College Prep
9th Grade
Students
Create a 4 year plan and keep track of your courses. This may require the help of your counselor and/or parent.
Get involved in extracurricular activities. This adds to your resume and keeps you connected and engaged with your school environment. Document all activities.
Look at the course requirements for graduation in the state of Louisiana. Make sure that your schedule reflects the courses of a freshman on a college track. Visit the LA Department of Ed website if you have any questions or set up an appointment with your freshman counselor.
Begin preparing for college prep exams like the ACT and SAT.
- Look for volunteer opportunities that will add value to your resume of activities and make you a more attractive candidate for scholarships. It’s not too early to start. Keep good documentation!
- Your GPA is important. Make sure to keep your grades high.
Parents
Your support is invaluable to your child’s high school experience.
Attend any orientation or registration events hosted by your child’s high school.
Make sure to make an appointment with the freshmen counselor if you have any questions about your child’s schedule. Do this immediately!
- Get and keep a copy of your child’s high school graduation requirements.
Each year, compare your child’s schedule to what is required by the state of Louisiana to make sure that your child is on track for graduation.
Encourage your child to get involved in at least one school sponsored organization.
Encourage and join your child in volunteer activities. These activities will build character and grit in your child and also make them a more attractive candidate for scholarships.
College Prep
10th Grade
Students
Review your 4 year plan. Are you still on track for on time graduation?
Continue your involvement in extracurricular activities. Remember that to document all of your activities.
Continue preparing for college prep exams like the ACT and SAT. Making sure that you master the content being delivered in your classes is important. Find ACT/SAT Prep opportunities to complete. Test taking skills are a plus, but nothing can replace content knowledge to boost your scores.
Consider taking a practice Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). This test is normally given in October.
Volunteer at your school and at off campus sites. Look for volunteer opportunities that utilize your individual skill set and allow you to have a career experience.
Begin research on what your major might be in college.
- Your GPA is important. Make sure you keep your grades up.
Parents
Your support is invaluable to your child’s high school experience.
Stay connected to the high school process. Let teachers know that you support their process.
Review your copy of your child’s high school graduation requirements.
Each year, compare your child’s schedule to what is required by the state of Louisiana to make sure that your child is on track for graduation.
Meet with your child’s counselor if you have any questions or concerns.
Continue to encourage your child involvement in school sponsored organizations and activities.
Encourage and join your child in volunteer activities. These activities will build character and grit in your child and also make them a more attractive candidate for scholarships.
College Prep
11th Grade
Students
- Review your 4 year plan. Are you still on track for on time graduation? Meet with your counselor.
- Continue your involvement in extracurricular activities. Remember to document all of your activities.
- Take the PSAT/NMSQT.* You must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for scholarships and programs associated with the National Merit Scholarship Program.
- Continue preparing for college prep exams like the ACT and SAT. Look for ACT/SAT Prep opportunities to attend. Test taking skills are a plus, but nothing can replace content knowledge to boost your scores.
- Explore careers. Refer to the resource page.
- Volunteer at your school and at off campus sites. Look for volunteer opportunities that utilize your individual skill set. Document everything!
- Research colleges with majors that interest you.
- Go on school sponsored college tours and see if your parents are able to bring you on tours as well.
- Your GPA is important. Make sure to keep your grades high.
Parents
- Stay connected to the high school process. Let teachers know that you support their process.
- Each year, compare your child’s schedule to what is required by the state of Louisiana to make sure that your child is on track for graduation.
- Meet with your child’s counselor if you have any questions or concerns.
- Continue to encourage your child involvement in school sponsored organizations and activities.
Each year, compare your child’s schedule to what is required by the state of Louisiana to make sure that your child is on track for graduation.
Encourage your child to get involved in at least one school sponsored organization.
- Encourage and join your child in volunteer activities. These activities will build character and grit in your child and also make them a more attractive candidate for scholarships.
- Bring your child on a college trip or join them on a school sponsored college trip.
College Prep
12th Grade
Students
Meet with your counselor to make sure you are taking the correct classes in your final year.
Continue your involvement in extracurricular activities. Remember to document all of your activities.
If you need to improve your ACT/SAT scores, plan to retest early in your senior year.
Continue career exploration.
Choose a major.
Visit as many colleges as possible. If you can’t get to the college, take a virtual tour. Try and narrow your choices down to three selections.
Participate in the Louisiana College Application & Access Month in October. APPLY FOR COLLEGE!
Volunteer! Document everything!
Begin applying for scholarships. Take advantage of any scholarship workshops offered.
- Your GPA is important. Make sure to keep your grades high. Push yourself! Don’t run out of gas in the home stretch.
Parents
Complete the FAFSA. (Refer to resource page for more information.)
Stay connected to the high school process. Let teachers know that you support their process.
- Review your child’s transcript with a counselor.
Continue to encourage your child involvement in school sponsored organizations and activities.
Continue to encourage and join your child in volunteer activities.
Bring your child on a college trip or join them on a school sponsored college trip.
Offer your support when your child begins the scholarship application process. This could be as simple as helping them to research scholarships or offering to sit with them while they complete the application.
Resources
Louisiana Colleges – https://tinyurl.com/LCAAM2017
FAFSA – https://fafsa.ed.gov
Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance – https://www.osfa.state.la.us
Information on Financial Aid – https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/types
Financial Aid Resource for Parents – https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/resources/parents
Bankrate Guide to Paying for College for Students with Disabilities – https://www.bankrate.com/loans/student-loans/guide-to-paying-for-college-with-disabilities/#table-of-contents
Research Careers and Majors – https://ww.mynextmove.org
College Prep Checklists for Parents – https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/prepare-for-college/checklists
College Prep Info – http://knowhow2go.acenet.edu
ACT Info – https://www.act.org
PSAT Info – https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10
Louisiana Department of Education – https://www.louisianabelieves.com
College Prep Info – https://www.collegeboard.org
Research Careers – https://www.bls.gov
Scholarship Search by Careers – https://www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch
LPSS Scholarship Page – https://www.lpssonline.com/scholarships
Scholarship Search Sites:
Scholarship Points – https://www.scholarshippoints.com
Chegg – https://www.chegg.com/scholarships
Cappex – https://www.cappex.com