How to Prepare for College in High School: Timeline and Tips

Are you wondering what to do each year of high school to get ready for college? What are the best college prep activities for high school students? How can you prepare for college in high school?

High school is an exciting time when students start thinking about their future and what they want to do with their lives. However, the road to college can be filled with many challenges and obstacles along the way.

It’s important for students to start preparing for college early in their high school years. With planning, high schoolers can make the college admissions process smoother and more successful.

Whether you’re just starting your freshman year of high school or you’re a senior getting ready to graduate, read on for some valuable insights and advice on how to prepare for college while in high school.

In this blog post, I’ll explain some of the most essential things that high school students should do to prepare for college during each year of high school.

I’ll also offer some tips and advice on making the most of your four years of high school and getting ready for college.

This post lists a timeline of how to prepare for college in each year of high school and smart tips to make the most of high school and be ready for college. 

When Should High Schools Students Prepare for College?

College prep for high school freshmen

There’s no need to stress out about getting into college when you’re a freshman in high school. However, there are some things you can do to set yourself up for a successful high school experience, starting in 9th grade.

Academics

Focus on taking high school classes that are challenging and interest you.

Do your best to get good grades. If you get some bad grades, work hard to raise your GPA.

Plan out which classes you will take each year of high school. Be sure you will fulfill all the graduation requirements. Add the honors, dual credit, and AP classes you want to take. Plan for classes that have prerequisites, like advanced art classes.

Having lots of interesting experiences in high school will help you know what you want out of college and make your college applications more interesting!

Get Involved

Participate in clubs, sports, volunteering, and other extracurricular activities that you enjoy.

Exploring lots of different interests will allow you to think about what type of leadership role you’d like to take on later in high school.

Being involved in your high school and community will help you make friends, learn new things, explore potential career paths, build teamwork skills, and have fun.

Create Good Habits

Developing good study habits as a high school freshman is essential to succeeding later on in high school, when classes get harder and you have more activities competing for your time.

Here are some good study habits to have as a high school freshman:

• Don’t procrastinate. Do your assignments as soon as possible.
• Meet deadlines. Always turn your work in on time.
• Write your name on your homework if it’s a paper assignment.
• Complete your work. Don’t turn in incomplete assignments.
• Create a homework space. Find a place where you can do your homework or study without interruptions.
• Become a good note taker. See what type of note taking works best for you.
• Learn how to study for tests. Try different methods of studying to see what works for you.
• Manage your time. Think about all your commitments and plan out how you’ll get it all done.
• Get organized. Use a planner, highlighters, post-it notes, your computer, and apps to plan and keep up with your assignments (plus any chores, jobs, or extracurricular activities.)

College prep for high school sophomores

Preparing for college during sophomore year of high school will be similar to freshman year of high school. Continue to do your best in your classes, get involved in high school activities, and explore your interests.

Academics

Continue to take classes that are interesting and challenging.

Extracurriculars

Get more involved in the activities you liked the most from freshman year. And/or try new things. Join lots of clubs, play a sport or two, play an instrument, and participate in activities outside of school.

Also, take plenty of time to relax and have fun with friends. 

Evaluate your interests

Start thinking about what classes and extracurricular activities you enjoy the most. Consider how those interests relate to different college majors and career fields.

Talk to your parents and other adults to learn more about various work environments, job skills and career options.

Get a part-time summer job to get work experience and learn more about the type of work you enjoy doing.

Take the PSAT, ACT, and/or SAT

Taking the PSAT as a sophomore is common for many high school students. You might also want to take the ACT or SAT in 10th grade. Take several practice tests first to see how you do and learn what sections you need to study for the most. Taking standardized tests as a sophomore will prepare you to get a higher score the next time.

Many colleges are now test optional, meaning standardized test scores are not required for college admission. However, a good score can improve your chances of admission to some colleges and can increase your chances of getting merit scholarships.

College prep for high school juniors

Your junior year of high school might be the most important school year for college prep.

High school juniors should be thinking about what they’re looking for in a college and working hard to be a competitive candidate for admission.

Academics

High school juniors should be focused on coursework and academics!

College-bound high school juniors should take the most advanced classes they can handle. Take some Advanced Placement (AP), dual credit, or honors classes. Dual credit or dual enrollment classes are taken for both high school and college credit, simultaneously.

