Freshman Year:

• Get involved in extra-curricular activities and volunteer for community service projects, not only in school, but in your community or church.
• Take challenging courses including Pre Advanced Placement courses.
• Start thinking about what you might like to do once you graduate.
• Talk to people with interesting jobs.
• Visit Career Cruising.com to learn about careers.
• You and your parents should begin to learn about college financial aid through workshops offered by SEISD.
• Talk to your counselor to map out your high school schedule.
• Scope out summer programs offered at UTEP or EPCC.

Sophomore Year:

• Prepare to take the college placement exam (PSAT).
• Continue to take challenging courses including Pre-AP.
• Continue to participate in extra-curricular activities and keep a record of your community service.
• Begin to put together a resume.  Include your activities, leadership, honors, awards, achievements, and community service.
• Continue to log on to Career Cruising.com to investigate colleges and majors.
• Discuss your future plans with your parents and your counselor.
• Learn about current affairs.
• Keep your grades up.
• Enroll in summer programs offered by UTEP or EPCC.

Junior Year:

• Take the most challenging courses possible such as Advanced Placement (AP) or Dual Credit Classes.
• Stay involved in extra-curricular activities and community service.
• Begin to take on leadership roles in school.
• Keep a log of your community service.
• Take the PSAT test - this test will qualify you for National Merit status which opens doors to many scholarships.
• Attend your high school college fair. Make a list of ten colleges you would like to visit.
• Discuss colleges with your parents and visit those colleges (if possible).
• Take a SAT or ACT prep class if possible.
• Log on to Career Cruising.com to narrow your choices of colleges and careers.
• Register to take the SAT or ACT test in the spring of your junior year.  Ask your counselor about fee waivers.
• Meet often with your counselor to keep an updated record of your college plan

Senior Year:

• Review your class schedule with your counselor.
• Visit your counselor often to become familiar with college and scholarship opportunities and deadlines.
• Continue to take Advanced Placement (AP) or Dual Credit Classes.
• Review your resume and update your information.
• Ask at least four adults to write you a letter of recommendation for college and scholarships.  These could be from a teacher, administrator, counselor, clergy, employer, or family friend.  Make sure they are dated and signed.
• Begin to write and edit your college and scholarship essay.  Have your English teacher review the essay for grammatical errors.
• Begin the college application process in September  (many colleges have an early deadline of December 1st).
• Be sure to print a back up copy of all applications and keep a file.
• You and your parents should attend any financial aid nights offered SEHS to learn more about paying for college.
• Attend your high school college fair and visit with college reps as they come to your school.  If interested in their college, ask them about admission fee waivers.
• After January 1st, complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• As your scholarships and/or financial aid offers are received, give your counselor a copy of the award letters and send a thank you letter to the awarding organization.
• Once you have chosen a college to attend, write to the college for confirmation.
• Finalize college housing arrangements.