Becoming College and Career Ready

12 Grade (Seniors)

Class of 2021

Fastidious GPA and transcript maintenance
Ascertain whether to take standardized tests again
Finalize college list
Start and complete financial aid applications (FAFSA, TAP, educational opportunity programs, private scholarships)
Consider Early Decision and be mindful of due dates
Procure recommendation letters from guidance counselor and teachers
Draft/revise/perfect college essay
Apply to all colleges of interest by deadline. CUNY application & SUNY via Commnonapp
Educate oneself on how to compare financial aid packages and choose best one
Make a well thought out decision on the best college for oneself and family.

Class of 2022

Take PSAT which will enroll student in National Merit Scholarship
GPA maintenance
Take college level courses (AP classes, College Now)
Work toward regents scores meeting college readiness scores
Make a list of colleges to apply to (safety, target, reach)
Maintain leadership role in extracurricular endeavor, try getting a promotion
Start learning about financial aid options (FAFSA, TAP, institutional aid, private scholarships)
Think about and ask for recommendations, provide resume and personal statement to aid them
Apply for an internship in a relevant field
Visit colleges

Prepare and take PSAT/start looking into ACT as an alternative as well.
Monitor degree progress with guidance counselor and make sure curriculum is most rigorous. AP classes may be taken during 10^th grade depending on school.
Begin learning about college admissions criteria.
Look into taking on leadership positions within extracurricular organizations. Becoming an active participant vs. a mere member.
Work on becoming a great writer through writing workshops & tutoring.
Consider taking SAT subject tests (some literature supports taking SAT subject test right after completing coursework in it i.e. Taking SAT subject test in Biology during same academic year student was enrolled in Living Environment).
Take advantage of career counseling or vocational inventories the school provides to think more seriously about what career fields may be apt given students’ natural talents and interests.
Start thinking more seriously about colleges and researching college admissions criteria, and application procedures.

Class of 2024

Meet guidance counselor and discuss grad requirements and programming toward graduation.
Get involved in clubs, teams, or volunteer activities to become a well-rounded student.
Maintain good academic standing, be mindful of GPA and transcript maintenance.
Explore and discuss skills and interest to think about future career fields that may interest you
Start talking to parents about cost of college and planning financially, researching financial aid if applicable.
Keep track of all extracurricular endeavors and keeping a file with all documents that reflect participation which will help during application process greatly.
Start preparing for PSATs through study guides, sedulous reading, vocabulary building.
Start learning about different colleges through visiting websites and frequent visits to guidance office.