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Four Year Plan

9th Grade: Freshman Year

  • Begin a Four-Year Plan.
  • Become familiar with the graduation requirements.
  • Become familiar with the UC/CSU a-g subject requirements.
  • Work on your grades!  Aim for A’s and B’s in all of your classes. Attend tutoring if needed.
  • Start thinking about your academic and career goals.   Use Ca Career Zone to do career searches to find your interests.
  • Use Bigfuture Collegeboard for college searches and making a plan for the future.
  • Get Involved!  Join clubs, do extra-curricular activities and volunteer.  Keep track of what you do and how often.

10th Grade: Sophomore Year

  • Review your Four-Year Plan. Challenge yourself to take honors or AP courses.
  • Keep your grades up.  Continue to be involved at school and in your community.
  • Begin work on service learning hours.
  • Make preliminary inquiries about careers, colleges and majors: Use Ca Career Zone for careers and Bigfuture  for college searches. 
  • CaliforniaColleges provides great information about CA colleges and universities.
  • Take the PSAT (pre-SAT) test in the fall.  This is required for all 10th graders. Practice: Collegeboard student testing: PSAT.  Link PSAT scores to Khan Academy.
  • Sign up to take Pathways in the spring.  This 9 week junior class will help you in researching colleges, preparing your college applications and finding scholarships.
  • Create a professional e-mail account that you will check regularly.

11th Grade: Junior Year

  • Make sure you are taking the appropriate courses.  Challenge yourself to a rigorous schedule.   Take honors or AP courses.
  • Continue working on service learning hours.
  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall.  Collegeboard student testing psat. Link PSAT scores to Khan Academy.
  • Take the SAT at Collegeboard and/or the ACT in the spring;  Number2 and TestPrePreview offer helpful study guides.
  • Refine your list of possible college choices and review their entrance requirements. 
  • Visit individual college websites.  VISIT COLLEGE CAMPUSES!!!
  • Make regular visits to the College and Career Center.
  • Develop a resume.  Visit CaliforniaColleges for a resume builder.
  • College Bound Athletes:  Register with the NCAA Eligibility Center EigibilityCenter.
  • Apply for scholarships: Fastweb or StudentScholarships
  • Apply for a FSA ID (electronic signature) for online FAFSA.  pin.ed.gov
  • Start talking to teachers, coaches, administrators, counselors, and people in the community about letters of recommendation (for college and scholarship applications).
  • Interested in the military?  Not sure about what career to choose?  Take the ASVAB.  ASVAB Program
  • Check your professional email account (which you will use for all college or scholarship related correspondence) on a regular basis.

12th Grade: Senior Year

  • Make sure you are taking the appropriate courses.  Challenge yourself to a rigorous schedule.   Take honors or AP courses.
  • Continue working on service learning hours.
  • Retake the SAT at Collegeboard and/or the ACT in the fall (not later than December). Register online for Saturday test administration.
  • Finalize your list of college choices and apply in the fall.  Note application deadlines! 
  • Visit individual college websites.  VISIT COLLEGE CAMPUSES!!!
  • Make regular visits to the College and Career Center.
  • Develop a resume. Visit CaliforniaColleges for a resume builder.
  • Apply for scholarships.  Register with Fastweb or StudentScholarships
  • Apply for a FSA ID (electronic signature) for online FAFSA and begin applying for financial aid in the fall (October) at Fafsa.gov
  • Secure letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, coaches, etc. if required for college or scholarship applications.
  • College Bound Athletes:  Send transccripts to the NCAA Eligibility Center EigibilityCenter.
  • Interested in the military?  Not sure about what career to choose?  Take the ASVAB.  ASVAB Program
  • Check your professional email account (which you will use for all college or scholarship related correspondence) on a regular basis.
  • Check your college student portal (email) for any requests or placement testing information.
  • Meet all deadlines!!!