Grade Level Checklist
Our checklists below pull information from checklists developed by CFNC, CollegeBoard, and the Department of Ed. We encourage you to check those out, too.
9th
9th Grade Checklist for College
- Take rigorous courses that challenge you. Use teacher and counselor input about what courses you're prepared to be successful in when registering for courses!
- Know your high school graduation and college admissions requirements.
- Concentrate on making good grades. Advocate for yourself (use your teachers and counselor), and put in the extra effort and get help before school, during lunch, or after school if you need to.
- Build good relationships with classmates and school staff.
- Get involved in extracurricular activities in your free time away from academics - e.g., sports, clubs, volunteering (make progress towards your required Service Learning hours), a part-time job.
- Use sites like CFNC.org, BigFuture.CollegeBoard.org, or Naviance to begin exploring college and career interests and learn about Planning, Applying, and Paying for college.
- It may be a long way off, and relatively few schools require them, but if any schools you're considering require SAT Subject Tests, then it could be beneficial to take the tests soon after you've completed the recommended classes.
- Complete assigned Naviance Tasks and To-Dos.
10th
10th Grade Checklist for College
- Continue to take rigorous courses that challenge you. Use teacher and counselor input about what courses you're prepared to be successful in when registering for courses!
- Continue to concentrate on making good grades. Advocate for yourself (use your teachers and counselor), and put in the extra effort and get help before school, during lunch, or after school if you need to.
- Continue to build and maintain good relationships with classmates and school staff.
- Remain involved in extracurricular activites in your free time away from academics - e.g., sports, clubs, volunteering (make progress toward your required Service Learning hours), a part-time job.
- Continue to use sites like CFNC.org, BigFuture.CollegeBoard.org, or Naviance to continue exploring college and career interests and learn about Planning, Applying, and Paying for college.
- Talk with friends, school staff, family members, and others about their educational and career choices. Hearing about others' journeys can be incredibly informative.
- Try your best on the Pre-ACT in October, and use those test results and your grades from 9th grade to shape your list of potential colleges.
- It may be a long way off, and relatively few schools require them, but if any schools you're considering require SAT Subject Tests, then it could be beneficial to take the tests soon after you've completed the recommended classes.
- Complete assigned Naviance Tasks and To-Dos.
11th
11th Grade Checklist for College
- Continue to take rigorous courses that challenge you. Use teacher and counselor input about what courses you're prepared to be successful in when registering for courses!
- Continue to concentrate on making good grades. Advocate for yourself (use your teachers and counselor), and put in the extra effort and get help before school, during lunch, or after school if you need to.
- Continue to build and maintain good relationships with classmates and school staff.
- Remain involved in extracurricular activites in your free time away from academics - e.g., sports, clubs, volunteering (make progress toward your required Service Learning hours), a part-time job.
- Continue to use sites like CFNC.org, BigFuture.CollegeBoard.org, or Naviance to explore college and career interests and learn about Planning, Applying, and Paying for college.
- Seriously consider the cost of different college options and learn about your financial aid options.
- Work towards coming up with a list of schools to which you're interested in applying senior year. Generally, we recommend at least a few reasonable and one "safety" school, in addition to any "reach" schools. Make note of their deadlines and whether or not any schools require SAT Subject Tests.
- Take advantage of college fairs and representative visits to CHS and the area, and visit campuses in person, if possible.
- Familiarize yourself with entrance requirements, college application timeline and steps, and financial aid.
- Talk with friends, school staff, family members, and others about their educational and career choices. Hearing about others' journeys can be incredibly informative.
- Try your best on the Pre-SAT in October and the ACT in late-February/early-March, and use those test results and your grades from 9th and 10th grade to shape your list of potential colleges.
- Plan out your college admissions test (SAT, ACT, and/or, if any school requires them, SAT Subject Test) timeline, if appropriate for your postsecondary goals. Consider how to best prepare for the tests, and study!
- If you are considering playing sports at the collegiate level, speak with your counselor and coach about college athletic eligibility.
- Complete assigned Naviance Tasks and To-Dos.
- Communicate with teachers whom you plan to ask for a recommendation going into the summer before 12th grade.
- Start to map out deadlines for college applications and narrow down your list of schools.
12th
12th Grade Checklist for College
- Continue to take rigorous courses that challenge you. Use teacher and counselor input about what courses you're prepared to be successful in when registering for courses!
- Continue to concentrate on making good grades. Advocate for yourself (use your teachers and counselor), and put in the extra effort and get help before school, during lunch, or after school if you need to.
- Continue to build and maintain good relationships with classmates and school staff.
- Remain involved in extracurricular activites in your free time away from academics - e.g., sports, clubs, volunteering (be sure to finish your required Service Learning hours), a part-time job.
- Continue to use sites like CFNC.org, BigFuture.CollegeBoard.org, or Naviance to explore college and career interests and learn about Planning, Applying, and Paying for college.
- Create your Common App account and link/match it to Naviance. Complete requested documents in Naviance.
- Our recommendation is to apply to at least three to five colleges: a dream school, a safety school, and a others in between. Organize your schools' deadlines and requirements, including whether or not any schools require SAT Subject Tests.
- Submit your transcript request form to Ms. Brooks so that she can set everything up in Naviance for document submission for transcripts and letters of recommendation.
- Search and apply for scholarships.
- Complete the FAFSA and, if requested by any schools, the CSS Profile.
- Complete the NC Residency Determination, for any in-state schools.
- Talk with friends, school staff, family members, and others about their educational and career choices. Hearing about others' journeys can be incredibly informative.
- Our minimum recommendation is to prepare for and take at least one of the SAT or ACT for a second time, if you have not already, if appropriate for your postsecondary goals. Consider how to best prepare for the tests, and study! If any schools require SAT Subject Tests, be sure you have taken or will take those.
- If you are considering playing sports at the collegiate level, speak with your counselor and coach about college athletic eligibility.
- Write, edit, proofread, and rewrite any essays.
- Ask adults for references or letters of recommendation via Naviance.
- Complete assigned Naviance Tasks and To-Dos.
- Participate in College Application Week.
- If not accepted by your college of choice, explore other options with Student Services staff or via CFNC's College Redirection Module.
- Compare financial aid award packages and thoughtfully make a decision.
- Finish any and all financial aid and college enrollment procedures.
- Indicate where you intend to enroll, so that your final transcript is sent officially.