TFC College Planning: Ninth Grade Best Practices

TFC College Planning: Ninth Grade Best Practices First Semester Get Organized Meet your School Counselor Focus on Academics o Study Habits  Organization  Note Taking  Test Taking Strategies  Preparing for Exams  Block Scheduling Advice  Before/During/After school tutoring. How do you get help? How do you ask for help?  Family Connection/Blackboard  Procrastination and Time Management o Competition vs Doing your Best o Balancing Activities and Academics o Learn about the SAT and ACT o Take PSAT and/or practice ACT if possible  https://www.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt  Schools typically put on workshops for ACT preparation o Review Test Taking Strategies  http://www.petersons.com/college-search/psat-test-taking-tips.aspx  https://www.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/preparation (sample questions) Extracurricular activities o Become interested in clubs. Explore! o If you have not participated in activities outside or inside of school, don’t worry. Try new things! It may take time to find your passion. Enjoy the process of searching for it. Health and Friends o Sleep, eating well, exercising, and “down time” o Friendships take time to develop o Make time for yourself (friends, family, passions, being a teenager) o Turn off Social Media and Electronics o Dating/Relationships/Friendships Develop relationships with ALL teachers. o Make this a habit! Connections with teachers, coaches, and other adults are important as you make way through high school.

www.tupelosoccer.org

TFC College Planning: Ninth Grade Best Practices Second Semester Start exploring summer opportunities o Summer school o Leadership opportunities o Academic/musical camps o Athletic opportunities o Summer jobs Continue to develop your relationships with your teachers/counselor Continue to develop extracurricular activities Course Selection o Consult your teachers, counselor, friends, and parents o Plan! o BALANCE o Competitive schedule but reasonable o Revise/Develop 4 year plan (always a working document!) o When will you do your Economics Personal Finance? When do most students do this? Revise/Build your resume SAT/ACT Subject Tests Confirm Summer Plans

www.tupelosoccer.org