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Getting Started Resources

College 101: Getting Started

9th grade   10th grade   11th grade  12th grade

Preparing for education after high school is a step-by-step process that you can manage. ¡Si, se puede!
Just remember: Connect – Prepare – Organize – Explore – Be Active.

9th Grade - Freshmen

Connect

  • Tell your teachers, counselors, family, and friends that you plan to go to college.
  • Do you know other students like you who want to go to college? Get to know them, spend time with them, share your ideas and plans with them.
  • Call or email HHLA with any college questions. We’ll help you find the answers!

Prepare

  • With your counselor’s help, choose classes that will challenge and interest you, and that meet college entrance requirements.(See www.kansasregents.org)
    • Take either algebra or geometry, and a foreign language.
  • Develop good study skills. Ask for homework and study help when you need it! This is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Organize

  • Use a daily planner to track your assignments, exams, appointments, social events, etc. These are life skills that will help you in high school, in college, and beyond.
  • Create a portfolio (for instance, a file folder, box, or binder) to record your activities, awards, and accomplishments. Add to it regularly.

Explore

  • Explore your interests and possible careers.
    • Take advantage of Career Days.
    • Talk to people in jobs that interest you
  • Find out about summer enrichment programs, like HHLA, Talent Search, or Upward Bound.
  • Start exploring colleges online, in person, or in your school’s career center or counseling office.

Be Active

  • What do you enjoy or what are you interested in? Volunteer, job shadow, and participate in extracurricular activities.
  • Being active in groups outside of the classroom helps you:
    • Make new friendships and have fun
    • Discover what you enjoy
    • Explore your interests
    • Develop leadership skills

10th Grade - Sophomores

Connect

  • Which teachers and counselors do you connect with best this year? Keep meeting with them and get their support and help.
  • Involve your family as you explore your future. Bring them to school activities and college information meetings.
  • Call or email HHLA with any college questions. We’ll help you find the answers!

Prepare

  • Challenge yourself. Work with your counselor to choose the courses that will prepare you for college.
    • Take geometry if you have not already done so.
    • Take biology or chemistry and a second year of foreign language.
  • Are you struggling in one or more classes? Be proactive and talk to your teachers about how you can improve.
  • Learn more about academic help available at your school, like:
    • Study groups
    • Before and after-school programs
    • Tutoring
  • Take practice exams this year—talk to your counselor about:
    • The PLAN (Pre-ACT) test which helps you discover your academic progress and helps your prepare for the ACT next year.
    • The PSAT/NMSQT that determines National Merit Scholars and prepares you for the SAT exam.
      • *TIP* Many college entrance exams charge a fee. Check with your counselor to see if you qualify for an exam fee waiver.

Organize

  • Use a daily planner to track your assignments, exams, and out-of-school activities. Keep developing your organizational and time-management life skills.
  • Use your personal portfolio to record your activities, awards, and accomplishments.
  • Start a college information file, where you can keep brochures, notes, and other written information about colleges you may be interested in.

Explore

  • Continue to explore your interests and possible careers.
  • Read all of the college information you get in the mail or at school. You may find a college that interests you!
  • Learn about different colleges online, in person, and through your school’s counseling office. Attend college fairs.

Be Active

  • Participate in extracurricular activities like clubs, sports, music, arts, and community service.
  • People who read applications for college admissions aren’t just looking for grades. They are also looking at your interests, leadership skills, and community contributions.
  • Participate in summer enrichment programs, like HHLA, Talent Search, and Upward Bound.

11th Grade - Juniors

Connect

  • Visit with your counselor often to:
    • Review the courses you’ve taken and what you still need to take for college admissions.
    • Schedule college admission exams like the ACT and/or SAT.
    • Attend college and scholarship information sessions.
  • Involve your family in your plans and activities. Bring them to college information nights, visit colleges with them, and share what you are learning.
  • Call or email HHLA with any college questions. We’ll help you find the answers you need.
  • Keep interacting with friends and adults that challenge, encourage and believe in you!

Prepare

  • If your grades aren’t as high as they could be, it’s never too late to improve.
  • Junior year grades are very important in college admissions. Do you need help in one or more classes? Get the help you need…
    • Talk to your teachers and counselor about options
    • Join a study group and after-school tutoring programs
  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of your junior year. It determines National Merit Scholars, National Hispanic Scholars, and prepares you for the SAT exam.
  • Prepare for and take the ACT and/or SAT in the spring. Most colleges or universities require either the ACT or the SAT, and now is the time to prepare.Taking college prep courses is the best way to prepare for college admission exams.
    • Your counselor can provide test dates, descriptive brochures, registration forms, and information on possible fee waivers.

Organize

  • Use your daily planner to track assignments, exams, and out-of-school activities. Keep developing your organizational and time-management life skills.
  • Use your personal portfolio to record your activities, awards, and accomplishments.
  • Continue adding to your college information file, with brochures, notes, and other written information about colleges you are interested in.
  • Set aside weekly study time for the ACT / SAT exams.

