In 5th Grade, students will…

• Identify Study Skills and Goal Setting
• Attend a Career Fair or listen to speakers from different career fields
• Field Trip to feeder Middle School Campus
  • Discuss Pre-AP and Technology Course selection in MS
  • Explore extra-curricular activities available in MS
• Observe College Awareness days

In 6th Grade, students will…

• Identify educational opportunities available to you in middle school:
  • Middle School Activity Booklet: Study Skills/Time Management/Organization/Career Exploration
• Identify the types of postsecondary institutions that exist in the United States:
  • Check out the U.S. Department of Education website to learn more about higher educational programs in the United States.
• Explain the hierarchy of degrees available at US postsecondary institutions:
  • This list of postsecondary institutions includes all levels and types from nondegree vocational schools to universities awarding the research doctorate.
  • The US News University Directory provides everything you need to increase your earning potential with an online education, online degree program, or traditional on campus degree.
  • Postsecondary Success Strategy aims to dramatically increase the number of young adults who complete their postsecondary education setting them up for success in the workplace and in life.
• Describe the economic benefits of education beyond high school:
  • The costs and benefits of an excellent education for all of America’s children.
  • Careeronestop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration: (Comprehensive career tools)
  • College Career Life Planning – specifically designed for elementary and middle school students
• Locate information on the degrees required for specific careers:
  • Health Science
    – Bachelor’s Degree Careers in Health Care
    – Health Field Careers
    – Medical Field Careers
  • Information Technology
    – Instructional Technology Careers
    – Types of IT Careers
    – Computer and Information Systems Managers
  • STEM
    – STEMcareer
    – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Careers
    – Introduction to STEM Careers

In 7th Grade, students will…

• Describe where you see yourself in 15-18 years: (Goals)
  • Personal Goal Setting Workseet
• Complete a career interest inventory and receive a list of compatible careers.
  • KUDER: A leading provider of internet-based tools and resources that help students and adults achieve their educational and career planning goals
  • TexasCares World of Work: School to work helps the residents of Texas make rewarding career decisions
  • Achieve Texas: Is designed to help you and your parents make wise education choices
• Identify careers that meet your interests and talents: What are you good at? What do you like to do?
  • Browse through specific assessment topics to help you identify your skills, interests, and values – and match them to careers that might suit you best:

In 8th Grade, students will…

• Identify all the factors that colleges consider when evaluating applicants:
  • College Admissions: What do colleges want?
  • What college Admissions Officers look for: How do colleges read applications?
• Identify specific classes to take in high school to be college ready and eligible:
  • What can you do to develop their college readiness?
• Explain the steps you can take in middle school to prepare themselves for a pre-college track in high school:
  • Examine the extent of early exploration and planning in certain college readiness areas (setting educational goals, selecting classes, exploring postsecondary options, and considering ways to meet college costs.)
• Recognize the tests required for admittance into college:
  • Ask the Experts: College Admission Requirements
• Identify the state assessments required for promotion and/or high school graduation:
  • Complete explanation of the STAAR Assessment required for promotion and high school graduation
• List three ways that financial aid can help them to pay for college:
  • Financial Aid 101: (Scholarships, Grants, Loans)

In 9th Grade, students will…

• Research job and career opportunities including potential salaries, future job market
• Follow the course sequence for your program of study (career pathway)
• Enroll in Dual Enrollment , Pre-AP and AP classes
• Take the COMPASS/ Accuplacer/THEA exams
• Maintain a high GPA
• Attend tutorials when needed
• Be involved in extra curricular activities, clubs, organizations
• Take over the leadership roles within the school environment
• Be involved in community service year round
• Begin a work in progress resume
• Visit your school’s Go Center
• Research universities on College For All Texans and CollegeBoard, and check out their summer programs (Reybotics Summer Valley Program through UTB)

In 10th Grade, students will…

• Continue with ninth grade recommendations
• If requirements haven’t been met, retake the COMPASS/Accuplacer/THEA exams
• Research summer programs with local University (ex: RGV summer science internship through UT branch)
• Visit universities online or on site ConsumerReports.org/college
• Request a Texas Compendium (a free resource that gives information about admission requirements, tuition, college size, location, etc)
• Enroll in an SAT prep class
• Take the PSAT as practice
• Continue updating your resume

In 11th Grade, students will…

• Take PSAT in October
• Continue with 9th and 10th grade recommendations
• Keep in close communication with your school counselor
• Check with your guidance center to access available information such as newsletters, emails from counselors, school websites , and other methods of communication
• Participate in your college day or university day at your high school
• Visit CollegeBoard and March 2 Success which provides practice SAT tests, Questions of the day and Junior/Senior checklists
• Review essays from Apply Texas, Common Application, Gates Millennium, etc… to get an idea of the essays expected for completion of application process
• Review financial aid application expectations at Apply Texas which will be completed the student’s senior year
• Apply for Subiendo Leadership Conference through University of Austin or Lorenzo de Zavala
• Apply for Leadership Conference or any other leadership conferences available in your area
• Enroll in summer program opportunities such as NASA High School Aerospace summer program
• Request information from Universities/Colleges
• Continue to update your resume
• Sign up for SAT prep class

In 12th Grade, students will…

• Continue with 9th, 10th and 11th grade recommendations
• Take SAT/ACT (College board vouchers are available through your school counselor)
• Meet all college application deadlines to apply at Apply Texas or university website
• Apply for financial aid and meet university financial aid deadlines
• Apply for scholarships at the University you plan to attend and with your high school counselor
• Do your own scholarship searches on FastWeb
• Participate in college sports register on the NCAA website or on the PlayNAIA website if you qualify
• Talk to the college representatives at university day or campus scheduled visits
• Make sure all final transcripts, letters of recommendations, financial aid information, AP scores (if applicable), and university applications are submitted by the university deadline