Also, be sure you’re taking courses that interest you, not just loading up your schedule with AP or Honors classes for the sake of it. For example, if you want to go into health care, take biology and anatomy. If you study international relations in college, take a language and world history.

Don’t overestimate what you can handle. Allow space in your schedule for some fun classes or a study hall. You don’t want to take too many difficult classes and get bad grades.

Extracurriculars

Stay involved with clubs, volunteering, and other extracurriculars. Take on leadership positions and new initiatives.

Great Habits

Maintain good study habits, organizational skills, and time management skills. Balancing your commitments of school, working, volunteering, clubs, and sports will be good practice for college life!

Take the ACT or SAT

If you plan on submitting standardized test scores, you’ll want to take at least one test before the end of your junior year of high school. If you want to improve your score, you’ll have a chance to retake the test the summer before senior year or the fall of senior year.

If you don’t want to submit standardized test scores, be sure that the colleges you want to apply to don’t require them for admission or for merit aid.

Build Relationships

Get to know your high school guidance counselor. Ideally, you’ll have a guidance counselor who knows you and has helped you choose your classes and overall high school path. If possible, meet with your high school counselor to talk about colleges and scholarships.

Also get to know your teachers, and let them get to know you. After your junior year, you should feel comfortable asking one or two teachers to write you a letter of recommendation for college. (The end of your junior year is an excellent time to ask for letters of recommendation.)

Develop relationships with religious leaders, coaches, an employer, or other adults who can provide advice and guidance on attending college or achieving your career goals.

Research and Tour Colleges

Your junior year is a great time to start thinking about what you want to study, what career you might like to pursue, and where you want to go to college.

To start thinking about what college might be good fit for you, start touring local colleges and college campuses in your state. Attend college fairs. Talk to current college students you know about their college experiences.

As you start to build the list of colleges you might want to apply to, consider:

• Do you want to a attend a college in a city or small town?
• What size school would be best for you?
• Do you want to learn in large lecture halls or seminars?
• Does a college have your major?
• Do you want to do research at college?
• What do students do in their free time at that college?
• What’s the student body like?
• Can I afford that college? Will I get financial aid or merit scholarships there?

College prep for high school seniors

High school seniors should be working on college applications, going on college visits, and thinking about your future career options. While you might just be excited to graduate, the college admissions process will require a lot of your time and energy.

Academics

Senior year, you’ll be finishing out your academic plan from freshman year. You’ll fulfill all your graduation requirements and finish taking all the courses needed to apply to colleges.

Maintain your high GPA. Get the best grades you can, to maintain or improve your GPA.

If you’re taking several AP or Dual Enrollment classes, manage your time to allow plenty of hours for studying. Do your best to get solid grades in your hardest classes.

Don’t give in to senioritis and let your grades suffer. Colleges do look at grades from your senior year. It’s possible for colleges to rescind admissions offers if a student has terrible grades their spring semester of senior year.

Stay involved

Maintain or increase your involvement in school and community extracurriculars. Colleges want to see continued and deepened involvement in things that are important to you.

Finish Testing

Ideally, you’ll take your last SAT or ACT by the early fall of your senior year. December test dates are probably too late if you are applying Early Decision or Early Action.

However, if you’re retaking the SAT or ACT to get a higher merit scholarship, you may have more time. Some schools will adjust merit awards based on test scores until a few weeks before college starts. Check with the schools you plan to apply to!

Make your College List

Senior year is when you’ll narrow down the list of colleges you want to apply to, based on which colleges and universities would be the best match for you.

Be sure that every college you apply to has your major, and maybe a few others that might be appealing if your first plan changes. Go on campus visits at colleges you’re planning to apply to.

Many students apply to colleges that are either a “reach,” “target,” or “safety.” Today’s college admission scene is tough, so be sure you have plenty of realistic targets and safeties on your list.

Apply to colleges

During the fall semester of your senior year, you’ll spend a lot of time working on college applications.

Many colleges use the Common Ap, which allows you to enter all your information once and easily send it to lots of schools.

Early in the fall of your senior year, decide which teachers you want to write letters of recommendation for you. Ask them yourself–don’t just prompt them through the Common Ap portal. Teachers are very busy, so ask them for recommendation letters as soon as possible. (Ideally, you would ask at the end of your junior year.)

