4 Year Planning4 Year Planning

A roadmap for 8A roadmap for 8thth and 9 and 9thth grade grade students and their families.students and their families.

8th Grade – Looking Ahead8th Grade – Looking Ahead

Start thinking about your future and the types of Start thinking about your future and the types of careers that interest you.careers that interest you.

Develop good habits for studying, time Develop good habits for studying, time management, test taking, and writing papers.management, test taking, and writing papers.

Know your academic strengths and weaknesses Know your academic strengths and weaknesses and get help when needed.and get help when needed.

Complete interest inventories on CFNC and F4K Complete interest inventories on CFNC and F4K Career Cruising.Career Cruising.

Participate in extra curricular activities especially Participate in extra curricular activities especially those that will expose you to different careers.those that will expose you to different careers.

Start looking at colleges on-line.Start looking at colleges on-line.

9th Grade – Get Off to a 9th Grade – Get Off to a Good StartGood Start

Keep a record of your involvements and Keep a record of your involvements and achievements. Start a portfolio achievements. Start a portfolio nownow that details that details your community service, sports, clubs, honors and your community service, sports, clubs, honors and awards. Keep track of report cards and certificates.awards. Keep track of report cards and certificates.

Choose your classes wisely! Colleges want to see Choose your classes wisely! Colleges want to see that you have challenged yourself!that you have challenged yourself!

Develop a list of colleges that interest you and visit Develop a list of colleges that interest you and visit a few. Visit on-line first, then plan for a formal visit if a few. Visit on-line first, then plan for a formal visit if you are really interested.you are really interested.

Do your absolute best! Now is when it counts! Do your absolute best! Now is when it counts! Colleges look back to the 9th grade to view grades, Colleges look back to the 9th grade to view grades, track course load, and review your progress. Also, track course load, and review your progress. Also, you are building the foundation for your GPA in the you are building the foundation for your GPA in the 9th grade.9th grade.

10th Grade – Keep the 10th Grade – Keep the Momentum GoingMomentum Going You can take the PSAT or the ACT Plan test this year. Although 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 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 scores may put you in the running for a National Merit Scholarship!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 Start preparing for the SAT or ACT. Review on line materials

and talk to your teachers.and talk to your teachers. Look more closely at the colleges that interest you. What Look more closely at the colleges that interest you. What

characteristics are most important to you: number of students, characteristics are most important to you: number of students, cost, distance from home, majors, etc. Research them on line cost, distance from home, majors, etc. Research them on line and visit some. and visit some.

Look at entrance requirements for the schools that interest you. Look at entrance requirements for the schools that interest you. Make sure you have the classes and grades that are required. Make sure you have the classes and grades that are required.

Continue with extra curricular activities, jobs, sports and other Continue with extra curricular activities, jobs, sports and other teams, and community service.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.

11th Grade – Don’t Ease Up 11th Grade – Don’t Ease Up Here! Keep Up the Good Work!Here! Keep Up the Good Work!

Take the PSAT in the fall. This score may put you in the Take the PSAT in the fall. This score may put you in the running for a National Merit Scholarship. Schedule the running for a National Merit Scholarship. Schedule the ACT/ SAT, and SAT Subject Tests for the Spring. ACT/ SAT, and SAT Subject Tests for the Spring.

Continue to do your best in class. Redouble your efforts Continue to do your best in class. Redouble your efforts and show colleges what you can do!and show colleges what you can do!

Participate in extra curricular activities and take Participate in extra curricular activities and take leadership roles.leadership roles.

Document your activities and honors in your portfolio.Document your activities and honors in your portfolio. Participate in academic programs, workshops, and Participate in academic programs, workshops, and

summer camps.summer camps. Try to narrow down your college search. Visit campuses, Try to narrow down your college search. Visit campuses,

request brochures and materials, talk to college students, request brochures and materials, talk to college students, faculty, your parents, and your School Counselor.faculty, your parents, and your School Counselor.

Try to secure a summer job or internship.Try to secure a summer job or internship.

12th Grade – the Finish Line 12th Grade – the Finish Line is In View!is In View! Take the ACT or SAT if you want to try for Take the ACT or SAT if you want to try for

a better score. Take SAT II Subject Tests.a better score. Take SAT II Subject Tests. Develop and refine an essay or two to use Develop and refine an essay or two to use

on college applications.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 Look carefully at college entrance

requirements and be sure who have met requirements and be sure who have met them.them.

Know the application deadlines for the Know the application deadlines for the colleges of your choice. Don’t miss those!colleges of your choice. Don’t miss those!

Don’t slack off! Senior grades are just as Don’t slack off! Senior grades are just as important as the last 3 years.important as the last 3 years.

Tests, Tests, and more TestsTests, Tests, and more Tests

SAT I Reasoning TestSAT I Reasoning Test

Measures the skills students need Measures the skills students need for academic success in college in 3 for academic success in college in 3 areas: Critical Reading, Math, and areas: Critical Reading, Math, and WritingWriting

Score Potential: 800 on each Score Potential: 800 on each section, with a total of 2400 section, with a total of 2400

Average score is around a 500 on Average score is around a 500 on each sectioneach section

Register online at collegeboard.comRegister online at collegeboard.com

Tests, Tests, and more TestsTests, Tests, and more Tests

ACT TestACT Test This is a curriculum-based test designed to This is a curriculum-based test designed to

measure a student’s college readiness and measure a student’s college readiness and academic achievement in 4 skill areas: academic achievement in 4 skill areas: English, Math, Reading, & ScienceEnglish, Math, Reading, & Science

The writing test is optional but The writing test is optional but required required for for admission to UNC system schoolsadmission to UNC system schools

Score scale is 1-36 on each section & a 1-Score scale is 1-36 on each section & a 1-36 composite score36 composite score

Register online at act.orgRegister online at act.org

Tests, Tests, and more TestsTests, Tests, and more Tests

SAT II Subject TestsSAT II Subject Tests These are required by some colleges These are required by some colleges

for admission/and or for placement for admission/and or for placement after enrollmentafter enrollment

Check college web sites to Check college web sites to determine requirementsdetermine requirements

It is recommended that students take It is recommended that students take Subject Tests near the end of a Subject Tests near the end of a coursecourse

Register at collegeboard.comRegister at collegeboard.com

Graduation Requirements for Graduation Requirements for College/University PrepCollege/University PrepEnglishEnglish

English I, II, III, IV English I, II, III, IV

44

creditscredits

MathematicsMathematics

Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and a higher level Math Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and a higher level Math for which Algebra II is a prerequisite for which Algebra II is a prerequisite

4 4 creditscredits

ScienceScience

Earth/Environmental Science, Biology, & Physical Science Earth/Environmental Science, Biology, & Physical Science

3 3 creditscredits

Social StudiesSocial Studies

World History, Civics & Economics, US History World History, Civics & Economics, US History

3 3 creditscredits

Second LanguageSecond Language

Two credits in the same language Two credits in the same language

2 2 creditscredits

Healthful LivingHealthful Living 1 1 creditscredits

ElectivesElectives 11 11 creditscredits

TotalTotal 28 28 creditscredits

Online ResourcesOnline Resources

www.collegeboard.comwww.collegeboard.com www.act.orgwww.act.org www.sfnc.orgwww.sfnc.org www.fafsa.ed.govwww.fafsa.ed.gov www.knowhow2go.orgwww.knowhow2go.org www.fafsa4castr.ed.govwww.fafsa4castr.ed.gov www.gocollege.comwww.gocollege.com www.nacacnet.org/StudentResourcewww.nacacnet.org/StudentResource

s/Pagess/Pages