When students enter high school in the ninth grade, there are a series of basic steps they can follow over the next four years to allow them the opportunity to be accepted at the university of their choice. If students know what is expected of them to be prepared for college, their chances of being accepted at the college of their choice improve considerably. This article summarizes what several successful high school students have done throughout their high school years to prepare them for their college experience.

Step one: Before entering high school, or during the ninth grade, the student must take an interest inventory test to help identify possible career options. This test was developed to help students take a collection of their interests and match them to the qualities needed for different careers. Once a potential career path has been identified, the student can use that information in high school to focus on a career path for which they are a good fit. This can eliminate a great deal of wasted time during the high school years. High school can be more focused if the student takes classes that are geared toward a possible future career. The interest inventory test does a great job of giving students choice for their future careers. This test can be administered by the school counselor or the student can go online and find an inventory test of interest to take on their own.

Second step: Students should meet with their counselor and parents at the beginning of their ninth grade school year to map out a four-year action plan for high school success. This plan should reflect what the student’s career plan might entail. A very important aspect of the plan is the academic classes the student will take over the next four years. These classes should be geared toward college preparation and any career interests the student may have. If the student is strong enough academically, she must take honors or advanced placement classes. This meeting should also provide the student with an opportunity to discuss what type of clubs, organizations, or leadership positions are best suited for him or her. This should include sports equipment. At a future meeting, the student may want to discuss summer programs or job opportunities that may be available to help with career development. Colleges prefer students who participate in a variety of activities during their high school years.

Step three: Students should research at least 10 colleges during their ninth grade school year to see what it takes to qualify for college. The more a student knows about what is required to attend a particular college, the more likely they are to enroll in that college. Some of the research information should include: What grade point average is needed to be accepted into college? What test score is needed to be accepted to college? What are the best majors in college? How much does it cost to attend college? What do you need to qualify for college scholarships? More information can be investigated. To speak with a college representative and have an in-person meeting, students should attend multiple college fairs whenever possible. The high school counselor can provide students with a list of upcoming college fairs.

Step four: High school students who are focused on going to college need to put together a plan for how they are going to organize their time to be successful in school. Due to the many activities that high school students participate in, he/she needs to organize his/her day to have enough time to study. A very important organization tool that students can use to help them is a planner. The planner can be used to record all school activities. This planner should be used for each semester. All upcoming assignments, tests, quizzes, special assignments, study time, and school activities should be included in the planner. As soon as the teacher or the school gives the tasks, they should be included in the planner. Additionally, students are required to use a daily task list to keep up with assignments that need to be completed that day. Developing how to use a planner can be very important in high school and college.

step five: To get real college life experiences, all college bound students should enroll in a college summer program after their ninth, tenth, or eleventh grade school year. Most colleges offer several special summer programs that will help high school students experience college life while learning about a potential college major. Most programs are two to six weeks long and students live in dormitories during that time. Most programs have students take college-bound classes in addition to helping them prepare for the ACT test. This experience is invaluable and will come in handy when the student enrolls in college.

The five steps listed above can go a long way in giving high school students the focus they may need to successfully prepare for college. Students need to be prepared when applying to college or facing a potential rejection letter. Some students do not have the opportunity to speak with their high school counselor until well into the school year. If that is the case, you would be wise to look at other ways to obtain information that would be useful for your college preparation. This article may be a start, but it is by no means the only information a student may need. Knowing what is expected is half the battle for success.