For our Gwynn Park Students -- each of you will make one of the biggest decisions of your life. Deciding what to do following high school graduation – College or Career?
It is never to early to plan for the future!
Register for the October/November SAT Reasoning Test and/or SAT
Subject Tests, or September & October ACT.
Senior Year
- Plan your class schedule with your future in mind. Senior year is not the time to lay off. Try to take classes your senior year that will help you ace your major's prerequisites for college. Example -- "a prospective biotechnology major should be taking courses in AP biology and perhaps calculus. Prospective engineers should take physics and calculus.
- Meet with your guidance counselors on a regular basis.
- Continue your extracurricular involvement -- Senior year is not the time to abandon the activities that are important to you. It's actually a great time to assume a leadership role in an organization or try a new activity. Extracurricular activities are very important, and are highly considered during the admission review.
- Plan visits to colleges and set up interviews (if you didn't get to them during the summer or if you want to return to a campus for a second time). Read bulletin boards and the college newspaper. Talk with current students and professors. Attend college fairs to investigate further those colleges to which you will probably apply.
- Community Learning Hours/Community Service Hours -- Volunteer, Volunteer, Volunteer - a high school graduation requirement!
- Check on application and financial aid deadlines for the schools to which you plan to apply. They may vary and it is essential to meet all deadlines!
- Colleges require recommendations, ask the appropriate people to write on your behalf. Allow three weeks before the due date;ask your counselor and teachers, employers, or coaches to write letters of recommendation. Provide them with your resume.
- Work and explore careers. Working in high school can give you valuable insight into various works environments.
- Learn how to market yourself!
Remember, if you are accepted under the early decision option, you are expected to enroll at that college and to withdraw all other applications.
Junior Year
- Begin college selection process. Attend college fairs, financial aid seminars, general information sessions, etc., to learn as much as you can about the college application process. Make sure you are meeting NCAA requirements if you want to play Division I or II sports in college.
- Register for the October PSAT, Junior year PSAT scores may qualify a student for the National Merit Scholarship competition and the National Achievement Scholars Programs.
- Save samples of your best work for your academic portfolio.
- Maintain your co-curricular record. Meet with your guidance counselors on a regular basis.
- Junior year grades are extremely important in the college admission process, because they are a measure of how well you do in advanced, upper-level courses. Grades also are used to determine scholarships and grants for which you may be eligible.
- Community Learning Hours/Community Service Hours -- Volunteer, Volunteer, Volunteer - a high school graduation requirement!
Sophomore Year
- Concentrate on academic preparation and continue to develop basic skills and co-curricular interests.
- Register for the October PSAT --never to early! Attend college fairs and meet with your guidance counselors on a regular basis.
- Sign up, if you have not done so already, for co-curricular activities that interest you. The level of involvement and accomplishment is most important, not the number of activities.
- Keep a record of your co-curricular involvement, volunteer work, and employment (all year).
- Take NCAA-approved courses if you want to play sports in college.
- Community Learning Hours/Community Service Hours -- Volunteer, Volunteer, Volunteer - a high school graduation requirement!
Research Career possibilities and set goals!
Freshman Year
It is never too early to plan for the future!
- Build strong academic, language, mathematics and critical thinking skills by taking challenging courses.
- Study hard and get excellent grades.
- Strengthen your vocabulary by increasing your reading!
- Become involved in co-curricular activities.
- Community Learning Hours/Community Service Hours -- Volunteer, Volunteer, Volunteer - a high school graduation requirement!
- Browse through college literature or surf the Web to get an idea of what kinds of schools may be of interest to you.
- Meet your high school guidance counselor and discuss your plans for the next four years
- Check out what high school courses colleges require.
- Keep an academic portfolio and co-curricular record.
- Know NCAA requirements if you want to play sports in college.
Useful Links of Information
Students need to know that there is money available. You don't have to be the #1 student in your class or have received a perfect score on your SAT. (Although that doesn't hurt) But you need to prepare yourself to be marketable. Make sure you have decent grades; test scores; community service and extracurricular activities. And by all means don't forget to list in your section for activities, your involvement with your Church, Mosque, Temple, and Synagogue. Do your research to see what is available for you. There are Scholarship Websites, Scholarship Books, Scholarship Announcements and Applications that the College/Career Coordinators provide to the students and are available in their Career Centers as well as in the Counselors Offices. There is NO EXCUSE for a student not to be able to get any information on any advertised scholarship. However if any student is ever asked to provide a FEE for a scholarship service, they need to RUN, NOT WALK, AWAY. Just as you researched and sought out the perfect college for your perfect match, you also have to search out the perfect scholarship for your perfect match.
(Application Deadline Jan 29, 2010)
Princeton Summer Journalism Program
(click link to view list)
Year Up, National Capital Region
1560 Wilson Blvd., Suite 200
Arlington, VA 22209
How do I know if I qualify for Year Up?
You qualify if you are:
* Between the ages of 18-24
* A High School graduate or GED recipient
* A low to moderate income resident in the cities we serve and the surrounding areas
* Interested in a career in a technical field
* Familiar with basic computer skills
* A U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or student who is able to work legally in the United States
* Motivated and willing to work hard to reach your goals and realize your full potential
