Practical Steps to Prepare Your Student for College
So you have a freshman in high school, or maybe your child is starting sophomore year or even later. Have you started planning for what’s next?
Whether you’re a parent or a student, it’s completely normal to feel a bit overwhelmed when thinking about the years beyond high school, but remember that every step you take is a step closer to success. What follows is a punch list to help both parents and students navigate each year of the high school experience and better prepare for college.
Remember that every step you take is a step closer to success.
But first, an overarching tip for online students from admissions counselors at Ivy League schools: Really get to know your online teachers. Having a strong relationship with your teachers will help you stand out and ensure that you have strong letters of recommendation. As early as freshman year, one of the most important things you can do as a student is to build relationships.
Although the following list is geared toward parents, students can certainly review the steps below and prepare themselves—after all, they’ll be doing most of the work. Now, on to our list:
Grade 9: Laying the Foundation
"Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established."—Proverbs 16:3
- Encourage your child to focus on their academics and maintain good grades. Freshman year is an important year for building a strong academic foundation.
- Go over your child’s plan of study. Meet with the school counselor to discuss their academic program and ensure that they are on track to meet graduation requirements.
- Encourage your child to get involved in school- or community-based activities they find interesting. Students should consider working, volunteering, and/or participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, or science. (Note: Sevenstar has an active student council that meets monthly via Zoom, and plans activities throughout the year. Keep your eye out for their newsletter!)
- Build a study routine that balances academics, spiritual growth, and extracurricular activities.
- Monitor your student’s academic progress and take an active role in what they are learning.
- Start talking about colleges and universities to help your child form an idea of what they are looking for in a school.
- Have your child take a standardized test in the spring to get a baseline understanding of their skills, and areas of improvement, for future college entrance exams. An annual standardized test is a requirement for diploma-seeking students at Sevenstar. (We generally recommend the SAT10, which can be administered at home.)
- Track your child’s completion of forty hours of volunteer service(required for diploma-seeking students at Sevenstar).
Grade 10: Growing with Confidence
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."—Jeremiah 29:11
- In July-August, consider registering your child to take the PSAT/NMSQT (administered in October) to prepare for them taking it as a junior, when it “counts.” This test provides an opportunity to potentially qualify for scholarship opportunities and even become a National Merit finalist or scholar! This fulfills the Sevenstar requirement for an annual standardized test, although this specific test is not required. The PSAT must be taken at a brick-and-mortar location.
- Encourage your child to focus on their academics and maintain good grades. Reflect on ninth grade and celebrate successes!
- Go over your child’s plan of study. Meet with the school counselor to discuss academic progress and ensure that your student is on track to meet graduation requirements.
- Encourage your child to take appropriately challenging courses, such as honors or Advanced Placement (AP) classes, to prepare them for college-level coursework.
- Encourage your child to get involved in school- or community-based activities they find interesting. Students should consider working, volunteering, and/or participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, or science. (Note: Sevenstar has an active student council that meets monthly via Zoom, and plans activities throughout the year. Keep your eye out for their newsletter!)
- Maintain a study routine that balances academics, spiritual growth, and extracurricular activities.
- Continue to monitor your student’s academic progress and take an active role in what they are learning.
- In January/February: Watch for the National Honor Society Application and encourage your student to apply. (Applications are sent to all students who are eligible based on grade level, enrollment, and GPA standards.) Being in National Honor Society looks good on college applications—it’s a demonstration of academic prowess, good character, and a dedication to service, which are all positives to most admissions committees.
- Keep talking about colleges and universities with your child, and encourage him or her to start thinking about which possible majors/careers/types of degree they might be interested in.
- Help your child begin to explore potential financial aid options, such as scholarships and grants.
- Most students take the ACT or SAT for the first time as a junior, usually in the spring. But it’s not too early to start preparing! Encourage your child to begin preparing for the SAT and/or ACT. Consider taking a test prep course at Sevenstar, or looking for a local tutor. Start researching which tests are recommended by the colleges and universities you are considering.
- Have your child take a standardized test in the spring (if they didn’t take the PSAT) to get an understanding of their skills and areas of improvement. An annual standardized test is a requirement for diploma-seeking students at Sevenstar. (We generally recommend the SAT10, which can be administered at home.)
- Track your child’s completion of forty hours of volunteer service.
Grade 11: Navigating Opportunities
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."—Proverbs 3:5–6
- Encourage your child to focus on academics and to maintain good grades. Junior year is particularly important, as it’s the last full year of grades that colleges will see before making admissions decisions.
- In July-August, register your child to take the PSAT/NMSQT (administered in October). This test provides an opportunity to potentially qualify for scholarship opportunities and even become a National Merit finalist or scholar! This fulfills the Sevenstar requirement for an annual standardized test, although this specific test is not required. The PSAT must be taken at a brick-and-mortar location.
