Roadmap to College - 9th Grade

Eight down and four to go! I am talking about school. Your child has completed eight years elementary and middle school. In four years your child will be graduating from high school and going to college or the world of work. Now is the time to start planning for your child to go to college.


Here are some tips:

1. Encourage your child to get involved in clubs and other school related events. Colleges want a student that is well rounded.

2. Stay focused academically. Your GPA will be an important number as yo begin 9th grade. You will have your 9^th grade, 10^th grade, 11^th grade, and from August to December of your 12^th grade year to calculate your GPA. By the time January of your senior year comes you will be completing college applications and the only GPA you will have will be the one from December. Hint, Hint, Clue, Clue, your GPA of your last 4 months of high school does not count when you are applying to college.  Of course you will submit your final transcript to the college of your choice, but the college admission board will have seen your GPA from the past 3 ½ years.  Keep those good grades up!


3. Start recording your activities, classes, and other activities. By the time you get to your 12^th grade year you will have forgotten everything you did in 9^th grade.  See post entitled: A Sample Resume to create a template for your resume or checklist.

4. Encourage your child to volunteer and hold leadership position in activities.


5. Engage in community service, volunteer for community walks, health fairs, senior citizens centers, hospitals, churches, etc.


6. Read, Read, Read and Read some more.


7. Parents movitate and keep track of your child's progress.

Roadmap to College - Tips for Summer after 9th Grade

CONGRATUALTIONS!!  You have stayed focused and are almost finished with your 9th grade year.  It is now time to plan your summer. 

Summertime
Start thinking about a summer job.  Even if your family goes on vacation each year, there is enough weeks in the summer for your child to obtain a job.  Think outside of the box, even if your child does not work for a major food chain or retailer, there is always the job of yard maintenance and baby sitting.  If your child can play a musical, they can offer to play for a church or youth group if the regular musician is on vacation during the summer.  This is a great time to look at what your child is interested in as it relates to college.

Summer Reading Lists
B4Literacy encourages reading at all times but defiantly during summer.  Be sure to read books that are at your reading level or above.  It does not matter what you read, this is your time to read for enjoyment not the school year assignments.  Search the Internet for Summer Reading List of books you enjoy!