Plan for the Year Ahead

• Meet with your counselor to discuss your college plans. Review your schedule with him or her to make sure you're enrolled in challenging classes that will help you prepare for college. Colleges prefer four years of English, history, math, science, and a foreign language.
• Start a calendar with important dates and deadlines.
• Get more involved with your extracurricular activities.
• Use College Search to find out the required courses and tests of colleges that you might be interested in attending.
• Go to college fairs in your area.

Consider Taking the PSAT/NMSQT®

• Sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT, which is given in October. Ask your counselor which date is offered at your school. Get free online PSAT/NMSQT practice.
• If you're taking the PSAT/NMSQT check 'yes' for Student Search Service® to hear about colleges and scholarships.

Prepare for Tests

• Use the access code on your PSAT/NMSQT score report to sign in to My College QuickStart™. With this personalized planning kit, you can prepare for the SAT using a study plan based on your PSAT/NMSQT results and explore lists of suggested colleges, majors, and careers.
• Talk to your counselor and teachers about taking SAT Subject Tests™ in your strong subjects this spring. Take Subject Tests such as World History, Biology E/M, and Chemistry while the material is still fresh in your mind.

Learn about Colleges

• Learn about college costs and how financial aid works.
• Use the College Savings Calculator to see how much money you'll need for college, whether you're on track to save enough, and what you need to do to reach your goal. Talk to your parents about financing college.
• Visit colleges while they're in session.
• Find out about college firsthand from college friends who are home for the holidays.

Stay Focused

• Sign up for college preparatory courses. Consider AP® courses.
• Study for May AP Exams. Get free AP preparation.

Explore Summer Opportunities

• Look for a great summer opportunity — job, internship, or volunteer position.
• Check with your counselor and search online for summer school programs for high school students at colleges.

Make the Most of Your Break

• Start a summer reading list. Ask your teachers to recommend books.
• Plan to visit college campuses to get a feel for your options. Start with colleges near you.
• Finalize your summer plans.