Freshmen Year

• Improve Study Skills- this year’s grades count toward your Grade Point Average. (GPA)
• Participate in extracurricular activities and community service. (Get involved in leadership roles when possible.)
• Use your EXPLORE test results to research careers that are of interest to you.
• When traveling, visit colleges and universities in the area of your destination. 

Sophomore Year

• Continue taking a challenging curriculum and maintain a strong GPA.
• Take the ACCUPLACER test to attempt entering the EA program
• Take the PLAN and PSAT and use the results to help in the selection of courses on your Plan of Study and to continue researching career options.
• Continue to be involved in extracurricular activities and community service. (Take on leadership roles when possible.)
• Visit collegeplanning.nelnet.net to find valuable facts on colleges, financial aid, Best College Deals, and ACT/SAT preparation tests.
• Continue looking at colleges and universities when you travel.

Summer Between Sophomore & Junior Year

• Take the college preparation class.
• Make the summer count by participating in activities such as service projects or College Summer Programs.

Junior Year

• Continue taking a challenging curriculum and maintain a strong GPA.
• Start taking EA courses for dual credit.
• Research admission criteria for the colleges/universities that you are considering. Adjust your schedule if necessary.
• Take the PSAT and do well!  This test is used to determine National Merit candidates and can be used as an indicator to project your SAT score.
• Attend College fairs, request college brochures and information and continue visiting colleges.
• Take the ACT and SAT.  Register on line at collegeboard.org (SAT) and /or actstudent.org (ACT).
• Continue with extracurricular activities, community service 
• Start to research scholarships by going to fastweb.com.
• Consider taking an ACT/SAT preparation course.
• Research the colleges/universities of your choice to see if SAT Subject Tests must be taken.  Take the test(s) if needed.
• Research college summer programs.
• Meet with your counselor regularly to discuss the continuation of college readiness.

Summer Between Junior & Senior Year

• Create a resume.
• Write an personal essay. 
• Enter a college summer program. 

Senior Year

• Continue taking a strong curriculum and maintain a strong GPA.
• Continue in the EA Program and contact Chief Barajas to ensure your highest success is reached in the Program.
• Research admission criteria for the colleges/universities that you are considering. Adjust your schedule if necessary. 
• Attend College Fairs.
• Continue taking the ACT and/or SAT and try to raise your score for admission and scholarship purposes.
• Consider taking an ACT/SAT prep course if needed.
• Research the colleges/universities of your choice to see if SAT Subject Tests must be taken.  Take the test(s) if needed.
• Continue being involved in extra curricular activities, community service and job opportunities.
• Make application to the colleges of your choice for admission and scholarships.  Seek help from your counselor.
• Fill out the PROFILE financial aide form if your college/university requires it.
• Obtain a PIN number (electronic signature) for the FAFSA at pin.ed.gov by January 1st.
• File the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1st at fafsa.ed.gov.
• Apply for as many scholarships as you can.
• Contact the financial aid office at your chosen university to see how they can help you.
• Turn in copies of all scholarships received including those you are not accepting to your counselor.
• Make your final decision on which school you will attend.
• Let all other schools that you applied to know that you won’t be attending their school.