Take the ACT in April
Register for the ACT here, or check with your school counselor to find out the testing dates available at your high school.
Prepare for Senior Year
Prepare a challenging schedule for senior year. Meet with your counselor to determine what classes you’ll take next year and to make sure you’re on track for graduation. When you pick your classes, don’t load up on easy electives. Colleges do consider your senior year courses and grades, so stick with a schedule that challenges you.
Visit Colleges
If time and money allow, try to set up appointments to visit your top college choices. You’ll often have to plan ahead when visiting colleges. Call the Admissions Office to set up a personal interview, tour, and a meeting with a professor or coach if you’re interested. You can also ask them to send you an application.
If it is too costly to go see the college campuses you are interested in or you just don’t have the time, many colleges also offer virtual tours and the opportunity to speak with current students to ask them questions about their experience!
Letters of Recommendation
Think about who you might ask to write letters of recommendation for your college and scholarship applications during your senior year. Teachers and school counselors are often asked to write recommendations for lots of students. Consider whom you want to ask now and let them know so they’ll have time to prepare before getting tons of requests in the fall.
- Ask teachers who know you well and who will have positive things to say. This doesn’t have to be the class you naturally are strongest in – teachers who saw you work hard and ask for lots of help can write great letters too.
- Consider filling out this form to help your teachers focus their letter.
- Letters of recommendation from a coach, activity leader, or adult who knows you well outside of school are also valuable.
Summer Job or Internship
Apply for a summer job or internship. Summer employment and internships in fields you’re interested in will look appealing on a college application or resume – and can give you interesting stories to write about on your college application! The money you earn can also be used to help pay application and testing fees in the fall.
