Ninth grade is an important year in a
student’s college-preparation journey.
Students
To Do:

Take challenging classes in core academic subjects. Most colleges require four years of
English, at least three years of social studies (history, civics, geography, economics, etc.), three
years of mathematics, and three years of science, and many require two years of a foreign
language. Round out your course load with classes in computer science and the arts.

Work with one of your parents to estimate your financial aid using FAFSA4caster and be
sure to save for college.

Get involved in school- or community-based activities that interest you or let you explore
career interests. Consider working, volunteering, and/or participating in academic enrichment
programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, or science.
Remember—it’s quality (not quantity) that counts.

Ask your guidance counselor or teachers what Advanced Placement courses are available,
whether you are eligible, and how to enroll in them.

Use the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search tool to research your career options.

Start a list of your awards, honors, paid and volunteer work, and extracurricular activities.
Update it throughout high school.
To Explore:

Check out KnowHow2Go: The Four Steps to College, which suggests some actions you can
take as you start thinking about education beyond high school.

Learn about managing your money.

Explore reasons to consider college and ways you can get help preparing.
Parents
To Do:

Talk to your child about college plans as if he or she will definitely go to college.

Keep an eye on your child’s study habits and grades—stay involved.

Encourage your child to take Advanced Placement or other challenging classes.

Add to your child’s college savings account regularly; and make sure you are fully aware of
the provisions of the account.
To Explore:

Address your concerns about whether your child can or should go to college.

Get tips from Help Your Child Improve in Test-Taking.

Read “Parent Power” to access ideas for remaining involved in your child’s progress.
There’s a lot a 10th-grade student can do to
stay on the right track toward college, and a
lot a parent can do to help.
Students
To Do:

Meet with your school counselor or mentor to discuss colleges and their requirements.

Consider taking a practice Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
(PSAT/NMSQT) or the PLAN exam.

Plan to use your summer wisely: Work, volunteer, or take a summer course (away or at a
local college).


Go to career information events to get a more detailed look at career options.
Research majors that might be a good fit with your interests and goals based on your results
from the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search.
To Explore:

Learn the differences between grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships.
Parents
To Do:

Find out whether your child’s school has college nights or financial aid nights. Plan to attend
those events with your child.

Help your child develop independence by encouraging him or her to take responsibility for
balancing homework with any other activities or a part-time job.
To Explore:

Learn about the standardized tests your child will be taking during 10th through 12th
grades.

Get a brief overview of financial aid from Do You Need Money for College—Federal Student
Aid at a Glance.
For both students and parents, it’s crucial to
stay on top of college preparation during the
11th-grade year and the following summer.
Here’s what you should be doing—including looking into careers, searching for scholarships,
and keeping the savings account on track.
Students
To Do:
All Year

Explore careers and their earning potential in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Or, for a
fun interactive tool, try the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search.

Learn about choosing a college and find a link to our free college search tool.

Go to college fairs and college-preparation presentations by college representatives.

Take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). You
must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for scholarships and programs associated with the
National Merit Scholarship Program.
Fall
Spring

Register for and take exams for college admission. The standardized tests that many
colleges require are the SAT, the SAT Subject Tests, and the ACT. Check with the colleges you are
interested in to see what tests they require.

Use the U.S. Department of Labor’s scholarship search to find scholarships for which you
might want to apply. Some deadlines fall as early as the summer between 11th and 12th grades,
so prepare now to submit applications soon.
Summer Before 12th Grade

Narrow down the list of colleges you are considering attending. If you can, visit the schools
that interest you.

Contact colleges to request information and applications for admission. Ask about financial
aid, admission requirements, and deadlines.

Decide whether you are going to apply under a particular college’s early decision or early
action program. Be sure to learn about the program deadlines and requirements.

