Fall: Plan for the year ahead

  • Meet with your counselor to discuss your college plans. Review your schedule with him or her to make sure you’re enrolled in challenging classes that will help you prepare for college. Colleges prefer four years of English, history, math, science and a foreign language.
  • Use College Search to find out what courses and tests are required by colleges that you might be interested in attending.
  • Start a calendar with important dates and deadlines.
  • Get more involved with extracurricular activities.
  • Go to college fairs in your area.

Winter: Learn about colleges

  • Learn about college costs and how financial aid works.
  • Use the college savings calculator to see how much money you’ll need for college, whether you’re on track to save enough and what you need to do to reach your goal. Talk to your parents about financing college.
  • Find out about college firsthand from college students who are home for the holidays.

Spring: Focus

  • Stay focused and sign up for college preparatory courses.
  • Explore summer opportunities: jobs, internships or volunteer positions.
  • Check with your counselor and search online for summer school programs for high school students at colleges.

Summer: Make the most of your break

  • Start a summer reading list. Ask your teachers to recommend books.
  • Plan to visit college campuses to get a feel for your options. Start with colleges near you.
  • Finalize your summer plans.

More information can be found on the College Board’s website.