*CONTINUE WITH A FOUR-YEAR PLAN

Colleges base their admissions decisions heavily on the course selection and academic performance of the 10th and 11th grades, but all grades count! Your counselor can help you plan your high school program. 

 

If honors or AP classes are right for you, take them!  The rumor that junior year classes are the hardest may be true, but you will be prepared for the challenge.  Everyone should challenge himself to the best of his ability. That does not mean the same thing for everyone. For some it may mean taking all of the AP courses available. For some it means taking Honors courses. For some it means continuing to take a foreign language, even if it’s challenging, or taking an academic course instead of an extra P.E. class or I.W.E. Colleges want to see that you challenge yourself, and that you do well. Don’t think that you’re “protecting your GPA” by not taking harder courses. Also be sure that you consider the need to have balance in your life; that you challenge yourself realistically, in your academic areas of strength, and that you leave room for free time & fun, too.

 

*GET INVOLVED IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Check out class activities, student clubs, performing arts productions, athletics or community service. Students who are involved do better in school and are happier too! (Also consider activities outside of school.)  Do what you enjoy & what has meaning for you.  More important even than college admissions, these activities help you figure out what you like & what you don’t & that knowledge helps you develop as a person.

 

*VISIT COLLEGE CAMPUSES WHEN TRAVELING/ON VACATION

You’ll get a feel for what you like & don’t like in a learning & living environment & will be better prepared when really looking junior/senior year.  It takes time to make a decision—the more information you have, the better.

 

*SPEND SOME TIME IN THE COLLEGE CENTER

Learn where college reference materials and computer resources are, and learn to use them. Later this year, we’ll introduce you to our computer program, Naviance, and do a personality assessment/career interest project with it.

 

*CONSIDER A PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAM THIS SUMMER

There are lots of opportunities to be involved in programs on college campuses or elsewhere this summer—ranging from 1 week to several—check out the bulletin board outside the attendance office and the list on the DLS website. Also consider volunteering or staying active in your extracurricular activities.

 

COME SEE US IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS; YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL JUNIOR YEAR. FEEL FREE TO STOP BY THE COLLEGE CENTER THIS YEAR