
8TH Grade
- Talk with your middle school and high school counselors to find out which courses you should take that will prepare you for college.
- Take the EXPLORE® test.
- Participate in summer enrichment programs.
9TH Grade
- Chart out your 4 years of course work, summer plans, and extracurricular activities that will lead you towards college.
- Talk to your counselors and set realistic goals of which courses you will complete during the 4 years.
- Take a second EXPLORE® test.
10TH Grade
- Take the PLAN® test and Practice PSAT/NMSQT® test to prepare yourself for college entrance exams.
- Look online at the College Board guide to colleges to pick out the schools that interest you. Then request college catalogs, brochures, and financial aid information.
- Prepare for the SAT® test and/or the ACT® test by taking after-school prep courses.
11TH Grade
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT® test in the Fall for National Merit Scholarship qualification.
- Prepare for the SAT® test and/or the ACT® test by taking after-school prep courses.
- Visit local college fairs and attend sessions with any colleges that visit your campus.
- Review your resume and your transcript with your counselor.
- Take the SAT® test and/or the ACT® test in the Spring.
- Review your score and revise your school choices, and prepare to take the SAT® test and/or the ACT® test again if necessary.

12th Grade
- Retake the SAT® test and/or the ACT® test if necessary, remember to submit scores to the colleges you are applying for.
- Finalize your choices for college, using the college’s acceptance data to choose some schools that may be a reach for you, some schools that you are on target for, and some schools that you should be able to get in for sure.
- Choose at least 5 schools to apply to.
- Check for early application dates, such as Early Action or Early Decision Programs.
- Write application essays and review them with peers, teachers, and your high school counselor.
- Submit application well before the deadline, remembering to send High School transcripts to the colleges that your applied for.
- Arrange campus visits early in the year.
- Research and apply for scholarships.
- Submit your financial aid information through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Apply for the Cambridge "Bright Stars" Foundation Program Scholarship!
- Fulfill your graduation requirements and graduate!
SAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, Cambridge Educational Services’ products or website.
PSAT/NMSQT® is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which were not involved in the production of, and do not endorse, Cambridge Educational Services’ products or website.