunteer position in interesting community activities, sports, o
r programs  dealing 
with pets, children, disabled, or the elderly.  TALK to your counselor and go to your city’s Recreation 
Department (usually located near city hall) to ask about volunteer job
s.	
• 	VISIT your school’s career center.  USE the internet to learn about types of colleges, entrance          
   
requirements, and costs of attending the college.  	
• 	READ about careers in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/ooh).  ASK your counselor 
to give you a career interest test.  DISCUSS results of this test with y
our parents and counselor.  ASK if 
you can JOB SHADOW (follow around for a day) someone who has an interesting job. 	
• 	ATTEND college fairs.  ASK your counselor or career center staff for the dates of college fairs.	
• 	SIGN-UP to attend college recruiter meetings at your school.  TALK to college recruiters who come to 
your campus to learn about the college.	
• 	DISCUSS college plans with your parents.  SAVE money for college.  GOOGLE: "FAFSA4caster" 
website to estimate your financial aid eligibility.  	LEARN about college financial aid by visiting: www.	
studentaid.ed.gov.  AVOID student loans!  Avoid scams by visiting www.studentaid.gov/scams.  	
• 	READ the local news to become aware of your community's current events.	
• 	VISIT a local college.  Locate the Admissions Office, Counseling Office, Financial Aid Office, library, 
cafeteria, computer lab, and bookstore.  READ the college newspaper. 	
THINGS TO DO:  SPRING TERM — UPDATE YOUR CAREER PREP NOTEBOOK
• 	DOCUMENT (write down) school club or volunteer activity you did:  1) Name of 
activity.  2) Job 
title/duties.  3) Supervisor/advisor's name.  4) Begin/end date.  5) 
Paragraph on what you learned.  6) 
ASK supervisor/advisor to write letter of recommendation describing the 
quality of your participation.        
7) FILE this document in your College Prep Notebook.  CREATE a resume. 	
THINGS TO DO:  SUMMERTIME  
• 	TAKE an extra high school class.  FIND an interesting volunteer job or pa
ying job.  VISIT a college 
campus with your parents.  Attend SAT or ACT preparation workshop.
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Junior: College Prep Checklist  	
Junior: College Prep Checklist	
• 	ENROLL into correct classes for college or job training.	
• 	EARN good grades.  GET tutoring if you need help in a subject!	
• 	JOIN school groups such as clubs, sports, drama, drama crew, debate 
teams, or your school’s government, yearbook, or newspaper staff.                
VOLUNTEER for leadership roles such as becoming an officer.	
• 	USE the internet to research colleges costs and entrance requirements.	
• 	READ about careers in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.
bls.gov/ooh).  ASK your counselor to give you a career interest test.           
DISCUSS the results of this test with your parents.  ASK if you can JOB 
SHADOW a person with an interesting job.   	
• 	ATTEND college fairs.  LISTEN and talk to college recruiters who come to 
your campus.	
• 	CONTINUE saving for college.  GOOGLE: "FAFSA4caster" to estimate your financial aid eligibil	-	
ity.  	LEARN about college financial aid by visiting: www.studentaid.ed.gov.  SEARCH for grants and    	
scholarships.  AVOID student loans!  	
• 	LEARN to avoid scholarship scams and identity theft by visiting: www.studentaid.gov/scams. 	
• 	TALK to older friends who are in college, and VISIT several colleges.	
AUG/SEP:  	SIGN-UP for the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/	
NMSQT).  You must take this test as a junior to qualify for scholarships and other programs.	
NOV:	  REVIEW your PSAT scores.  FIND tutors to help you improve.  DEVELOP friendships with    	
teachers and counselors whom you may ask to write your college applicati
on recommendation letter.	
FEB:	  REGISTER to take college admission tests that are required for the college you want to attend:  	
SAT or ACT to practice your test skills.  REGISTER for TOEFL test if required by the college if your         
native language is not English.  ASK your counselor how to enroll in a summer college class or summer 
enrichment class.   	
MAR: 	 START to complete scholarship applications and essays between the junior and 
senior year.  	
STUDY for any upcoming AP exams.  VISIT counselor to enroll in your senior year classes.   	
APR/MAY:	  TAKE all required exams!  Colleges prefer students who follow through by 
taking AP/IB 	
exams.  	
JUN: 	 WRITE your college application essays.  WRITE any scholarship  application essays required.  	
VOLUNTEER in your community or get a part-time job.  DECIDE whether you 
are going to apply for 
college's "early decision" program.  LEARN about "early decision" deadli
nes and requirements.  ASK a 
teacher and/or counselor to write a letter of recommendation for your co
llege applications.  	
