b'569 TH AND 10 TH GRADE CHECKLISTPlanning for college begins as soon as you enter high school. Use this checklist to stay on track as you strengthen your academic profile, explore your interests, and build the support you need to become a strong college applicant.Start Planning Challenge Yourself Academically Use a planner to track your assignments, test dates, Make sure you are enrolled in the most challenging and extracurricular activities, and to organize andacademic courses available at your school (p. 9).prioritize your work (pp. 9-10).Investigate opportunities to take part in collegeCreate a college file to save all your notes, preparation or academic enrichment programscorrespondence, and important paperwork. (p. 60). Take time out to try new things, explore newLearn about college prep programs for highinterests, and find out what is important to you schoolers, like Advance at College, Summer(pp. 7-8). Search, and Upward Bound (p. 60). Begin to build your resum (pp. 12-13).Read books and newspapers to build your Find out if you have access to NAVIANCE Familyvocabulary and knowledge base (p. 10).Connection through your school and learn how it Learn about Standardized Testscan help you through the college admissions process.Take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) as practiceAssemble Your College Prep Team for taking the SAT (p. 28). Ask your school Talk to your parents or guardians about your collegecounselor about PSAT scheduling at your school.plans (p. 6). Begin to research colleges together.It is never too early to start preparing for the Meet with your school counselor and teachers. SAT or ACT (p. 30).Discuss your post-high school goals and plans Explore Opportunities and Intereststogether. Ask about college prep programs in which Join clubs or teams that interest you and takeyou might participate. on leadership roles (p. 9).Prepare FinanciallyBegin to explore different careers and Start learning about financial aid and ways to payvisit the U.S. Department of Labor website,for college (pp. 39-50). Understanding financial aidwww.mynextmove.org oroptions early on can help you down the road. www.miproximopaso.org (pp. 7-8). Begin to save money for college expenses.Explore the Roadtrip Nation interview archiveIt is never too early to start saving. via NAVIANCE Family Connection for videosVisit www.360financialliteracy.org. of people who have turned their interests into Explore the College Boards tools and webinars:their lifes work. You can also take advantagehttps://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-of Roadtrip Nation resources by visitingcollege/financial-aid-basics. www.roadtripnation.com. Visit www.educationplanner.org provided by Research volunteer jobs and internships in fields PHEAA to learn about educational costs and that interest you (p. 9).student aid.Visit colleges with your parents or guardians(pp. 22-23). Try to visit two schools each year, either virtually or when students are on campus.'