High School Checklist

Freshman Year

Welcome to high school! Your first year of high school is the perfect time to set yourself up for success. It’s important to put your best foot forward and start thinking about the future you want for yourself.

Pursue Your Interests

What interests you most? These interests can impact what you choose to pursue for a career and pathway after high school. Start by joining clubs and extracurriculars that sound interesting to you. Don’t be afraid to try new things and put yourself out there. You’ll likely meet new people and find new hobbies.

Another great way to pursue your interests is by taking the MyACT Interest Inventory. This free survey allows you to answer a series of questions and get a personalized list of careers and college majors that are relevant to your interests. This can help you start thinking about what comes next and steps you need to take to achieve those goals.

Create Solid Study Habits

By focusing on your study habits during your freshman year, you are setting yourself up to do well in school, especially when class assignments become more difficult.

Study Habits to Start:

• Create a to-do list: This can be a written calendar or something on your phone to help you stay organized and prioritize your time effectively. It’s important to stay on top of your assignments! It can be extremely difficult to make up your grades (or assignments) as the semester progresses.

• Eliminate distractions: Don’t let your homework drag out because you’re distracted. Put away your phone and focus on what’s in front of you. Set timers if you need breaks. Pay attention to whether music or background noise is something that hurts or helps you!

• Prepare early: Don’t cram the night before your exam. Schedule study time throughout the week so you can feel prepared for test day.

• Ask for help: Learn to ask for help when you need it! If you are preparing for a test and don’t understand the material, don’t be afraid to ask your teacher or other experienced students if they can help you master a concept.

Sophomore Year

Believe it or not, you should be thinking about careers and college opportunities by the start of your sophomore year. Build your support network and push yourself to think about what’s next.

Keep Up With Your Extracurriculars

Now that you have a better idea of your likes and dislikes, it’s important to continue to explore extracurricular activities. Colleges love to see students who push themselves beyond just academics. Focus on the extracurriculars that you love and can learn new skills from.

Get more information on what extracurriculars colleges are looking for.

Meet With Your School Counselor

Your school counselor is one of the best resources you could have! Schedule time with them to help you plan your core classes for high school, discuss options after graduation, and get information about new opportunities you may not know about. They typically can give insight into clubs, internships, academic programs, and other after-school activities that can help you boost your application and expand your interests.

Junior Year

Arguably the most important year of high school, this is your time to solidify your extracurriculars, have hard discussions, and narrow down your list of possibilities.

Talk About Your Education and Career Goals

Have conversations with your parents and mentors about where you see yourself. This is a great year to keep actively exploring your options so that you feel more comfortable deciding if college is right for you. Set up job shadowing for careers you are considering, talk with professionals about their experiences, and ask people close to you what they think you should do. You should also go on campus tours so you can picture what college life looks like, and how that makes you feel.

Parent conversation starters:

• If I wanted to pursue a college degree, would you be able to help assist me with any of the costs? Would it be better for me to attend community college and then transfer?

• Is there a career that you can picture me doing that fits my interests and talents?

• Would you support my decision to not attend college if I pursued a certificate or other academic program?

Take the ACT

Whether you choose to submit your scores or not, having an ACT score can help you in your academic journey. Your score can help shine a light on your strengths and weaknesses and help you know where you stand for the rigor of college courses. Additionally, your ACT score can be used to help you earn scholarships or stand out on your college applications.

Get more information on how to use your ACT scores

Senior Year

It’s time to decide what you are going to do after graduation. It’s important to remember that the things you do during your senior year will have a lasting impact!

Make Your Final Decisions

If you are interested in going to college, complete your college applications early and thoroughly. Make sure you have all the necessary materials collected before you get close to any deadlines. If you’ve decided to enter directly into the workforce, spend time preparing for job interviews, resume builders, and networking opportunities.  

Stay Motivated Until the End

You aren’t the first and you certainly won’t be the last student to have senioritis! Push yourself to the very end. You don’t want to give colleges, employers, or even those awarding scholarships a reason to pull their offers. Remember what’s to come, and stay engaged as best you can.

Want more information like this? Get a complete four-year high school checklist now!