The document provides grade-by-grade guidance for students to become college ready, starting in 9th grade. In 9th grade, students should focus on study skills, start thinking about college costs, and discuss career and college plans. In 10th grade, students should maintain good grades, continue extracurriculars, and start preparing for college entrance exams. In 11th grade, students should map test dates, take the PSAT, research colleges, and consider internships or jobs. Twelfth grade focuses on completing applications, financial aid, and meeting deadlines.

1. Becoming College Ready:
Grade by Grade

2. NINTH GRADE
• Ninth grade is a good time to focus on improving existing study skills or
developing some new ones.
• Start thinking about the financial requirements of university – saving money and
opening a college savings account are both good steps.
• Discuss future career and college plans with a guidance counselor and/or parents;
simply making a rough outline of potential careers can go a long way.
• Start collecting any and all important documents that might be useful while
filling out a college application. Examples include:
• Report cards
• List of awards, honors, etc.
• Description of any volunteer work and school/community work.
• Investigate high-level classes (honors, AP, or college-level) which often sway an
university’s acceptance decision.

3. TENTH GRADE
• Keep grades up, continue studying and engage in a few extracurricular
activities.
• Continue putting money into that college saving account or open one
if you haven’t already.
• Keep the file of important documents updated – it’ll be crucial while
filling out a college application.
• Start taking preparatory tests, such as the PLAN for the ACT test and
the PSAT for the SAT. Go ahead and start studying for those big exams.
• Start investigating possible universities/colleges and check out their
requirements for entrance and admission.

4. ELEVENTH GRADE
(FALL/SPRING SEMESTER)
• Map out the dates for big tests (SAT,
AP exams, etc.)
• Register for and partake in the PSAT
exam, which usually takes place in
October, since it’s a good primer for
the actual SAT.
• Narrow down the list of potential
colleges and begin scheduling dates
for campus tours/sessions with
admissions counselors.
• Consider looking into a summer job
or internship – this would be good
information to put on a college
application and put a little money in
your pocket.
• Register for the SAT (March) or ACT
(April); alternatively, you could take
both.
• Enroll in any higher-level classes that
are available or interest you.
• Continue studying and keeping up
your classes.

5. TWELFTH/THIRTEENTH GRADE
• Continue studying, keeping up with grades, etc.
• Make sure you meet all the listed requirements of an university before sending in the
application.
• Investigate and apply for any financial aid that you can – it will help immensely in terms
of covering the heavy tax on wallets college usually takes.
• Most college applications are due in November, so be sure to check over them
thoroughly and send them in before the deadline. Same goes for any financial aid
applications filled out.
• Consider purchasing a laptop, if you don’t already have one, for college; it wouldn’t hurt
to look into other schools supplies.
• By April 15th you should receive a letter declaring whether or not your college application
was accepted.
• Decide on the university you will be attending by May 1st; notify the school by submitting
your commitment deposit check.