Here’s exactly what you need to do every year of high school to end up at your dream school.
Good grades alone won’t set you apart: 47 percent of high school students have A averages.
College
| grade 9 | grade 10 |
- Plan ahead. Most colleges require four years each of math and English; two years each of science and history. Map out when you’ll take these classes so you won’t get overloaded any year.
- Enroll in a foreign language. Your high school likely requires two years of a language. But colleges prefer ambitious students who do more than the minimum, so take one all four years.
- Get to know your teachers. If you establish good relationships with your teachers, they’ll not only become great mentors, but they’ll also write you amazing recommendation letters.
| - Look into honors courses. AP or IB credits are one of the first things colleges look for. So look up the AP courses you want to take next year, and enroll in the prerequisite classes now.
- Read unassigned books. Colleges love applicants who read outside of class (plus, it’ll expand your vocabulary and boost your SAT score). Ask your English teacher to suggest some titles.
- Take the PSAT. To win a National Merit Scholarship, you need a good PSAT and SAT score. Only your junior year PSAT results are counted—so take it as a sophomore for some practice.
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| grade 11 | grade 12 |
- Maintain your GPA. Admissions officers look at your junior year GPA the most. Since classes (especially your APs) are tougher, it’ll give them a good idea of how well you’ll do in college.
- Take the SAT. Don’t wait until you’re a senior! Take it the spring of your junior year—so if you’re unhappy with the results, you’ll still have time to study and take it again next fall.
- Find 10 schools you like. Write down the colleges you’re interested in—and the ones your counselor suggests. Research each school and shorten the list to 10 good options.
| - Visit your top picks. Get a sense of the campus communities by checking them out in person. You can talk to students, see where you’d be living, and even sit in on some classes.
- Beware of “senioritis.” Colleges do notice if you start to slack off senior year. In fact, some schools will rescind their acceptance letters if they see your grades drop—so stay on track.
- But have a fun spring break! You’ve been working hard, so get away before the letters start arriving. You’ll feel rested and think more clearly, which will help you make the right decision.
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| GET INVOLVED! Now that you’ve tackled your academics, here’s what you should be doing after school. |
| Grade 9: Try it all. Sign up for any activity, sport, or community service that sounds fun to you—you’ll need to see what you like most. Grade 10: Narrow it down. Focus on the one or two activities you’re most passionate about, so you can excel at them. | Grade 11: Take charge! Consider running for a top position (like captain or president)— colleges adore students who are leaders. Grade 12: Make your mark. Do something big in the fall, like planning a new annual event. It’ll show colleges that you have initiative! |
