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9TH GRADE: PLAN

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Return to 8th Grade
Trail Guide Home
Go to 10th Grade

August

OBJECTIVE 1:
Start your high school career out with a firm commitment to academic success. Every grade that you earn from this point on will determine your college eligibility and scholarship competitiveness. GPA and class rank do matter!

ACTION 1:
Contract for Success

September

OBJECTIVE 1:
Begin to build your high school resume by participating in extra-curricular activities: join a sports team, after-school club, academic competition, band, etc.

ACTION 1:

Join an extra-curricular activity that you find interesting.

OBJECTIVE 2:

Find out if your school offers the ACT Aspire Test (a pre-test for the ACT for levels 3-10).  

ACTION 2:
ACT Aspire Test

October

OBJECTIVE 1:
Take the PSAT this month if it is offered at your school. This is the test that qualifies you for the National Merit Scholarship program (which could earn you money for college) and it is practice for the SAT. 

ACTION 1:
PSAT

November

OBJECTIVE 1:
Continue developing your writing skills.  Enter a local, regional, or national writing contest.  This will provide valuable experience with writing and revising essays and could lead to scholarship or award money.

ACTION 1:
Society of Professional Journalists Essay Contest

DAR Essay Contest

Library of Congress Essay Contest

December

OBJECTIVE 1:
Consider volunteering or participating in a community service project.  All of the hours you dedicate to this type of service can be included on your college and scholarship applications and resumes.

ACTION 1:
"Volunteering: How Helping Others Helps You"

January

OBJECTIVE 1:
Keep track of all awards and accomplishments that will eventually be included on your application. Be sure to include academic, extra-curricular, and awards and experiences.

ACTION 1:
College Prep Resume

February

OBJECTIVE 1:
Make a list of the goals that you want to achieve by the end of your senior year.  This could include a GPA goal, SAT and/or ACT goal score, acceptance into a college of your choice, and receiving scholarship money. For each goal, list the steps that you would have to take to accomplish them.

ACTION 1:
College Prep Goals

March

OBJECTIVE 1:
Explore your interests and take advantage of career days offered at school or at local colleges.  Talk to people who have careers that you might be interested in to find out what path they followed to obtain that position.
 
ACTION 1:
Career Interview

April

OBJECTIVE 1:
Schedule challenging classes for sophomore year to stay on the ʺcollege readinessʺ track and continue your foreign language course sequence. Schedule AP courses if offered by your high school as they can result in earning college credit. Even if your school does not offer AP courses, you may still take the AP Exams to obtain college credit without enrolling in the corresponding AP course.

ACTION 1:
Explore AP Course Options

May

OBJECTIVE 1:
Learn more about getting into college by visiting websites to discover admissions requirements and financial information.

ACTION 1:
College Exploration Guide

June

OBJECTIVE 1:
Obtain or continue summer employment and/or volunteering.

ACTION 1:
"Summer Do's and Don'ts for College Applicants"

July

OBJECTIVE 1:
Don't let your math or science skills slip during the summer months.  Read news sources to practice reading graphs. Participate in "science exhibits" or expos offered during the summer at local libraries, museums, or schools.

ACTION 1:
"How Much Science Do You Need to Get Into College?"

Return to 8th Grade
Trail Guide Home
Go to 10th Grade