Planning Timelines
Tenth-Grade Planner
August
- Discuss your college plans with your school counselor, parents or another trusted adult.
- Review your transcript to make sure you’re on track to graduate and be admitted.
- Stay involved in extracurricular activities and community volunteer work. Take leadership roles if possible.
September
- Become familiar with general college admission requirements.
- Work hard and develop good study habits. The better your grades, the more KEES money you can earn.
- Make notes in your college access file about awards, accomplishments and volunteer work.
October
- Start a file for information about schools you’re interested in attending, financial aid and campus life.
- Read as many books as possible from a comprehensive reading list. It’s one of the best ways of preparing for the ACT and for college.
November
- Work on your writing skills. No matter what you do in life, you’ll probably have to write.
- Start thinking about financial aid. Review the Paying for College section on www.kheaa.com.
- If you live in the Fifth Congressional District, ask your counselor about the Rogers Scholars Program.
December
- Check out March 2 Success, a free website that can help you in language arts, mathematics, and science.
- Write colleges to ask for their academic requirements for admission.
January
- Sign up for challenging classes as a junior. It may help with scholarships and getting into the school of your choice.
- Talk with your counselor about AP, IB, CAI and dual credit courses.
- Continue to explore interests and careers that you think you might like.
- Keep your grades up so you can have the highest GPA and class rank possible.
February
- Begin zeroing in on the type of college you would prefer (two-year or four-year, small or large, rural or urban).
- If you’re interested in a military academy, start planning and getting information.
- Write colleges and ask for their academic requirements for admission.
March/April
- Visit a few college campuses and attend college fairs.
May
- Keep putting away money for college.
- Consider a summer job. You can save money for college and maybe find out more about your career interests.
June/July
- Keep learning all summer. Check with your counselor to see what summer classes are available in your area.
- Chat with college students home for the summer, especially if they attend a college you’re considering.