Español

EARLY START
College may seem far away, but it's not too early to get on the right track. Meet your counselor; find out about some colleges you may be interested in and the kinds of courses they require. Broad course selection and high grades are important. Challenge yourself. Take a college prep curriculum throughout high school that will prepare you for college. (Your guidance counselor can help you choose your courses.)

Start gathering information on paying for college by checking out some of these resources:

Get advice on choosing a major or career at HSF.

PSAT PREP PLAYLAND
The PSAT is given each October to more than one million high school students. Most juniors and some sophomores take it, gaining valuable experience with standardized tests. Essentially, the PSAT is a practice SAT, except that you will not have to write an essay or answer Algebra II questions. It is also used as a qualifying test for National Merit Scholarships.

Learn about college entrance exams.

SAT II TOWN
Some colleges require you to take three SAT II Subject Tests (of these three, two are usually math and writing). These one-hour tests are also offered in many other subjects including biology, chemistry, physics, and many foreign languages. It's a good idea to take some of the specific subject tests (for example, the sciences) immediately after you've taken the subject in school. You'll get the test out of the way.

Learn about college entrance exams.

STATE TESTS SPEEDWAY
You might have to take a state assessment test while you are in high school. Some high schools require you to pass this test in order to graduate or move to the next grade. If you're nervous about this test:

Look for information about state test requirements.

SCHOLARSHIP FACTORY
Start researching scholarship opportunities now.

Get scholarship search and application tips!

NATIONAL MERIT MALL
High junior-year PSAT scores qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship Competition. To become a finalist, you need great grades, high PSAT scores, and a recommendation from your school. Ask your guidance counselor about taking the PSAT to earn a National Merit Scholarship.

Learn about college entrance exams.

COUNSELOR-O-MATIC
Now is the time to see which schools might be the best match for you. After you enter information about who you are and what you want in a school, Counselor-O-Matic sends you a list of schools that might be right for you!

Get started with Counselor-O-Matic

It's also important to build relationships now to get recommendation letters that you will need to apply to college. Concentrate on getting to know your teachers and guidance counselors, as well as any mentors who you look up to, since these are the people you might look to for letters of recommendation that you will submit with your college applications.

GOOD GRADE GROVE
Make sure you get good grades this year—and every year. When colleges look at your transcripts, they put a heavy emphasis on grades, so put in the extra time to get good scores on every test and assignment in every class. Good grades can also help you to earn scholarships. Even one bad grade can bring your overall GPA down more than you might think. Don't skip classes or forget to turn in assignments. You're on a mission to get into college—all this hard work will be worth it!

SAT FUEL STATION
The SAT is a standardized, multiple-choice test used by most U.S. universities for admissions and placement decisions. SAT scores can also be considered in order to earn a scholarship. The SAT is a seven-section, three-hour exam that is given nationally seven times a year. The weight placed on SAT scores varies from school to school. There are various ways to prepare for the SAT including books and classroom and online courses.

Your school may have its own prep method—be sure to ask.

Learn all about the SAT.

EXTRACURRICULAR BACKROADS
Admissions officers are looking for well-rounded students as they review applications. Even though you won't be submitting applications until your senior year, it is important to start getting involved in your freshman year! Involvement in extracurricular activities shows leadership, organizational skills, and dedication to your community. And even though some students think that they need to be involved in everything, that's not only false, it's impossible. Here's an outline of how to get involved. First year: Shop around and try new things. Second year: Pick one or two of the activities and dedicate some quality time to them. Third and fourth years: Shoot for a leadership position in at least one of your activities.

Another important point to remember: The adults who supervise your activities are all potential recommenders. Many times, extracurricular advisors are able to talk most effectively about your enthusiasm and motivation.

Keep your extracurricular activities focused.