College Checklist

Next Steps

Set yourself up for success by planning ahead for your future.

Prepare for Every Year

9th
Grade

10th
Grade

11th
Grade

12th
Grade

9th Grade College Checklist

Find a Mentor/Support Group

  • Meet with your high school guidance counselor to talk about your goals
  • Ask if there are any college prep programs at your campus such as TRIO/AVID
  • Check out this list of College prep Programs
  • Reach out to family members and friends who have attended college for advice

Challenge Yourself Academically

  • Sign up for college preparatory courses available at your high school
  • Check out this list of ways to get college credit in high school
  • Practice good study habits to raise your GPA/Rank and increase your college admissions and financial aid opportunities
  • Ask a teacher for help and/or go to tutoring if you are struggling with a subject
Tips from Raise.Me
  • Have a homework planner
  • Limit study time to short intervals
  • Only study two subjects every 2 hours
  • Never cram for test

Get involved in your school and community

  • Join cultural, fine art, and/or sports student organizations that interest you
  • Take on leadership roles and complete community service hours to be a more competitive candidate for college/ career
  • Create a list of all extracurricular activities and accomplishments for future resume
  • Check out list of college preparatory summer programs

Learn About College

  • Read college information available in your school’s counseling office and library
  • Research the pros and cons of obtaining a college degree online
  • Start a list of careers/majors/colleges that you’re interested in by visiting sites like Collegeboard, Princeton Review, or Prep Scholar
  • Visit colleges to get a feel of what college campuses are like

Practice for Standardized Testing

  • Read regularly in addition to homework and studying
  • See if there is a PSAT available to take your 9th grade year
  • Sign up for Khan or ACT Academy for free/personalized test practice tools

Prepare Financially

  • Create a college savings plan by using Collegeboard's calculator
  • See if there is a PSAT available to take your 9th grade year
  • Sign up for Khan or ACT Academy for free/personalized test practice tools
  • Apply for scholarships available for 9th grade students
  • Look into financial aid for documented and undocumented students
  • Start your financial literacy education

10th Grade College Checklist

Find a Mentor/Support Group

  • Meet with your high school guidance counselor to talk about your goals
  • Ask if there are any college prep programs at your campus such as TRIO/AVID
  • Check out this list of College Prep Programs
  • Reach out to family members and friends who have attended college for advice

Challenge Yourself Academically

  • Sign up for college preparatory courses available at your high school
  • Check out this list of ways to get college credit in high school
  • Practice good study habits to raise your GPA/Rank and increase your college admissions and financial aid opportunities
  • Ask a teacher for help and/or go to tutoring if you are struggling with a subject
  • Develop good study habits by using a daily homework planner

Get involved in your school and community

  • Join cultural, fine art, and/or sports student organizations to discover your interests
  • Take on leadership roles and volunteer for community service to be a more competitive candidate for college/career
  • Create/update list of extracurricular activities and accomplishments for future resume
  • Check out list of college preparatory summer programs

Learn About College

  • Read college information available in your school’s counseling office and library
  • Start a list of careers/majors/colleges that you’re interested in by visiting sites like Collegeboard, Princeton Review, or Prep Scholar
  • Visit colleges to get a feel of what college campuses are like
Tips from inspirED
  • Find out if you want colleges or technical schools
  • Take into considering your interest and locations of the school you want to attend
  • Visit the Admissions page to learn more.

Interested in attending a U.S military academy?

  • Request a pre candidate questionnaire and complete it
  • School counselor should be able to help step by step

Practice for Standardized Testing

  • Read every day in addition to homework and studying
  • Sign up for the PSAT in October to practice for the SAT test
  • Utilize Khan or ACT Academy’s free/personalized test practice tools
  • Check out test prep and practice books from your school or local public library

Prepare Financially

11th Grade College Checklist

Find a Mentor/Support Group

  • Meet with your high school guidance counselor to talk about your goals
  • Ask if there are any college prep programs at your campus such as TRIO/AVID
  • Check out this list of College Prep Programs
  • Reach out to family members and friends who have attended college for advice

Challenge Yourself Academically

  • Sign up for college preparatory courses available at your high school
  • Check out this list of ways to get college credit in high school
  • Practice good study habits to raise your GPA/Rank and increase your college admissions and financial aid opportunities
  • Ask a teacher for help and/or go to tutoring if you are struggling with a subject
  • Pick up the PSAT/NMSGT Student Guide which should be available in the guidance office and take the practice test

Get involved in your school and community

  • Join cultural, fine art, and/or sports student organizations to discover your interests
  • Take on leadership roles and do community service to be a more well rounded student
  • Find out if your school has a college night
  • Create a resume through inspirED website
  • Check out list of college preparatory summer programs
  • If you are planning to major in the arts (drama, music, fine arts), ask your teachers about requirements for a portfolio or audition

