SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

ACTION PLAN FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Freshmen
In your first year of high school, college may seem far away but you will be surprised to see how quickly you advance to your senior year.  If you get on the right track now, you'll be ahead of the game by graduation time.
• Make sure you are enrolled in challenging classes that will help you prepare for college
• Get involved with extracurricular activities in school and outside of school
• Attend college fairs in your area
• Learn about college costs and how financial aid work
• Sign up for college prep courses
Create a folder and keep all your high school grades, activities, and deadline information inside of it.

Sophomores
Most colleges prefer four years of English, history, math, science, and a foreign language. To help you prepare for the next two years and get you on the road to college, take a good look at all your classes and extracurricular courses this year. 

Juniors
You'll have a busy year doing the following:
• Handling challenging schoolwork for classes
• Taking important exams (PSAT, SAT and ACT) 
• Researching colleges (think of preferences, create a college campus checklist and visit colleges)
• Volunteering in your school and in the community to become well rounded
Register for www.Fastweb.com a free college search website.

Seniors
Stay on track by getting organized.
• Finalize your college list and identify the top 9
• Collect college applications and organize what is required to complete them
• Put together a portfolio that includes pertinent information about you
• Ask for application fee waivers when you visit colleges
• Get recommendation letters from teachers early
• Apply for financial aid as early as January
• Keep up your attendance and your grades! 

Above information obtained from www.collegeboard.com

Top Scholarships and Financial Aid for Students, Parents and Teachers
www.scholarshipsonline.org

The State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP)
https://www.ps.columbia.edu/education/academic-programs/additional-educational-opportunities/summer-youth-programs/middle-high-0