Use the FAFSA4caster financial aid estimator, and compare the results to the actual costs at
the colleges to which you will apply. To supplement any aid FAFSA4caster estimates you might
receive, be sure to apply for scholarships. Your goal is to minimize the amount of loan funds you
borrow.
To Explore:

Find out what government financial aid you can apply for, and how, in Do You Need Money
for College—Federal Student Aid at a Glance.

Learn how to avoid scholarship scams and identity theft as you look for financial aid and
then attend college.
REMEMBER: Register for all tests in advance and be sure to give yourself time to prepare
appropriately! If you have difficulty paying a registration fee, see your school counselor about
getting a fee waiver.
Parents
To Do:

Take a look at your financial situation, and be sure you’re on the right track to pay for
college.

Talk to your child about the schools he or she is considering. Ask why those schools appeal
to your child, and help him or her clarify goals and priorities.

Attend college fairs with your child, but don’t take over the conversation with the college
representatives. Just listen, and let your child do the talking.

Take your child to visit college campuses, preferably when classes are in session.

Make sure your child is looking into or already has applied for scholarships.

Ask your employer whether scholarships are available for employees’ children.
To Explore:

Get in-depth information on the federal student aid programs.

Learn about student and parent loans in Direct Loan Basics for Students and Direct Loan
Basics for Parents.

Find out how the federal student aid application process works.
12th grade is the time to apply for admission
to college and then to apply for federal
student aid by filling out the FAFSA®.
Here’s what students and parents should be doing throughout the year to stay on track at this
busy time—including learning how to manage federal student aid.
Students
To Do:
All Year

Work hard all year—second-semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility.

Stay involved in after-school activities, and seek leadership roles if possible.
Fall

Meet with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill
college admission requirements.

If you haven’t done so already, register for and take the standardized tests required for
college admission. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.

Apply to the colleges you have chosen. Prepare your applications carefully. Follow the
instructions, and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!

Well before your application deadlines, ask your counselor and teachers to submit required
documents (e.g., transcript, letters of recommendation) to the colleges to which you’re
applying.
Winter

Encourage your parent(s) to complete income tax forms early. If your parent(s) has (have)
not completed tax forms, you can provide estimated information on your federal student aid
application, but remember to make any necessary changes later.

As soon as possible after Jan. 1, complete and submit your Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA®), along with any other financial aid applications your school(s) of choice
may require. You can complete the FAFSA online or on paper, but completing the application
online is faster and easier. You should submit your FAFSA by the earliest financial aid deadline of
the schools to which you are applying, usually by early February.

After you submit the FAFSA, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within three
days to three weeks. Quickly make any necessary corrections and submit them to the FAFSA
processor.

Complete any last scholarship applications.
Spring

Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll.

Review your college acceptances and compare the colleges’ financial aid offers.

Contact a school’s financial aid office if you have questions about the aid that school has
offered you. In fact, getting to know your financial aid staff early is a good idea no matter
what—they can tell you about deadlines, other aid for which you might wish to apply, and
important paperwork you might need to submit.

When you decide which school you want to attend, notify that school of your commitment
and submit any required financial deposit. Many schools require this notification and deposit by
May 1.
To Explore:

Refer to Funding Your Education: The Guide to Federal Student Aid for information about
financial aid as you work through the FAFSA process.

Make informed decisions about student loans; the following resources are important at this
point:
o
Federal Versus Private Loans
o
Direct Loan Basics for Students
REMEMBER: Register for all tests in advance and be sure to give yourself time to prepare
appropriately! If you have difficulty paying a registration fee, see your school counselor about
getting a fee waiver.
Parents
To Do:

Work with your child on filling out the FAFSA.
To Explore:

Make sure your child’s personal information is safe when he or she applies for financial aid.
For tips, read “Student Aid and Identity Theft.”

Read IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education to see how you might benefit from
federal income tax credits for education expenses.


Understand the benefits of federal student loans.
Look at communications from schools to which your child sent FAFSA information. If a
school has offered Direct PLUS Loans, the Direct Loan Basics for Parents brochure might be
useful to you.