Allow plenty of time to write your college essays. You can start writing your personal statement during the summer before senior year to get a head start. Writing your college essay before senior year starts will give you extra time to brainstorm ideas, write several drafts, and make plenty of revisions.

You may also need to write supplemental essays on specific topics and “Why this college” essays. Those will be shorter than your personal statement, but make sure to leave plenty of time for those

Decide if you want to apply to colleges early decision, early action, or regular decision. You’ll meet with college admissions counselors and think about potential majors and careers.

Use a big spreadsheet to track college application guidelines, requirements, and deadlines. You’ll be tracking each college’s application, some Honors Colleges applications, and college and departmental scholarship applications. Using a spreadsheet is the best way to keep up with application deadlines.

Don’t wait until the last minute to apply to colleges. By applying hours before the deadline, you risk being unable to complete the application, maybe because of a server outage or missing information.

Once you submit your applications, that’s not the end of the application process! It’s a good idea to regularly check your online portal for each school.

Most schools will only communicate with you through their portal. Check the portal once or twice a week for invitations to apply for scholarships, updates on financial aid, or other communications. Also check the portal to be sure your application is indeed complete and correct.

Tips on How to Prepare for College in High School

1. Keep track of everything

Start your high school resume when you start high school. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy yet, a simple GoogleDoc will do. List all your accomplishments, awards, honors, and recognitions.

For each extracurricular activity or volunteer opportunity, note the dates and how many hours you participated, as well as what you did.

Eventually, when you ask teachers for recommendations, you’ll include these details in your brag sheet.

When you apply to colleges, you’ll have to create a resume for your college applications. This list of your accomplishments and honors will help you remember everything you’ve done!

2. Read, read, and read more

Reading is the single best thing you can do to strengthen your academic skills and prepare for college. By making reading a habit, you will improve your critical thinking skills and writing skills.

Reading also teaches grammar and vocabulary. It’s great preparation for the ACT, SAT, and advanced high school coursework.

Read whatever is of interest: novels, nonfiction, magazines, blogs, or the newspaper. 

Truly, reading extensively will help you write great college essays for your college applications.

Reading will help you explore different perspectives, cultures, and time periods, fostering a well-rounded understanding of the world. Extensive reading will develop your intellectual depth, open-mindedness, and thirst for knowledge.

Ideally, you want to read, because you’re intellectually curious and motivated. Reading widely will help you prepare to be part of the academic discussions and diverse community that can be found on a campus.

3. Develop life skills

Be sure you have the emotional maturity and life skills to succeed in college.

Teach yourself to be resilient in high school, so that when you’re faced with challenges and failures in college, you can rebound.

Spend more time making, inventing, and learning, instead of passively consuming what others create.

Practice goal setting and managing your own time. Make your own appointments for things like doctor and dentist appointments.

Take responsibility for your chores. Most first-time college students live in a dorm room with a roommate. They have to do their own laundry and clean their bathroom.

You’ll need plenty of life skills, like resilience, self-care, perseverance, and patience, for college. These won’t exactly relate to whatever it is you’re studying. But honing those traits will help you prepare the academic rigor ahead of you.

4. Try lots of extracurriculars

Experiment with different extracurriculars to discover a few things that you’re really interested in, maybe even passionate about.

College admissions officers expect applicants to demonstrate a commitment to at least one or two extracurricular activities during high school. Ideally, you will hold leadership positions and show growth over time.

Try a wide variety of extracurricular activities and decide what you enjoy the most and what you’d like to keep doing throughout high school.

By choosing certain extracurriculars or leadership opportunities to focus on, you’ll have a much better chance of building an amazing resume that genuinely reflects your passions.

Consider extracurriculars like: 

• Sports 
• Music
• Drama
• Art 
• Scouting
• Student government
• School newspaper
• After-school clubs
• Faith-based activities

5. Volunteer

Volunteering in the community is rewarding in its own right. During your first year of high school, you should seek out volunteer opportunities that interest you.

Volunteer work is something colleges like (and even expect) to see on applicants’ resumes. Admissions officers often look for well-rounded students who demonstrate a commitment to serving others and making a positive impact in their communities.

