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1. Take a rigorous academic course-load. The variety and difficulty of your courses in high school matters. Challenge yourself by taking honors or advance placement (AP) courses. |
| 2. Research financial aid options. Attend free financial aid seminars offered throughout your high school or in your community. Create a profile at www.fastweb.com and start searching for scholarships. |
| 3. Prepare for the SAT or ACT exams. Familiarize yourself with the SAT and ACT by taking sample versions beforehand. Check out test prep materials (books, prep courses) and online resources. |
| 4. Develop your ideal college profile. Write down the criteria you want in a college (size, location, majors offered). Use FastWeb's College Search at www.fastweb.com to research possible colleges. |
| 5. Review application essay questions. Check out sample college applications (usually available in your counseling office) to become familiar with the kinds of questions you may encounter. |
| 6. Do community service and volunteer work. Take an active role in the organization and work towards fulfilling that organization's needs. |
| 7. Attend college fairs. They can help you figure out what kind of college you're looking for and that college's admissions requirements. Ask your guidance counselor when a college fair will be in your area. |
| 8. Keep your grades strong. Schools pay attention to the grades you earn throughout high school. However, don't take a course simply to improve your GPA. |
| 9. Maintain relationships with teachers who can write your letters of recommendation. Remember the teachers, coaches and leaders with whom you've had a good relationship or taken a course in which you were successful. |
| 10. Explore your interests through your classes. Taking a wide variety of high school classes can help you figure out what you enjoy. |
