2. Make Your Future Happen What You Can Do in 8th Grade 1

3. 2 Your Future

4. 3 College Is Important for Your Goals  Whatever your goals — changing the world or simply earning a good living to support a family — you will need to go to college.  Jobs that require a bachelor’s degree will grow the fastest — nearly twice as fast as the national average.  More than two-thirds of new jobs will require some postsecondary education or training — apprenticeships, two-year college, four-year college and beyond.

5. 4 The More You Learn, the More You Earn Source: College Board, Education Pays 2004: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society.

6. 5 The More You Learn, the More You Earn Source: College Board, Education Pays 2004: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society.

7. 6 4 Steps You Need To Take To Get to College Push yourself Find the right fit Put your hands on some cash Find a caring adult to help 1 2 3 4

8. 7 4 Steps You Need To Take To Get to College 1 2 3 4 Push yourself Find the right fit Put your hands on some cash Find a caring adult to help

9. 8 Push Yourself  Take the right courses — Core 40:  Set of courses you need to take to graduate from high school in Indiana  Completing Core 40 gives you:  Solid preparation for college and work  Career options  Opportunities for scholarships and financial aid You can do it! You can do it!

10. 9 What Is Core 40? Course and credit requirements English/Language Arts 8 credits (Must include literature, composition and speech.) Mathematics (All students must take a math or physics course during junior or senior year.) 6 credits (Must include either Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II or Integrated Math series I, II and III.) Science 6 credits (Must include Biology I; Chemistry I, Physics I or Integrated Chemistry-Physics; and any Core 40 science course.) Social Studies 6 credits (Must include U.S. History; U.S. Government; Economics; and either World History/Civilization or Geography/History of the World.) Directed Electives 5 credits (world language, fine arts, career/technical) Physical Education 2 credits Health and Wellness 1 credit Electives 6 credits Total 40 credits

11. 10 Sample Four-Year Schedule Grade 9Grade 10Grade 11Grade 12 English 9English 10English 11English 12 Algebra IGeometryAlgebra IIElective BiologyChemistry I, Physics I or Integrated Chemistry/Physics Core 40 ScienceElective Health & Wellness Elective World History/ Civilization or Geography/History of the World U.S. HistoryGovernment/ Economics PEElective

12. 11 Push Yourself: Go Beyond Core 40  Your high school schedule allows you to make a lot of choices:  Take courses to explore — Career Academic Sequence.  Take courses that challenge you. –Advanced Placement (AP) –Dual credit classes –International Baccalaureate (IB), if offered  Earn distinguished high school diplomas. –Core 40 with Academic Honors –Core 40 with Technical Honors

13. 12 Push Yourself To Achieve More Core 40 with Academic Honors All Core 40 requirements Plus … –2 additional Core 40 math credits –6–8 Core 40 world language credits –2 Core 40 fine arts credits –Grade of C or better in all required courses –GPA of B or better Choose/complete one:* AP courses/exams Dual high school/college courses from Core Transfer library Combination dual credit and AP courses/exams Score of 1200 or higher on SAT Score of 26 or higher on ACT IB courses/exams *See www.learnmoreindiana.org or your school counselor for more specifics.

14. 13 Push Yourself To Achieve More Plus … –Related sequence of 8+ career-technical credits –Grade of C or better in all required courses –GPA of B or better *See www.learnmoreindiana.org or your school counselor for more specifics. Core 40 with Technical Honors All Core 40 requirements Choose/complete two (one must be A or B):* A.WorkKeys assessment/scores B.Dual high school/college credit in career-technical area C.Professional career internship D.Cooperative education E.Industry-based work experience F.State-approved industry-recognized certification

15. 14 Keeping It All Straight: Career and Course Planner  Plan and track your information on:  Career interests  The courses you need for graduation  Your postsecondary education goals  Checklists of things you need to do each year to prepare  Available in print and online versions.  Complete yours now and revisit it each year.

16. 15 Stay in School  Graduating from high school most likely will determine how well you live for the rest of your life.  High school dropouts:  Are four times more likely than college graduates to be unemployed.  Earn $300,000 less than high school graduates over their lifetime.  Earn $1 million less than college graduates over their lifetime.

17. 16 4 Steps You Need To Take To Get to College 1 2 3 4 Push yourself Find the right fit Put your hands on some cash Find a caring adult to help

18. 17 Find the Right Fit  Start thinking about your future and careers.  Different ways you can explore interests and match them with possible careers:  Web sites –www.learnmoreindiana.org –www.driveofyourlife.org  Job shadowing  Volunteering  Clubs  Electives (career/tech)

19. 18 Start Thinking about College Now  Check out college Web sites.  Talk to your parents.  Talk to friends.  Talk to your school counselor.  Visit college campuses. Public college Private college

20. 19 4 Steps You Need To Take To Get to College 1 2 3 4 Push yourself Find the right fit Put your hands on some cash Find a caring adult to help

21. 20 Put Your Hands on Some Cash  You can afford college.  There are lots of resources to help you.  Between now and senior year, you will get more information.

22. 21 What You Can Do Now  Read mini-magazines for information on paying for college.  Attend programs in your community on how to pay for college. Take your parents.  Apply for 21st Century Scholars.

23. 22 21st Century Scholars  Students who are income eligible, stay in school and fulfill a pledge of good citizenship:  Receive a tuition scholarship at participating Indiana colleges and universities.  Also can get tutoring, mentoring and support to finish college.  Must apply by end of 8th grade.

24. 23 Consider Other Scholarships  Many other scholarship programs as well.  Increase your chances of getting a scholarship by:  Joining a club  Playing a sport  Exploring the arts  Volunteering

25. 24 4 Steps You Need To Take To Get to College 1 2 3 4 Push yourself Find the right fit Put your hands on some cash Find a caring adult to help

26. 25 Find a Caring Adult To Help  Everybody needs some help.  Speak up. Be a pain, in a good way.  Talk to a parent, school counselor, teachers, friend of the family, minister, youth group leader.  Tell them you want to go to college — and ask them to help.

27. 26 Checklist of Activities: 8th Grade 1. Push yourself  Sign up for the right classes — Core 40  Take a learning styles assessment to find out how you can achieve more  Focus on your classes and stay on top of homework assignments 2. Find the Right Fit  Explore careers  Join clubs, play sports and volunteer  Start thinking about college 3. Put Your Hands on Some Cash  Get your Social Security number — you’ll need it for college financial aid and job applications  Apply for the 21st Century Scholars Program  Do the Ready for the Real World activity  Start thinking about college now 4. Find a Caring Adult To Help  Attend your high school’s orientation session  Discuss your future plans with your high school counselor and family  Ask to visit colleges  Bookmark www.learnmoreindiana.org

28. 27 Your Future

29. 28 More Resources  Learn More Indiana  Web site (www.learnmoreindiana.org)  E-mail (info@learnmore.org)  Help line (1-800-992-2076)  Know How 2 Go Indiana  Web site (www.KnowHow2GOIndiana.org)