Explore

  • Continue to explore colleges through college fairs, campus visits, online searches, mailings and brochures. Listen to your school announcements for information about visits from college representatives.
  • Continue to explore interests and possible careers through coursework, part-time jobs, volunteering, and extra-curricular activities.
  • Start a list of colleges that meet your most important needs (for instance, size, location, majors, housing, and cost). Research their admission requirements.
  • Begin to research financial aid opportunities, like federal, state, and local aid, scholarships.(See your counselor, the HHLA website, and your local library for resources)
    • Beware of financial aid / scholarship scams. You should never have to pay someone to help you find scholarships or fill out the FAFSA. Free help and information is always available.

Be Active

  • Continue to participate in extracurricular and community activities that are of interest to you. Take on leadership roles whenever you can.
  • Participate in summer enrichment programs, like HHLA, Talent Search, or Upward Bound. Ask your counselor about availability of these programs and your eligibility.

12th Grade - Seniors

Fall Semester-Application Time!

  • Keep in contact with adults that challenge & encourage you, and can help you with the steps necessary to go to college—counselors, teachers, HHLA staff, and your family.
  • You’re on your way! Avoid senioritis. Continue to take a full course load of college-prep courses, be sure you are on track for high school graduation, and keep working on your grades.
  • Sign up for and take the fall ACT and/or SAT if you haven’t already, or if you are not satisfied with your first scores.
    • Your counselor can provide test dates, descriptive brochures, registration forms, and information on possible fee waivers.
  • Request application materials from your chosen schools. Apply to your “dream” schools and your “back-up” schools.
    • Many scholarship/admission deadlines have October deadlines. Carefully read application requirements and deadlines for each of your chosen colleges.
    • Get organized. Make acalendar showing application deadlines for admission, scholarships, and other financial aid. Create checklists to organize all of your college application materials.
    • The following application items should be requested or completedat least two weeks in advance of deadlines:
      • Personal references and letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or others
        • Write thank you letters to each person who has provided a recommendation for you!
      • Transcript (school record) requests from your high school’s guidance office
      • 1st draft of all essays. Essays can be very powerful. Proofread several times, get feedback from teachers, and edit essays before sending.
      • ACT/SAT test score requests. Be sure you have requested that your test scores be sent to the colleges of your choice.
  • Using your personal portfolio, complete and send applications to your chosen colleges. Make sure that your application forms are filled out completely and neatly. Make a photocopy of all completed application forms before you mail them. Keep copies of everything in your personal file.
  • Check with your counselor about possible application fee waivers. If you receive free/reduced lunch or participate in a TRiO program, you may be eligible.

Fall Semester: Apply for Scholarships

  • Search online, in your community, in your library, with your counselor, and with your chosen colleges.
  • Be sure to give teachers/counselors, etc. two weeks advance notice for completing letters of recommendation for you. Provide information about the scholarship, deadlines, and instructions for submitting. If you want letters sent directly to the scholarship committees, provide self-addressed, stamped envelopes.
    • Write thank you letters to each person who has written you a letter of recommendation.
  • Put effort and time into your scholarship essays. Just like admission essays, these can be very powerful!Proofread several times, get feedback from teachers, and edit essays before sending.
  • Beware of financial aid / scholarship scams. You should never have to pay someone to help you find scholarships or fill out the FAFSA. Help and information is always available at no cost.

Spring Semester: Financial Aid

  • You and your parents should prepare your income tax statements as early as possible in preparation for the FAFSA. You will need this tax information to complete the FAFSA and many colleges require a photocopy of them for financial aid applications.
  • Complete the online FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Although the online FAFSA can be completed any time, March 1 is often a priority deadline for some need-based grants. Need help filling out your FAFSA? Here are no-cost options:
    • Attend College Goal Sunday, a free regional event in February, where knowledgeable volunteers help you complete the application. Check http://www.collegegoal.org/ for more information.
    • Contact the financial aid office of any local college or university. You may be able to meet with a local financial counselor to get help.
    • Ask your school counselor or another FAFSA-experienced adult
    • Call HHLA
    • Search the help pages on www.fafsa.ed.gov

Spring Semester: Decisions and Final Preparations

  • Choosing the Right College
    • Watch your mail between March 1 and April 1 for college acceptance notifications.
    • Between April 1 and May 1, watch your mail / email for notification of financial aid awards by college.
    • Compare the acceptance letters and financial aid packages from each college or university that has accepted you.
    • Once you’ve decided which college to attend:
      • Mail in your acceptance form and deposit check as soon as possible.
      • Notify all other colleges of your decision
  • Financial Aid
    • Carefully read and respond to all correspondence from FAFSA, your chosen college, and any other scholarship sources. Additional documents are often required. Pay attention to deadlines!
    • First consider accepting sources of money you don’t have to pay back, like scholarships and grants
    • Understand your loan options before accepting them. You don’t have to accept everything you’re offered. Most students borrow money to pay for college through federal loan programs, but the conditions vary between loans. Talk to your college’s financial aid office if you have any questions.
    • Do you plan to work part time while attending college? You may be more appealing to potential employers if you have Work-Study. Talk to your college’s financial aid advisor to discuss this option.
  • Final Preparations
    • Complete all follow-up paperwork for your chosen college. This might include housing arrangements and deposits, as well as orientation and enrollment.
    • Congratulations! You have successfully completed the steps to college. Get ready for the new learning adventures coming your way!
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