Engaging in community service showcases your dedication to making a difference, highlights your empathy and leadership skills, and provides evidence of your ability to contribute to campus life in meaningful ways.

Try different community service opportunities to see what causes you care about the most. Then, make a commitment to one or two volunteer activities that mean the most to you. 

Volunteer experience demonstrates your values and character, helps you learn about yourself and your interests, and helps you make a compelling case for your admission to the college or university of your choice.

6. Take the most challenging classes you can

Talk to your guidance counselor to be sure you are taking the most challenging classes that you can. College admissions officers want to see academic preparation for rigorous college courses.

The right classes will look different for everyone. It might mean you take AP courses or honors classes. It might mean you pursue an International Baccalaureate (IB) degree as part of your high school career. Different schools have different course availability.

Or it might mean you take more classes in an area of particular interest to you, like the arts, humanities, or natural sciences.

Students should also strive to maintain good grades in all their classes throughout high school. Your grade point average (GPA) and class rank are important factors in college admissions decisions.

7. Learn a foreign language

Colleges and universities value students who have taken the initiative to study a foreign language. Many colleges require two to three years of foreign language study.

Proficiency in a foreign language shows your intellectual curiosity, adaptability, and global awareness—qualities that are highly sought after in today’s interconnected world.

It demonstrates your willingness to step outside your comfort zone, enhances your cultural competency, and opens doors to diverse opportunities, such as studying abroad or pursuing international careers.

Learning a second (or third) language helps you develop your memorization and vocabulary skills. Understanding all those grammar rules will also help you better understand English grammar. You’ll also have a chance to learn about other cultures and regions of the world.

Adding a foreign language to your application can set you apart and highlight your dedication to personal growth, making you a compelling candidate for admission to colleges and universities.

8. Develop great study habits

High school is the perfect time to establish excellent study skills. Having solid study habits is a great way to set yourself up for academic success in high school and be ready for college-level courses.

You need to learn how to get (and stay) organized, set up the right study space, and establish a homework routine. You also want to develop good time management skills and learn how to keep up with deadlines.

Good study habits, such as creating a dedicated study schedule, staying organized, and setting goals will improve your academic performance and also contribute to personal growth and self-discipline.

Having good study skills and routines in place in high school will make the transition to college much easier. Learning how to study and keep up with assignments in high school is one of the best ways you can prepare for college.

9. Consider a tutor

If you are struggling with a class or a subject and need extra help, reach out to a teacher or a tutor.

In addition to raising your grade, working with a tutor might help you improve your study skills, understand your learning style, and develop strategies for tackling difficult material.

Tutors provide personalized attention and guidance tailored to your specific academic needs, helping you strengthen your understanding of challenging subjects and develop effective study strategies.

They can bridge knowledge gaps, clarify complex concepts, and enhance your problem-solving skills, boosting your confidence and academic performance.

It’s best to address whatever struggles you may be having in school when you are in high school, so that you have coping strategies in place when you are in college. 

With the support of a tutor, you can develop a solid foundation of knowledge and skills that will propel you towards success in college and on your career path.

10. Make the most of your summers

Summer vacation is the time to take a break from school work and explore something that interests you.

Whatever you do during summer break, it should be fun and exciting, and it shouldn’t feel like homework.

Pursuing your passions outside of the academic setting demonstrates your drive, dedication, and genuine enthusiasm for learning. Immersing yourself in something that interests you allows you to further develop your skills, expand your knowledge, and gain valuable experiences.

Here are some things you can do during the summers in high school:

• Participate in an internship
• Attend a specialized summer program
• Attend one of the many pre-college summer programs, to take college-level classes on a college campus
• Take enrichment programs at a local college or community center
• Sign up for a summer camp
• Take cooking classes
• Volunteer in your community
• Take creative writing lessons
• Take painting or pottery lessons—or whatever type of art interests you!
• Dive into a favorite hobby and become an expert on whatever you are passionate about.
• Find a summer job doing something that you think is fun, where you can explore an interest, or work with your friends. A summer job will help you develop a strong work ethic, demonstrate responsibility, and learn time management.

No matter what you choose to do, engaging in activities in areas of interest to you during the summer is a valuable and rewarding endeavor that can greatly contribute to your college readiness and help you explore potential careers.