- Meet with your child’s school counselor to go over their plan of study and ensure they are on track with graduation requirements.
- Encourage your child to take appropriately challenging courses that will prepare them for college, such as Advanced Placement (AP) classes, honors courses, or dual credit courses.
- Research potential colleges and universities with your child to help them identify schools that fit their interests and academic goals. Visit college campuses and attend college fairs to gather more information about schools your child is interested in.
- Encourage your child to step up and become a leader in school- or community-based activities they find interesting. Students should consider working, volunteering, and/or participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, or science. (Note: Sevenstar has an active student council that meets monthly via Zoom, and plans activities throughout the year. Keep your eye out for their newsletter!)
- Register for and take the SAT and/or ACT. These tests are typically taken during the spring semester of junior year and can be a key factor in college admissions decisions. These must be taken at a brick-and-mortar location. Click the links for each test to see dates, deadlines, and testing centers.
- In January/February, watch for the National Honor Society Application and encourage your student to apply. (Applications are sent to all students who are eligible based on grade level, enrollment, and GPA standards.) Being in National Honor Society looks good on college applications—it’s a demonstration of academic prowess, good character, and a dedication to service, which are all positives to most admissions committees. Junior year is the last chance to get this honor on your college application.
- Encourage your child to pursue summer programs or internships that align with their interests and potential college majors.
- Discuss the cost of college with your child and explore financial aid options.
- If you opted out of the PSAT/ACT/SAT, have your child take a standardized test in the spring to get an understanding of their skills and areas of improvement. An annual standardized test is a requirement for diploma-seeking students at Sevenstar. (We generally recommend the SAT10, which can be administered at home.)
- Track your child’s completion of forty hours of volunteer service.
- In the summer after junior year, visit the colleges you are seriously considering. Go to your top five choices, if possible, and learn as much as you can. Take the campus tour, but don’t be afraid to wander around by yourself. Sit in on a class of a subject that interests you. Speak with teachers, students, school admissions counselors and financial-aid staff. If you can’t visit in person, look for virtual tours and college forums online.
Grade 12: The Graduation Countdown
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."—Philippians 1:6
- Take time to celebrate your child’s accomplishments and look back on all they’ve done in high school. You’re in the home stretch!
- Review your child’s transcript and plan of study with their school counselor to ensure that they are on track to meet graduation requirements.
- Encourage your child to take appropriately challenging courses that will prepare them for college, such as Advanced Placement (AP) classes, honors courses, or dual credit courses.
- Register for the SAT and/or ACT if your child hasn’t already taken these exams (see info under Grade 11).
- If you opted out of the ACT/SAT, have your child take a standardized test in the spring. An annual standardized test is a requirement for diploma-seeking students at Sevenstar. (We generally recommend the SAT10, which can be administered at home.)
- Encourage your child to seek or maintain leadership roles in school- or community-based activities they find interesting. Students should consider working, volunteering, and/or participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, or science. (Note: Sevenstar has an active student council that meets monthly via Zoom, and plans activities throughout the year. Keep your eye out for their newsletter!)
- Continue to visit college campuses and attend college fairs to gather more information about schools your child is interested in. Help your child finalize their college list and ensure that they have all the necessary application materials.
- Help your child gather letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, or mentors. Talk about who would offer the best view of them as a whole person. Colleges are looking for your talents beyond test scores and grades—real-life examples of your personality and character. Junior-year teachers or senior-year teachers are usually the best for writing recommendations, since they are more likely to have taught you in a high-level course, taught you over a few years, and/or know you in different capacities.
- As soon as possible after its October 1 release, complete and submit your FAFSA® form, along with any other financial aid applications your chosen school(s) may require. You should submit your FAFSA form by the earliest financial aid deadline of the schools to which you are applying, usually by early February.
- November 1: Early decision applications have early deadlines. They often come a few months prior to early action, many falling in November and December. If you decide to apply for early decision, you’ll have an admission decision before other students who applied through regular admission. If you’re accepted through early decision, you will typically be expected to attend that school. If you think this might be the route for you, start researching the requirements for your top college choices during your junior year of high school so that you have plenty of time to apply.
- January 1: Most regular admission (also known as regular decision) deadlines are in January, but specific deadlines can vary by school. Regular admission is the most popular college admissions option and has one of the latest application deadlines. Many students choose regular admission because they have more time to gather all the required materials for their applications, including test scores, recommendation letters, essays, SAT scores, and financial-aid information. Missing the application deadline can result in delays and could mean starting college later than initially planned.
- Track your child’s completion of forty hours of volunteer service.
- Attend any admitted student events or orientations to learn more about the colleges your child has been accepted to.
- Help your child make a final decision on which college to attend.
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