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.}