11. Explore your interests

What do you like to do?

Do you like to help people? Does the great outdoors call to you?

Do you prefer to study things alone? Are you energized from being with others?

Do you love animals?

Thinking about the things you like to do will help you understand where your natural talents lie and what interests might become a lifelong passion.

You absolutely don’t need to know what college major or career you want when you’re in high school. But do pay attention to what interests you and what you enjoy doing or learning about.

Even better, write down your thoughts now so that you can read the list again in a few years to see what’s changed and what’s the same!

Admissions officers are not just looking for students with impressive grades and test scores, but also individuals who have pursued their passions and demonstrated a genuine commitment to their interests.

Engaging in activities you love allows you to showcase your unique talents, skills, and accomplishments, which can set you apart from other applicants.

Furthermore, pursuing your interests helps you develop valuable skills, form connections, and gain experiences that can shape your future academic and career paths.

So, whether it’s sports, arts, technology, or any other field, actively exploring and investing time in your personal interests can enhance your college applications by highlighting your individuality and potential contributions to campus life.

12. Talk about how to afford college

Higher education can be shockingly expensive. Start the conversation about how you and your family will pay for college and how much your family can contribute to the costs. Knowing how much financial support you will have is very important for the college search process. 

Talk to your family members about whether you will need financial aid for college. Discuss if you will need to take out student loans.

During your senior year of college, you’ll fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Completing the FAFSA will tell you what the federal government thinks you can pay for college (your EFC or Expected Family Contribution).

The FAFSA also determines if you qualify for federal student loans or work-study jobs.

Note that each college you’re accepted to will have its own way of calculating how much they think you can afford to spend on college.

Consider whether you will start at a community college to earn an associate degree or if you will go straight to a four year college.

See if there are any state grants or scholarships you need to apply for.

Research what it would cost to attend a public college in your state. Look at the state flagship and other regional universities. Compare those costs to the cost of private and out-of-state universities.

Be sure that you apply to plenty of financial safeties that are also academic safeties. Those are colleges that you know you can afford to attend, where you also expect to be accepted. Don’t get too invested in the idea of a “dream college” until you know you can afford it.

Here are three things you can do to help pay for your college degree:

Look for scholarships

Seek out scholarships to apply for, even early in high school. Most freshmen or sophomores aren’t thinking about applying for scholarships, so those will be less competitive than scholarships for seniors.

Researching scholarships and completing scholarship applications can be a part-time job! However, many students find that it’s worth the effort.

Save

Save any money you earn from a part-time job or receive as gifts. These funds will come in handy in the future if you need to pay for tuition or other college expenses, like books or transportation.

Get Merit scholarships

Position yourself for success in high school. Challenge yourself and develop good study habits. Maintaining a high GPA and doing well on standardized tests will help you get into college and get merit scholarships.

Discussing how you will pay for college might be the most important thing you can do during (or, even better, before) the college application process.

Final Thoughts on Preparing for College in High School

For freshmen in high school, the journey toward college may seem like a distant dream. However, your senior year of high school will arrive quickly!

Bby taking proactive steps and engaging in the right college prep activities, you can turn that dream into a reality.

From challenging yourself with rigorous coursework to building a well-rounded extracurricular profile, every effort you make now will pay off when it’s time to apply for college.

When it comes to college admissions, preparation is key.

By researching colleges and universities, diving into your interests, and thinking about how to pay for college, you’re setting yourself up for success.

Developing strong study habits and starting test preparations early will give you a competitive edge when it comes time to take those standardized exams.

As you embark on this exciting journey, keep in mind that college is not just about academics. It’s an opportunity for personal growth and exploration. Embrace new experiences, step out of your comfort zone, and make the most of your high school years.

Ultimately, college preparation requires consistency, dedication, and a growth mindset. So, no matter your grade level in high school, seize this moment to shape your future and embrace the incredible possibilities that await you in college and beyond.

If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed, reach out to mentors, teachers, and your support system for guidance and advice. They are here to help you along the way.

Follow your interests, dive into your passions, challenge yourself, and start planning for college. Pace yourself, have plenty of fun, and don’t stress!

Your hard work in high school will pay off, and you’ll be ready for your first year of college at the college of your dreams!

By following these twelve smart tips, you’ll be college-bound before you know it!