National Application Center :: planner timeline
Plan, explore, and apply to college using these great tools.
grade 9
Grade 9/Freshman Year
- Talk to your guidance counselor (or teachers, if you don't have access to a guidance counselor) about the following:
- Attending a four-year college or university
- Establishing your college preparatory classes; your schedule should consist of at least 4 college preparatory classes per year, including:
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of math (through Algebra II or trigonometry)
- 2 years of foreign language
- 2 years of natural science
- 2 years of history/social studies
- 1 year of art
- 1 year of electives from the above list
- Using the Student Planner to keep track of your courses and grades.
- Enrolling in algebra or geometry classes and a foreign language for both semesters (most colleges have math and foreign language requirements)
- Create a file of the following documents and notes:
- Copies of report cards
- List of awards and honors
- List of school and community activities in which you are involved, including both paid and volunteer work, and descriptions of what you do
- Start thinking about the colleges you want to attend. (Hint: Use our College Selection section to help look for schools.) Once you have narrowed down the list of colleges and universities in which you are interested, start touring the campuses; our Campus Tours section can also give you some valuable information.