Every Willow Springs Bear should have a plan for that day when they must leave the den.

Preparing for After High School
The following information is taken from the book College-Prep Skills and compiled
by Sharon Petrus, Counselor

Getting Ready for After High School

You must prepare for high school graduation beginning in the ninth grade.  By planning now, you can be assured you will not suddenly discover your have forgotten to take care of something important later on.

Ninth Grade

-Get to know your guidance counselor, teachers, and principal.
-Plan a tentative career pathway schedule for the next four years.
-Learn to use your planners.  Log your assignments and schedule important dates.
-Talk to your parents about your career goal.  If possible, talk to someone in the career area you are considering.
-Begin looking and listening for information about colleges or technical schools and admission requirements.
-Watch the bulletin and read the scholarship and opportunities listings that pertain to freshmen.
-If you haven't already done so, find a quiet place where you can really concentrate when you have important studying to do.  (Keep a dictionary, thesaurus, and your English handbook nearby whenever you study.)
-Learn how to listen and take good notes in class; then learn how to prepare for and take exams, especially essay exams.
-Work on your writing.  No other single skill is more critical to success in school than your ability to write well in a variety of situations.  (Keep a journal of free writing or a learning log--or both.
-Begin a plan or program to build your vocabulary.
-Get involved in co-curricular activities.
-Begin a log of your school and community activities, awards, leadership positions and activities in which you volunteer.  (This documentation is valuable when you start to apply for scholarships or fill out job applications.)
-Finally, relax and enjoy high school.

Tenth Grade

-Make sure you are still following your career path schedule.  (See your advisor or the counselor if you have any doubts.)
-Sign an A+ agreement.
-Become familiar with the career information available in the school career center and in the community for the fields you are considering.  Use the Choices computer program on the school's computer network, visit websites, and send away for more information if necessary.
-Watch the listings of scholarships and opportunities that pertain to sophomores.
-Take the PLAN (Preliminary ACT) test.
-Look over the PSAT, SAT, or ACT study booklets to get an idea of what entrance exams are necessary.
-Begin organizing your time (use your planner) so that you do not have to rush or cram to complete important projects on time.
-Become familiar with research and resource materials.  These materials will help you handle high school and beyond research projects.
-Make a list of all those colleges or tech schools you have an interest in attending and collect information on each.  Visit their websites.
-Continue working on your writing, thinking, and study skills.  Read!  Get into the habit of reading newspapers and magazines.  A clear understanding of what is going on in the world around you will become more and more important.
-Continue your activities and awards log.
-Sign up for dual enrollment classes or vocational programs for eleventh grade.
-Look for a summer job, summer school program or a summer trip that will be both educational and enriching.
-Consider asking your parents to plan time during their vacations to visit colleges or technical schools on your prospective list.

Eleventh Grade

-Sign up to take the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test)
-Watch the bulletin, school postings, and the school website for junior scholarship applications and opportunities.
-Continue to review college and technical school guides and catalogs.  Begin to narrow your search for the right school for you and request their latest catalogs, requirements list, application, and other materials.
-Read available reference books which list important information about admission requirements, tuition, degrees offered, financial assistance, etc.
-Go to any college or career days offered in your area; also, meet with college representatives visiting your school.
-Sign up to take the ACT or SAT.
-Meet with your guidance counselor to evaluate your progress and continue your planning.
-Begin discussing specific financial considerations with your parents.  Send for financial aid forms, scholarship applications, work-study information, etc.
-Continue working on your writing and study skills.  Talk to graduates you know about waht skills they wish they had worked harder on in high school.
-Continue reading.
-Look forward to next year; it should be an exciting and memorable year.
-Narrow your choices of prospective schools or occupations.

Summer Before Your Senior Year

-Plan to visit your top three choices of post secondary schools.

Twelfth Grade

-Check your graduation requirements to make sure you have everything you need in your schedule.
-Make a decision about post secondary plans:  immediate employment upon graduation or further training.
-If you choose immediate employment consult the local employment agencis, newspapers, and job postings for job openings throughout the year.
-If you choose post secondary education get current application forms for your top two or three school choices.  Complete and return them promptly.  (Many schools have enrollment limits and cut-off dates for applications).  It's okay to apply to more than one school.
-Continue to participate in extracurricular and volunteer activities.  Demonstrate initiative, creativity, commitment, and leadership in each.
-Go for job interviews and follow up on applications.
-Male students must register for selective service on their eighteenth birthday to be eligible for federal and state financial aid.
-Submit your financial-aid and scholarship applications as soon as possible.  Again, listen to the bulletin, check the scholarship postings in the halls, and visit the school website for scholarship listings.  Ask the counselor for help.
-Attend the area financial aid workshop (held at Cabool High School in January).
-Attend area job fairs.
-Request letters of recommendation from teachers as they are needed for various applications.  Be sure to give teachers adequate time along with stamped, self-addressed envelopes so they can send the letters directly to the appropriate place.
-Keep up with current national international events-refer to newspapers and magazines as well as television.
-Continue reading.
-Discuss effective methods of reading, writing, and studying in college or tech schools with your parents, teachers, and graduates.
-Tie up loose ends before graduation and get ready to move up and cut in the world.
-Good luck!  By working hard, you'll do just fine!

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