High School Planner
What to do in 11th Grade
September
- Take college prep English and advanced math classes.
- Maintain A and B grades. This is especially important during junior year.
- Sign up with your guidance counselor to take PLAN http://www.act.org/plan, which will prepare you for the ACT test and the PSAT(Preliminary SAT). The PSAT gives high-school juniors a chance to qualify for National Merit Scholarship, National Achievement Scholarship, and the National Hispanic Scholarship programs.
October
- Check out the Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment program at the City Colleges of Chicago to earn college credit while still in high school.
- If you are a CPS high school student, check out the College Bridge Program and the College Excel Program at the City Colleges of Chicago to see if you can earn college credit (for free) by taking high school classes.
December
- Receive your results of PLAN and the PSAT. Discuss them with your guidance counselor and your parents.
- Decide when to take college entrance exams (SAT or ACT). If you take the exam in this spring or summer, you will receive the results in time to decide whether or not to retake them in the fall.
- The SAT or ACT cost money, so ask your high school guidance counselor if you quality for an ACT fee waiver or an SAT fee waiver.
- Prepare for the SAT or ACT by reviewing books with testing tips and sample questions or taking a prep class.
January-April
- Make a list of potential colleges you want to learn more about.
- Attend college fairs. Visit NACAC's National College Fairs Web page for fair schedule.
- If you are taking Advanced Placement classes, register to take the AP exams to earn college credit.
- Visit your guidance counselor to learn about applying for financial aid, scholarships, grants, and work-study programs.
- Discuss your potential college list with your guidance counselor to see if the colleges you’ve selected meet your needs (academic program, size, location, cost, etc.).
- Request admission literature from the colleges on your list, either through the college’s website or by mail.
- Register for the May/June SAT Reasoning and/or Subject Tests and ACT test.
May
- Visit colleges you want to attend if you can.
- Take the SAT Reasoning Test or SAT Subject Tests.
- Take the ACT Test.
June - July
- Visit colleges and take college tours with a parent or guardian.
August
- If you are an athlete, contact the coaches at the schools to which you are applying and ask about intercollegiate and intramural sports programs and athletic scholarships.
- Complete the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse form if you hope to play Division I or II sports.
