Preparing for College

Start early! There are steps you and your students can do now to prepare. Wondering what to do or where to start? Start early! There are steps you and your students can do now to prepare.

6th–8th Grade Students Use an online career inventory In sixth to eighth grades, students should: Use an online inventory to explore their career interests. CaliforniaColleges.edu is a good place to start — it’s a one-stop website for information about higher education in California for students, counselors and parents. CaliforniaColleges.edu

6th–8th Grade Students Family Use an online career inventory Talk to a trusted adult Make schoolwork a top priority Seek out extra classes and enrichment activities Read, read, read Contribute to a college savings plan They should also: Talk to a trusted adult about going to college. Make schoolwork, participation and attendance a top priority. Seek out extra classes and enrichment activities. Read, read, read. As a family, contribute to a college savings plan, if you can, to begin preparing for the costs of college. We’ll talk more about the college savings plan in our fourth module, “How to Pay for UC.”

9th Grade Students Family Create a four-year schedule Create a college info folder Explore summer academic enrichment opportunities Find out how your student is doing academically and socially Encourage extracurricular activities Starting in ninth grade, students should: Create a four-year schedule with their school counselor that meets both high school graduation and “a-g” college entrance requirements. Create a college information folder for materials on college-related topics. Explore summer academic enrichment opportunities at high school or community college. You may need to apply as early as March for these courses. As a family: Check in with your student’s teachers and counselor to find out how he or she is doing academically and socially. Social challenges can affect academic performance. Also, encourage your student to explore extracurricular activities at school and in the community.

10th Grade Students Family Review four-year academic plan Prepare for the PSAT Explore summer jobs, academic enrichment and volunteer opportunities Review PSAT score report Discuss colleges and costs Obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) if your student doesn’t have one For tenth grade, students should: Review their four-year academic plan with your family, their teachers and their counselors. Prepare and register early for the Preliminary SAT, known as PSAT. Your student’s high school counselor will have more information. Begin early to explore summer jobs, academic enrichment and volunteer opportunities, being mindful of application deadlines. Counselors will have more information about summer courses available at local colleges. As a family: Review your student’s PSAT score report, and discuss areas of challenge, in preparation for the SAT the following year. Research and discuss colleges and costs. Obtain a Social Security Number for your student, if they don’t have one.

10th Grade www.ssa.gov If your student doesn’t have a Social Security Number, visit www.ssa.gov to learn more about obtaining one. While many private scholarships don’t require them, your student with need an SSN for state and federal aid.

11th Grade Students Family Take the PSAT again in October Make a list of colleges Take SAT and/or ACT in spring Begin thinking about letters of recommendation and topics for personal insight questions Ask about fee waivers for tests Search for scholarships Visit colleges In eleventh grade, encourage your students to: Take the PSAT again in October. Make a list of colleges they’re interested in and learn the entrance requirements at those schools. Take the SAT and/or the ACT in the spring. Begin thinking about who can complete letters of recommendation and topics for personal insight questions. As a family, don’t forget to: Ask counselors about fee waivers for test scores and test-taking, Search for scholarships and Visit colleges.

12th Grade Students Family Retake SAT and/or ACT Ask for letters of recommendation Complete college applications Meet with counselors Complete FAFSA October 1 Never pay to apply! Attend college open houses Finally, for twelfth grade, your student should: Retake the SAT and/or the ACT if they want to try to increase their score. Ask for letters of recommendation. Complete their college applications in the fall. Continue to meet with their counselors for college information. As a family: Be sure that your student completes a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA, starting October 1. Never pay to apply for the FAFSA! It’s always free. Also, attend college open houses in the spring. Campuses offer events for prospective and admitted students and families.