College and Career Milestones

THINGS TO DO:

• Meet with a school counselor to develop a college/career plan and discuss the costs associated with college.
• Attend an information session and/or shadow a student at your local high school to get a feel for what’s next.
• Take a career exploration course (online if not offered in school).
• Participate in college and career experiences like visiting a college campus or job shadowing.
• Participate in school and student organizations (like clubs, sports, school newspaper, theater, and more).
• Participate in summer activities related to your interests or talents.

THINGS TO KNOW:

• Different careers require different levels of college or training.
• High school will be different from middle school. There will be more of a focus on choosing your college/career path.
• It is important to continue to explore and broaden my academic, career, and personal interests.

THINGS TO DO:

• Begin taking courses based on your personal interests and career plan.
• Have a conversation with your parents/guardians about the costs of college and how you will plan for those costs.
• Experiment with different organizational and study methods to see what works best for you.
• Try something new to expand personal skills or interests (like a new sport, club, or course).
• Schedule a meeting with your school counselor to update your college and career plans.
• Talk to teachers, family members, and other adult mentors to work through your college and career interests.
• Become involved with school student organizations, clubs, or teams.
• Learn about eligibility criteria for honor societies, special diplomas, certifications, or other merit awards.
• Start a resume to document extra-curricular activities, accomplishments, work experience, and skills.
• Participate in college and career exploration experiences (like campus visits, hands-on events, college and career fairs, industry-specific events).
• Volunteer in your community and/or in a professional field related to your academic, personal, or career interests.

THINGS TO KNOW:

• Your GPA, along with your ACT or SAT, has a high impact on college opportunities, including admission, scholarships, financial aid, etc.
• Learn how to backward plan from your career goals to what you should be focusing on in high school.
• It is important to save money for college expenses (including direct costs like tuition and indirect costs like transportation, supplies, and fees).
• It’s important to take challenging coursework to prepare for college.

THINGS TO DO:

• Participate in a meaningful summer experience such as a job, internship, or early college preparation (like a pre-college summer camp, computer coding camp, apprenticeship related to CTE concentration).
• Continue participating in school and student organizations.
• Volunteer in your community or school.
• Update your resume to include your work, volunteer experiences, honors, or skills that you’ve acquired since last school year.
• Do a practice job interview with a school counselor or other adult mentor.
• Update your college and career plan with your school counselor and have a conversation about your potential eligibility/competitiveness for admission.
• Have conversations with a teacher, family member, or other adult mentor to talk about your college and career interests.
• Have a conversation with a counselor and family members about tuition, fees, and other costs of college, as well as your potential eligibility for need- and merit-based aid.
• Research course offerings for your junior year, including early college opportunities like AP, dual enrollment, and dual credit, or work-based learning.

THINGS TO KNOW:

• Know the structure and content of ACT or SAT college readiness exams.
• Understand the different postsecondary options available to you and the admissions requirements.
• Challenging coursework and your course performance will impact future course opportunities, especially opportunities to earn early college credit and to qualify for merit-based scholarships (like the HOPE Scholarship).
• Revisit your college and career plan regularly and discuss your plans with a counselor, teacher, advisor, or family member who can help.

THINGS TO DO:

• Continue to visit college and career-related campuses or events.
• Volunteer in your community or school regularly.
• Attend “Path to College” College Planning Night at your school.
• Prepare for and take the ACT or SAT.
• Continue to participate in school and student organizations and take on leadership roles and increased responsibility.
• Update your resume to include your work, volunteer experiences, honors, or skills that you’ve acquired since last school year.
• Schedule a meeting with your school counselor to discuss details of the college application process, how to choose a program of study, and how to identify colleges that are a good “fit” for you.
• Complete and pass early postsecondary opportunities (Dual Credit, Dual Enrollment, AP, IB, Cambridge).
• Research and apply for college scholarship opportunities – it’s never too early!
• Write a draft of a college essay, personal statement, or cover letter, and get feedback from a teacher, counselor, or college access professional.
• Identify two or three teachers who you think would write you a letter of recommendation for postsecondary and talk to them before the end of the school year.

THINGS TO KNOW:

• Understand the major components of the college application process including admission, financial aid, and choosing a major, concentration, or certification.
• There is a difference between scholarships, loans, and grant aid. Now is the time to learn about these opportunities.
• Challenging coursework will prepare you for success in college.
• Your school counselor is a great resource to learn more about scholarship opportunities.
• Learn how to request a transcript for a summer program, job, internship, or scholarship applications.

THINGS TO DO:

• Continue to research and apply for scholarship opportunities.
• Finalize your college application list and which schools you will be applying to.
• Participate in the ACT senior retake if you would like to improve your score.
• Take rigorous academic coursework that aligns with your college and career plan.
• Ask a trusted counselor, teacher, or college access professional to provide feedback on your application documents before submitting.
• Complete a Tennessee Promise Application.
• Track and celebrate college application submissions and results.
• Complete the FAFSA by the Tennessee Promise deadline.
• Update your resume to include your work, volunteer experiences, honors, or skills that you’ve acquired since last school year.
• Attend Tennessee Promise meetings.
• Meet with admission officers from the colleges to which you applied or have been admitted.
• Review the financial aid options and awards you received from colleges with a trusted school counselor and your family.
• Make a financial deposit at your chosen college (if applicable)  and attend orientation.
• Identify and participate in volunteer opportunities to ensure that you maintain Tennessee Promise eligibility.

THINGS TO KNOW:

• Know the deadlines for the major components of the college application process, and plan to meet each of them.
• Senior year grades still matter for admission and scholarship opportunities.
• Understand the differences between the postsecondary institutions and how to choose between them.
• You should apply to several schools with a range of acceptance requirements based on your GPA and ACT or SAT scores.
• It is important to have a teacher or college access professional review your application before submitting.
• Understand the requirements and benefits of the Tennessee Promise program.
• Know how to complete the FAFSA, and I know who to go to for help.
• Know all the facts when deciding which college is the best match for you (academically, financially, and with regard to your career goal).
• Know who your admissions and/or financial aid officers are and how to contact them at your college.
• Know who to contact regarding your financial aid, course registration, housing, academic support/advising, and how to make a deposit.
• Evaluate your financial aid awards to determine the net cost of each institution and compare your different options.

THINGS TO DO:

• Schedule a meeting with your college academic advisor to discuss required coursework for graduation and/or transfer, eligibility for selective opportunities like honor societies or departmental scholarships or grants
• Utilize the academic supports available such as tutoring, writing centers, or office of academic advising and student support
• Update your resume to reflect your career goals and qualifications, and be sure to include your work, volunteer experiences, honors, or skills that you acquire during college
• Choose a major or concentration
• Monitor scholarship or program requirements to ensure you maintain eligibility (e.g., GPA requirements for HOPE Scholarship, volunteer requirements for Tennessee Promise)

THINGS TO KNOW:

• Understand how to plan course choices to meet requirements on time and in the proper sequence to earn your intended degree, certification, or diploma
• If attending a community college, there are several  pathways and requirements for transferring to complete a four-year degree
• Know where to find the office of student support
• Know where to go and who to contact for career services related to resume-building, job opportunities, interviewing, networking, etc.
• Know where to go for health and support services such as counseling, wellness, tutoring, etc.
• Know the requirements in order to maintain good standing at your college, and to maintain your scholarships or financial aid
• Using support services on campus— such as a writing, tutoring, or counseling center—can help ensure that you stay on track for graduation/completion of your degree