1. 4 Year Planning A roadmap for 8 th and 9 th grade students and their families.

2. 8th Grade – Looking Ahead Start thinking about your future and the types of careers that interest you. Start thinking about your future and the types of careers that interest you. Develop good habits for studying, time management, test taking, and writing papers. Develop good habits for studying, time management, test taking, and writing papers. Know your academic strengths and weaknesses and get help when needed. Know your academic strengths and weaknesses and get help when needed. Complete interest inventories on CFNC and F4K Career Cruising. Complete interest inventories on CFNC and F4K Career Cruising. Participate in extra curricular activities especially those that will expose you to different careers. Participate in extra curricular activities especially those that will expose you to different careers. Start looking at colleges on-line. Start looking at colleges on-line.

3. 9th Grade – Get Off to a Good Start Keep a record of your involvements and achievements. Start a portfolio now that details your community service, sports, clubs, honors and awards. Keep track of report cards and certificates. Keep a record of your involvements and achievements. Start a portfolio now that details your community service, sports, clubs, honors and awards. Keep track of report cards and certificates. Choose your classes wisely! Colleges want to see that you have challenged yourself! Choose your classes wisely! Colleges want to see that you have challenged yourself! Develop a list of colleges that interest you and visit a few. Visit on-line first, then plan for a formal visit if you are really interested. Develop a list of colleges that interest you and visit a few. Visit on-line first, then plan for a formal visit if you are really interested. Do your absolute best! Now is when it counts! Colleges look back to the 9th grade to view grades, track course load, and review your progress. Also, you are building the foundation for your GPA in the 9th grade. Do your absolute best! Now is when it counts! Colleges look back to the 9th grade to view grades, track course load, and review your progress. Also, you are building the foundation for your GPA in the 9th grade.

4. 10th Grade – Keep the Momentum Going You can take the PSAT or the ACT Plan test this year. Although you will want to take the PSAT again in the 11th grade as those scores may put you in the running for a National Merit Scholarship! You can take the PSAT or the ACT Plan test this year. Although you will want to take the PSAT again in the 11th grade as those scores may put you in the running for a National Merit Scholarship! Continue to build that strong GPA by doing your absolute best! Continue to build that strong GPA by doing your absolute best! Start preparing for the SAT or ACT. Review on line materials and talk to your teachers. Start preparing for the SAT or ACT. Review on line materials and talk to your teachers. Look more closely at the colleges that interest you. What characteristics are most important to you: number of students, cost, distance from home, majors, etc. Research them on line and visit some. Look more closely at the colleges that interest you. What characteristics are most important to you: number of students, cost, distance from home, majors, etc. Research them on line and visit some. Look at entrance requirements for the schools that interest you. Make sure you have the classes and grades that are required. Look at entrance requirements for the schools that interest you. Make sure you have the classes and grades that are required. Continue with extra curricular activities, jobs, sports and other teams, and community service. Continue with extra curricular activities, jobs, sports and other teams, and community service. Take any AP tests in the Spring. Take any AP tests in the Spring. Keep track of all of your activities and honors in your portfolio! Keep track of all of your activities and honors in your portfolio! Talk to your School Counselor to ensure that you are on track. Talk to your School Counselor to ensure that you are on track.

5. 11th Grade – Don’t Ease Up Here! Keep Up the Good Work! Take the PSAT in the fall. This score may put you in the running for a National Merit Scholarship. Schedule the ACT/ SAT, and SAT Subject Tests for the Spring. Take the PSAT in the fall. This score may put you in the running for a National Merit Scholarship. Schedule the ACT/ SAT, and SAT Subject Tests for the Spring. Continue to do your best in class. Redouble your efforts and show colleges what you can do! Continue to do your best in class. Redouble your efforts and show colleges what you can do! Participate in extra curricular activities and take leadership roles. Participate in extra curricular activities and take leadership roles. Document your activities and honors in your portfolio. Document your activities and honors in your portfolio. Participate in academic programs, workshops, and summer camps. Participate in academic programs, workshops, and summer camps. Try to narrow down your college search. Visit campuses, request brochures and materials, talk to college students, faculty, your parents, and your School Counselor. Try to narrow down your college search. Visit campuses, request brochures and materials, talk to college students, faculty, your parents, and your School Counselor. Try to secure a summer job or internship. Try to secure a summer job or internship.

6. 12th Grade – the Finish Line is In View! Take the ACT or SAT if you want to try for a better score. Take SAT II Subject Tests. Take the ACT or SAT if you want to try for a better score. Take SAT II Subject Tests. Develop and refine an essay or two to use on college applications. Develop and refine an essay or two to use on college applications. Do take a Science and a Math. Do take a Science and a Math. Try to take AP classes if not IB. Try to take AP classes if not IB. Look carefully at college entrance requirements and be sure who have met them. Look carefully at college entrance requirements and be sure who have met them. Know the application deadlines for the colleges of your choice. Don’t miss those! Know the application deadlines for the colleges of your choice. Don’t miss those! Don’t slack off! Senior grades are just as important as the last 3 years. Don’t slack off! Senior grades are just as important as the last 3 years.

7. Tests, Tests, and more Tests SAT I Reasoning Test Measures the skills students need for academic success in college in 3 areas: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Measures the skills students need for academic success in college in 3 areas: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Score Potential: 800 on each section, with a total of 2400 Score Potential: 800 on each section, with a total of 2400 Average score is around a 500 on each section Average score is around a 500 on each section Register online at collegeboard.com Register online at collegeboard.com

8. Tests, Tests, and more Tests ACT Test This is a curriculum-based test designed to measure a student’s college readiness and academic achievement in 4 skill areas: English, Math, Reading, & Science This is a curriculum-based test designed to measure a student’s college readiness and academic achievement in 4 skill areas: English, Math, Reading, & Science The writing test is optional but required for admission to UNC system schools The writing test is optional but required for admission to UNC system schools Score scale is 1-36 on each section & a 1- 36 composite score Score scale is 1-36 on each section & a 1- 36 composite score Register online at act.org Register online at act.org

9. Tests, Tests, and more Tests SAT II Subject Tests SAT II Subject Tests These are required by some colleges for admission/and or for placement after enrollment These are required by some colleges for admission/and or for placement after enrollment Check college web sites to determine requirements Check college web sites to determine requirements It is recommended that students take Subject Tests near the end of a course It is recommended that students take Subject Tests near the end of a course Register at collegeboard.com Register at collegeboard.com

10. Graduation Requirements for College/University Prep English English I, II, III, IV 4credits Mathematics Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and a higher level Math for which Algebra II is a prerequisite 4 credits Science Earth/Environmental Science, Biology, & Physical Science 3 credits Social Studies World History, Civics & Economics, US History 3 credits Second Language Two credits in the same language 2 credits Healthful Living 1 credits Electives 11 credits Total 28 credits

11. Online Resources www.collegeboard.com www.collegeboard.com www.collegeboard.com www.act.org www.act.org www.act.org www.sfnc.org www.sfnc.org www.sfnc.org www.fafsa.ed.gov www.fafsa.ed.gov www.fafsa.ed.gov www.knowhow2go.org www.knowhow2go.org www.knowhow2go.org www.fafsa4castr.ed.gov www.fafsa4castr.ed.gov www.fafsa4castr.ed.gov www.gocollege.com www.gocollege.com www.gocollege.com www.nacacnet.org/StudentResource s/Pages www.nacacnet.org/StudentResource s/Pages www.nacacnet.org/StudentResource s/Pages www.nacacnet.org/StudentResource s/Pages