Focus on your grades and continue to develop your skills and co-curricular interests.

FALL

• Get involved in co-curricular activities such as clubs, sports or after school programs. The level of involvement and accomplishment is most important, not the number of activities.
• You will be taking the PSAT in October. The PSAT is a preliminary test that will prepare you for the SAT Reasoning Test. The test will not be used for college admissions, but is a great way to practice for the SAT. Tickets for the PSAT will be on sale at the Inderkum Student Store this fall. 
• Start recording your co-curricular involvement, community service, and job history in your portfolio.
• Make sure you are "on top" of your academic work. If necessary, meet with your teacher for additional help.
• Save your best work in academic courses and the arts for your portfolio.

SPRING

• Receive results of the PSAT. Read materials sent with your score report. Consult your guidance counselor to explore ways to improve on future standardized tests and courses to discuss which may be required or beneficial for your post-high school plans.
• It is never too early to start researching colleges and universities. Visit your guidance office and career center to browse through literature and guidebooks or surf the Web and check out college and university home pages.
• If you are doing well in Biology, register June SAT Subject Test. These are one-hour exams testing you on academic subjects that you have already completed. Many colleges require or recommend one or more of the SAT Subject Tests for admission or placement. You can take SAT Subject Tests when you have successfully completed the corresponding course in high school study. Talk to your teachers and counselor about which tests to take.
• Continue to research career options and consider possible college majors that will help you achieve your career goals.
• Estimate your financial aid for college by using the FAFSA4Caster .
• Plan now for wise use of your summer. Consider taking a summer course or participating in a special program (e.g., for prospective engineers or journalists or for those interested in theatre or music) at a local college or community college. Enroll in an academic summer program. Consider working or volunteering.
• If you work, open up a savings account to save some of your earnings for college.
• During the summer, you may want to sign up for a SAT prep course, use computer software, or do the practice tests in books designed to familiarize you with standardized tests.
• Make your summer productive. Continue reading to increase your vocabulary.