Experts say students should start planning for college in 8th grade. But how? We asked "College is Yours in 600 Words or Less" author, Dr. Patrick O'Connor, and past-president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling to help answer that question. The result: our checklist of key college-prep steps that are often overlooked. Use it to stay focused on the things that will matter most.
8th Grade
______ Visit a local college campus. Attend a public open house, go to a sports event, visit the library or campus museum for fun. Once you've seen a college, you'll really know what you're aiming for.
______ Tell your parents that you want to go to college and that you need their support. Students are more likely to graduate from college when their parents consistently communicate that they support that goal at every step.
______ If you can, take Algebra 1 and a foreign language this year. Students who succeed in high school math are more likely to graduate from college. And, if you can get high school credit for these courses in 8th grade, you'll free up some space in your high school timetable for college credits.
______ Get involved in one extra-curricular activity that enriches your life.
9th Grade
_____ Decide what you want to study at college. You can change your mind later, but having one or two ideas to focus on will help you figure out your final plan later.
_____ Make a deep commitment to learning. Students who get ahead study. They do their homework and then, they routinely spend time making sense of what they learned in class that day. They think about new concepts and make connections between classroom learning and life. Seriously - your GPA and ACT scores will thank you.
_____ Make community service a habit. Pick a cause you love and start volunteering your time. Every college hopeful talks about their "good works" but admissions officers are most impressed by a serious commitment of time (think 200+ hours) over many years.
10th Grade
_____ Be sure you're taking the most challenging courses at the highest level offered by your school. This means a core of English, sciences, math, social sciences and foreign languages plus challenging options like music and computer science. Other subjects are important for balance, but colleges really want to know how well you did in the toughest ones.
_____ Visit three different kinds of college campuses this year. Compare urban and rural, 2-year and 4-year, public and private. You wouldn't buy a car without test-driving your options would you? It's the same for college.
_____ Bring the team together. Schedule a college planning meeting with your counselor and your parents. Together, lay out a plan - courses, finances and extra activities - that will get you to college.
11th Grade
_____ Reach out. Challenge yourself in a new way. Do an internship at a local business, take a course at a local college for credit, or participate in an exchange program. Do anything that helps you push your limits and explore the world outside your high school. Do it now. You'll have less freedom to pursue these life-changing experiences when life gets busy in senior year.
_____ Go to a college fair. Kick some tires. Figure out how the college fair works so when it comes time to "buy" you'll know how to get the most from this event. Talk to a couple of admissions representatives about why you should consider their schools. If admissions officers visit your school, be sure to attend at least two of these college info meetings. You'll have an edge next year if you get comfortable with the process now.
_____ In the spring of Junior year, ask two academic teachers for letters of recommendation. Give them a specific date by which you'll need those letters next fall.
12th Grade
_____ Get organized. Put all of your application deadlines on a calendar. Remember, these deadlines are real. You won't get extensions or second chances.
_____ Lead like The Donald. Your success depends on your team, and you're their leader.You have to manage them. Let your conselor and your academic references know about deadlines at least six weeks in advance. As deadlines approach, send reminders. Don't be afraid to ask for confirmation. You need to know when letters are submitted.
_____ Complete the FAFSA in February. Even if you figure you won't qualify for financial aid, complete it anyway. The FAFSA is often required for scholarship, loan and work/study eligibility too.
_____ Thank people who help you get into college. Write them a note of thanks that includes your college plans.
Michelle Schira Hagerman was Director of Training at EduGuide. A veteran high school teacher, she has written dozens and dozens of letters for college-bound students.