Learn About College

  • Read college information available in your school’s counseling office and library
  • Start a list of careers/majors/colleges that you’re interested in by visiting sites like Collegeboard, Princeton Review, or Prep Scholar
  • Visit colleges to get a feel of what college campuses are like
  • Attend a college fair
  • Visit colleges to get a feel of what college campuses are like
  • Start a preliminary list of college that might interest you

Military Option

  • If you are considering military academies or ROTC, ask about a possible recruiter in the branch of your choice
Tips from inspirED
  • Research which military branch you want to be in.
  • You can start your military career early by being in ROTC in high school

Complete Standardized Testing

  • Sign up for the PSAT offered in the Fall to be considered for the National Merit Scholar Program as you are only eligible your junior year of high school
  • Check out our college admissions test guide for test dates, fee waiver info, and study tips
  • Learn about the SAT by going to the SAT website or speaking to your counselor or GO Center mentor
  • Sign up to take the SAT in the spring semester

Prepare Financially

  • Create/Update a college savings plan by using Collegeboard's calculator
  • Make sure you and your parents file taxes, if applicable, to ensure you are eligible to apply for federal or state financial aid (FAFSA or TASFA) your senior year
  • Look into financial aid for documented and undocumented students
  • Start your financial literacy education

Get ahead of the Admissions Process

  • Ask at least two teachers/counselors for a recommendation letter and provide them with your resume to help them be as detailed and descriptive as possible
  • Write at least two of the generic ApplyTexas admission essay prompts
  • Apply to colleges before summer to get an admissions decision at the beginning of your senior year: Check out our admissions checklist for a step by step guide

12th Grade College Checklist

College Admissions Testing

  • The SAT or ACT is required to be accepted into college/university. Go to the Testing page to find out more about each test.
  • Sign up for admissions test(s) by going to the SAT or ACT website. Make sure to ask your high school counselor if you are eligible for a test fee waiver.
  • Study! There are many websites that have study guides and practice guide like Khan Academy, CollegeBoard, and ACT.
  • Check to see if you need to take the TSI Assessment.

Admissions

  • Figure out your educational and professional goals by choosing a major
  • Research what colleges/universities have a program for your career/major of choice
  • Research admissions requirements for the schools you’re interested in
  • Select at least 3 top Schools to apply for
  • Submit admissions applications online. You can apply for out-of-state school on CommonApp or for Texas schools on ApplyTexas
  • Submit Additional Admissions Application Materials (Requirements vary by school)
  • Create a student portal for each school you applied for to receive admission application updates

Financial Aid

  • Apply to Scholarships
  • Determine which financial aid application to fill out: FAFSA or TASFA?
  • Fill out the financial aid application that corresponds with our personal situation
  • Complete CSS Profile, if applicable
  • View financial aid award letter from each college and compare your financial aid packages. You can use Collegeboard's tool to compare multiple financial aid award letters.
  • Accept financial aid package
  • Apply for Incoming Freshman Scholarships
  • Complete loan counseling forms and requirements, if applicable
  • Sign up for payment plans, if applicable
Tips from inspirED
  • Register for financial aid every year
  • Registration for FAFSA starts in October
  • You may qualify for work-study based on your financial status

Transitioning from High School to College

  • Set up Student Email, usually ends with .edu and register for student orientation (usually mandatory before enrolling for classes)
  • Submit Housing Application and Housing Deposit, if applicable
  • Sign up for a meal plan, if applicable
  • Get Meningitis Shot
  • Submit Final High School Transcript
  • Submit documentation of completed high school courses that are eligible for college credit
  • Sign up for CLEP Exams to receive college credit without taking college courses
  • Enroll for classes
  • Buy parking permit, if applicable
  • Buy Dorm essentials and school supplies
  • Contact Financial Aid Office for On-Campus and Off Campus work study job listings
  • Attend Student Activities Fair to become familiar with student organizations on campus
  • Buy required textbooks
  • Find your support group on campus

College Checklist Tips

#1

TSI testing is usually available for free or at low cost if you take TSI test at your local community college before your college student orientation

#2

Many admission/scholarship essays have common prompts. Use previous essays and alter them to fit current prompt.

#3

Research whether there is a deadline to accept the financial aid package for each school you applied for.

#4

Sometimes you can postpone any student orientation fees until the beginning of your freshman year of college when your financial aid funds are disbursable.

#5

CLEP Exams are offered at your local community college at a lower cost.

#6

Use RateMyProfessors for student reviews of the professor teaching a course.

#7

Joining student organizations helps you become familiar with your college campus and is a great way to develop academic and personal interests.

#8

Used, rental, and online textbooks are many times cheaper options. Find more options by searching a textbooks ISBN #.

#9

Reach out to student academic services to discover what homework and tutoring resources are available to students for free.