Keeping Those Grades Up

College seems so far away, so why think about it now? Several reasons:

1. Keep Your Grades Up:
   your grades during your Freshman to Senior years will determine whether you qualify for some schools or not. Academic scores do count. It is important to develop good study and planning skills.
   
   
2. Take the Right Courses:
   many colleges require completion of academic courses in math, science, english, etc. Now is the time to find out what is required so that you can plan the course structure for your sophomore through senior years.
   
   
3. Get acquainted with your HS guidance counselor:
   they can help you design an academic plan through high school. Schedule a meeting with them to discuss your academic plans.
   
   
4. Plan Your Finances:
   colleges don't come cheap, so what is your financial plan? Preparing yourself now by saving and working summer jobs can help defray some of the costs.
   
   
5. Prepare for the Entrance Exam:
   most colleges require entrance exams, usually referred to as that SAT and/or ACT. You should begin thinking about those exams and prepare yourself for taking them during your Junior and Senior years.

Prepare yourself for college:

Making the most of high school:
collegeboard.com has tips on what you should do to get the most out of your high school
www.collegeboard.com

College admission offices prefer candidates that have good academic scores and who are involved in outside activities. Get involved with Junior Achievement for skill and extracurricular development:
http://www.ja.org/

Do you need help with your academic courses:
visit our college prep center for study guides and notes

Link to college web sites to get an idea about college life and requirements

Visit college online web sites to get a flavor for what college life is like:

find your college: college search directory

College Rankings Directory:
www.library.uiuc.edu

Get with your guidance counselor (or teachers, if you don't have access to a guidance counselor) about the following college exams:

Advance Placement Exams:

you should consider taking Advanced Placement Exams or CLEP tests in your Junior and Senior years. This allows you to test out of some college courses that can save you time and money.

The exams are administered each year in the Spring with some preparation required prior to the exam. Check with your school for exam administration, enrollment and information.

• Information about the advanced placement program:
  the collegeboard administers the AP exams. This site has all the information you need including test programs and dates:
  www.collegeboard.com
  
  View our advanced placement prep/study guides:
  includes prep planning books and other reading materials that can help you with these exams:
  click here for advanced placement materials
  

College Entrance Exams:

almost all colleges and some trade programs require a college entrance exam for admission. These exams measure your ability to understand college-level materials.

You will take these exams in your senior year. So get some practice with the college entrance "preparation" exams. It will help on the day of the real exam.

The PSAT is usually offered in October and November. The test is generally offered through your school. Check with your school counselor on dates.

Why take these college prep exams:

• to help prepare for the real test. You will be familiar with the type of questions being asked
  
  
• to help you take tests under timelines. It is important that you work quickly so that you can complete the entire test.
  
  
• to view your strengths and weaknesses for college study. You can then focus on areas that can improve your skills.
  
  
• to view how your performance compares with other students who are applying for college
  
  Information about the PSAT (practice exams):
  the PSAT is the test prep exam for the SAT I and SAT II. The SAT tests are administered on behalf of colleges.
  www.collegeboard.org
  
  ACT test preparation:
  some colleges use the ACT test. You need to check your college to determine which test they use for admittance.
  www.actstudent.org
  
  View our college entrance exam prep center:
  click here for college prep materials

Have you considered what you would like to do for a job when you become older?

Research future career opportunities to help decide what you want out of college. Find out what jobs are going to be hot and what's not in the future economy:

• From the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
  occupational outlook by category: provides insight on the training need, earnings, expected job prospects and more
  www.bls.gov/oco
  
  projections on what's hot and what's not in the new economy:
  www.bls.gov/emp
  
  fastest growing occupations:
  www.bls.gov
  
  
  
• Individual State Labor Statistics:
  occupational projections by state
  www.projectionscentral.com
  
  Link to individual State economic, job and occupation trends:
  
  State Job Sites: Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Don't waste your summer. Pick up a summer job to help raise money you will need for college:

• Summer work programs:
  www.snagajob.com
  Posting of Summer Jobs:
  www.summerjobs.com/
  Job postings for teens:
  www.teens4hire.org/
  
  
• Internship Programs:
  internships.wetfeet.com
  
  
• Search Classified ads in LOCAL PAPERS:
  www.newspaperlinks.com