Resources
For Families

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 Tennessee. Make sure that your schedule reflects the courses of a freshman on a college track. Set up an appointment with your school counselor if you have questions.
• 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 school 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 Tennessee 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.

Resources

9th Grade Checklist

9th Grade Parent Action Plan

College Planning for 9th and 10th Graders (Spanish)

Students

• Review your 4 year plan. Are you still on track for on time graduation?
• Continue your involvement in extracurricular activities. Remember to document all of your activities.
• Continue preparing for college prep exams like the ACT and SAT. Find ACT/SAT Prep opportunities to complete. Test taking skills are a plus, but nothing can replace content knowledge to boost your scores.
• Making sure that you master the content being delivered in your classes is important. 
• 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 Tennessee 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’s 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.

Resources

10th Grade Checklist

10th Grade Parent Action Plan

College Planning for 9th and 10th Graders (Spanish)

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 on CollegeforTN.org.
• 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 take 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 Tennessee 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’s 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.
• Take your child on a college trip or join them on a school-sponsored college trip.

Resources

11th Grade Checklist

11th Grade Parent Action Plan

College Planning Calendar for Juniors (Spanish)

Students

• Meet with your counselor to make sure you are taking the correct classes in your final year.
• Participate in the TN College Application & Exploration Month in September. APPLY FOR COLLEGE!
• Continue your involvement in extracurricular activities. Remember to document all of your activities.
• Complete the TN Promise application before November 2nd and stay eligible by completing the FAFSA, attending required meetings, and performing community service by required deadlines.
• Together with your parents, complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 to be eligible for the most financial aid. Attend a TN FAFSA Frenzy event at your high school if offered.
• If you need to improve your ACT/SAT scores, plan to retest early in your senior year.
• Continue career exploration on CollegeforTN.org.
• Choose a major and research careers that your major leads to.
• Visit as many colleges as possible. If you can’t get to the college, take a virtual tour. Try to narrow your choices down to three selections.
• Volunteer! Document everything!
• Begin applying for scholarships and be aware of scholarship deadlines. Take advantage of any scholarship workshops offered at your school or elsewhere.
• Your GPA is important. Make sure to keep your grades high. Push yourself! Don’t run out of gas in the home stretch.

Parents

• Together with your child, complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1 so your child will qualify for the most financial aid.
• 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’s involvement in school-sponsored organizations and activities.
• Continue to encourage and join your child in volunteer activities.
• Take your child on a college trip or join them on a school-sponsored college trip.
• Offer your support when your child begins the college and scholarship application process. This could be as simple as helping them to research colleges and scholarships or offering to sit with them while they complete the applications.

Resources

12th Grade Checklist

12th Grade Parent Action Plan

College Planning Calendar for Seniors (Spanish)