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- Start saving for college if you haven't
already. Look into college savings plans that your state
may offer.
- Do your best in school. If you are having
difficulty, don't give up - get help from a teacher, tutor
or mentor.
- Become involved in school or community-based
extracurricular activities that enable you to explore your
interest, meet new people and learn new things.
- Continue to save for college.
- Take challenging classes in core academic
subjects: most colleges require 4 years of English, at least
3 years of social studies (history, civics, geography, economics,
etc.), 3 years of mathematics and 3 years of science. Many
require 2 to 3 years of a foreign language. Round out your course
load with classes in computer science and the arts.
- Stay involved in school or community-based
extracurricular activities that interest you or enable you
to explore career interests. Consider working or volunteering.
Remember, it's quality (not quantity) that counts.
- Take challenging core classes. (Core subjects are
listed under "Every Year").
- Start planning for college and thinking about your
career and college interests. At www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov
you can register with My FSA and research your career
and college options.
- Continue to take challenging core classes. (Core subjects
are listed under "Every Year").
- Meet with your school counselor or mentor to discuss
colleges and their requirements.
- Continue to challenge yourself academically.
- Research colleges that interest you.
- Investigate financial aid, including scholarships.
Understand the different types of aid and sources for
aid.
- For more information about scholarships and federal
student aid opportunities, visit www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov.
- Take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). You must take the
test in 11th grade to qualify for scholarships and
programs associated with the National Merit Program.
- Remember - Register for all tests in advance and
be sure to give yourself time to prepare appropriately!
If you have difficulty paying a registration fee,
see your school guidance counselor about getting
a fee waiver.
- Register for and take exams for college admission.
Many colleges accept the SAT I and/or SAT II Subject
Test, while others accept the ACT. Check with colleges
you are interested in to see what test they require.
- Narrow down the list of colleges you are interested
in attending. If you can, visit the schools that
interest you.
- Contact colleges to request information and applications
for admission. Ask about financial aid, admission
requirements and deadlines.
- Decide whether you are going to apply under a
particular college's early decision or early action
program. Be sure to learn about the program deadlines
and requirements.
- Keep taking classes that challenge
you.
- Work hard all year. Second semester
grades can affect scholarship eligibility.
- Stay involved and seek leadership roles
in your activities.
- Meet with your school counselor to
make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college
admission requirements.
- If you haven't done so already, register
for and take the SAT I, SAT II, Subject Test or ACT for
college admission. Check with the college you are interested
in to see what test they require.
- Apply to the colleges you have chosen.
Prepare your application carefully. Follow the instructions
and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!
- Well before your application deadlines,
ask your counselor and teachers to submit documents (e.g.
transcripts, letters of recommendation) to the colleges
to which you are applying.
- To prepare for federal student aid,
be sure to get a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov
so that you can complete your application and access your
information online.
- Encourage your parent(s) to complete
income tax forms early. If your parent(s) have not completed
the tax forms, you can provide estimated information on
your Federal Student Aid Application, but remember to
make any necessary changes later.
- As soon after January 1 as possible,
complete and submit your Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA), along with any other financial aid
applications your school(s) of choice may require. You
can complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov
or on paper, but completing the application online is
faster and easier. You should submit your FAFSA by the
earliest financial aid deadline of the schools to which
you are applying, usually by early February.
- If you have any questions about the
federal student aid programs or need assistance with the
applications process, call
1-800-433-3243 or TTY for the
hearing impaired at 1-800-730-8913.
- After you submit the FAFSA, you should
receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within one to four
weeks. Quickly make any necessary corrections and submit
them to the FAFSA processor.
- Complete scholarship application
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