Welcome 9th Graders!
Tips for Freshmen
- Create a four-year high school plan.
- Think about what you’d like to accomplish in the next four years.
- Get to know the levels of courses offered by your school.
- Start thinking about your life after school
- Including the types of jobs that might interest you. Of course, these will change — often — but it’s good to start thinking about the possibilities.
- Identify your interests — likes and dislikes — not just in classes but also in every area. This will help you focus on your goals.
- Talk to other people, such as your school counselor, teachers, recent college graduates who are working, professionals in the community, etc., about careers you might find interesting.
- Meet with your school counselor
- Your counselor knows how to help you get the most out of high school. Be sure to take some time during the school year to discuss post-high-school plans with the counselor.
- Participate in extracurricular activities
- Academics aren’t everything. Explore your interest in a sport, school club, music or drama group, or community volunteer activity.
- Remember that colleges would rather see real involvement in one activity instead of a loose connection to several.
- If you’re interested in playing sports in college, research the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility requirements. The NCAA requires completion of certain core courses; you can find the specifics at ncaaclearinghouse.net.
- Save for college. It’s not too late to put money aside for college. Every little bit helps!
- Explore summer opportunities. Look for a job, internship, or volunteer position that will help you learn about a field of interest.
