SENIORS
September: Imagine Your Future and Prepare
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Talk about your different opportunities. Many paths lead to similar careers. You could earn a certificate, complete an apprenticeship or earn an associate or bachelor’s degree. Investigate what each one may cost and what salary you can earn with different credentials.
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Ask your counselor about fee waivers for college applications and SAT/ACT tests. Your parent/guardian can authorize your school to use your USDA Free and Reduced-Price Meals status for SAT/ACT and college application fee waivers. Not sure if you qualify? Check with your school.
- Memorize your Social Security number. You will need it often. Don’t have one? Talk to your school counselor.
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Apply for a driver’s license or state ID card if you don’t have one. You may need one for financial aid verification.
- Control privacy settings on your social media accounts so your personal photos and posts don’t jeopardize your chances of getting admitted or receiving a scholarship. After viewing the video Cleaning Up Your Online Act (bit.ly/OwnFuture), use the self-assessment on that web page to check out your online presence.
- Ensure that your email address is professional and appropriate for communicating with colleges, lenders and employers. Stick to using your name, such as firstnamelastname@gmail.com. Be sure to check your email often because this is how colleges, financial aid offices and scholarship administrators will communicate with you. Do not use your high school email address because it deactivates when you graduate.
- Request or follow up on letters of recommendation for your college applications. Provide your recommenders with a list of accomplishments or your resume. Don’t forget to send thank-you notes.
- Check with your target colleges to see if they require the ACT or SAT subject tests. Take them in the fall. You can retake the SAT to improve your scores.
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Sign up for the ACT or SAT if you haven’t taken it or want to retake it. Go to collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register for the SAT or actstudent.org/regist for the ACT.
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Prepare online at actstudent.org/testprep or khanacademy.org/sat.
- Write an essay about you, your qualities and your aspirations. For inspiration, read the tips and watch the video prepared by the Princeton Review (bit.ly/UnforgettableEssay) and the College Board (bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/essays). Check out the Common Application essay prompts: commonapp.org/apply/essay-prompts.
- Share your essay with parents, teachers or other trusted adults. They can offer feedback to craft the strongest essays possible.