JUL: 	 TAKE a high school or college class and find an interesting volunteer or paying job.  VISIT colleges 	
of your choice.  ATTEND a SAT or ACT preparation workshop.   	
THINGS TO DO:  SPRING TERM — UPDATE YOUR CAREER PREP NOTEBOOK
• 	DOCUMENT (write down) school club or volunteer activity you accomplished:  1)
 Name of activity.  
2) Job title/duties.  3) Supervisor/advisor's name.  4) Begin/end dat
e.  5) Paragraph on what you learned 
for each activity.  6) ASK supervisor/advisor to write a letter of recommendation describing th
e quality 
of your participation.  7) FILE this document in your College Prep Note
book. 	
• 	CREATE your resume (awards, accomplishments, activities, volunteer/paid wor
k for last three years).	
THINGS TO DO:  SUMMERTIME  
• 	TAKE an extra high school or college class.  FIND an interesting voluntee
r job or paying job.  VISIT a 
college campus with your parents.  
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Senior: College Prep Checklist  	
Senior: College Prep Checklist	
• 	ENROLL into correct classes.	
• 	EARN good grades.  Senior grades (first and second term) can affect college 
entrance and scholarship eligibility.	
• 	JOIN school groups such as clubs, sports, drama, drama crew, debate teams, 
or your school’s government, yearbook, newspaper staff.  VOLUNTEER for 
leadership roles such as becoming an officer.	
• 	USE the internet to learn about colleges, entrance requirements, and cos
ts.	
• 	RESEARCH careers in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/
ooh).  TAKE a career interest test.  ASK if you can JOB SHADOW someone with an interesting job.   	
• 	ATTEND college fairs.  LISTEN and talk to college recruiters who come to 
your campus.	
• 	CONTINUE saving for college.  GOOGLE "FAFSA4caster" to estimate your financial aid eligibility.	
• 	LEARN about college financial aid opportunities by visiting: www.studentaid.ed.gov.  SEARCH for 
grants and scholarships.  AVOID student loans!	
• 	LEARN to avoid scholarship scams and identity theft by visiting: www.studentaid.gov/scams. 	
AUG/SEP:  APPLY for financial aid by due dates.  SIGN-UP for ACT or SAT test (and TOEFL) if required 	
by colleges of your choice.  DECIDE if you are going to apply for a coll
ege's "early decision" program.  
Be sure to learn about "early decision" requirements.  PREPARE applications and essays for colleges 
you wish to attend.  ASK English teacher to review your college application essays.  REQUEST teacher 
and/or counselor to write a college application letter of recommendation
 for you, if needed.  FINALIZE 
your college choices, applications, and essays. 	
NOV:  APPLY to the colleges you wish to attend.  CAREFULLY follow application instructions, and 	
pay attention to deadlines.  BEFORE DEADLINE: Send high school transcripts to these colleges and       
complete housing (dorm) application, if needed.	
JAN:  ATTEND your school’s financial aid night with your parents.  ENCOURAGE your parents to 	
complete their IRS income tax form early!  SUBMIT your Free Application for Federal Student Aid 
(FAFSA) as soon as possible along with any other financial aid applications your college of choice may 
require.  Completing the FAFSA online is easier.  SUBMIT the required GPA Verification Form.  	
FEB:  QUICKLY make any necessary corrections when you receive your Student Aid Report (SAR), and 	
submit them to the FAFSA processor.  CHECK that all necessary materials have been submitted to    
colleges.  CONTINUE in classes you told the colleges you were taking second semester.  REMEMBER, 
admission decisions may be reversed if you drop classes or get low grade
s.  	
MAR:  VISIT colleges that invited you to enroll.  REVIEW college acceptance paperwork and compare 	
financial aid offers.  CONTACT the college financial aid office for questions.  BEWARE of accepting 
student loans that will burden you with college debt.  	
APR:  TAKE all exams!  Colleges prefer students who follow through by taking AP/IB exams.
MAY:  SEND your final transcript to the college you will attend.  DOCUMENT school club or volunteer 	
activity you accomplished:  1) Name of activity.  2) Job title/duties.  3) Supervisor's name.  4) Begin/
end date.  5) Paragraph on what you learned..  6) ASK supervisor/advisor to write letter of recommenda	-	
tion describing the quality of your participation.  7) FILE this document in your College Prep Notebook.   
CREATE your resume.  GET a part-time job to help pay college costs.  	
ENJOY!  You made it!
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