Yes SICAN

Fall

• If your student hasn't already done so, make sure he or she enrolls in geometry or algebra.
• Help your teen create a college information folder.
• Start the school year off right by helping your student get organized and practice good study habits.
• Encourage your student to meet new people by signing up for extracurricular activities and trying something new.
• Explore careers on the Internet on your home computer or at the library.
• Help your teen find job shadowing opportunities in the community, in which he or she spends a day watching someone at work in a career that is interests him or her.

Spring

• Sit down with your student to plan his or her sophomore class schedule.
• Talk about summer break. Explore summer programs or camps available at local colleges and universities. Look for volunteer or service opportunities in the community. Some may be sponsored by a local church, synagogue, or mosque.

Fall

• Support your student in preparing for and taking any tests to fulfill high-school graduation requirements.
• Encourage your student to improve his or her study skills. Reinforce the idea that colleges and future employers look at high school transcripts and are impressed with regular attendance and improving grades.
• Check to see if your student has taken a career interest inventory.
• Students should take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), the preliminary version of the SAT®; or PLAN®, the preliminary version of the ACT. Taking the PSAT now is practice for the PSAT test in junior year which allows your student to be considered for a National Merit Scholarship. Find dates and more information about the PSAT from your high school’s guidance office.
• Surf the Internet with your teen to check out colleges, technical schools, and apprenticeship opportunities.
• Encourage your teen to begin or to continue job shadowing.

Spring

• Begin exploring financial aid and scholarships options.
• Encourage your teen to use the Internet to explore different careers.
• Help your student select five to ten colleges to contact for brochures and applications.
• Arrange for your student to visit an area career center.
• Plan a productive summer for your teen. The summer before 11th grade is a good time to have a part-time job to prepare for a future career.
• Choose a summer camp or help find volunteer service programs to jumpstart your teen's skills.
• Remind your teen to sign up for the most challenging classes for next year.

Fall

• Verify that your student is on track for college and take time to discuss his or her college interests.
• Encourage your student to begin a college information folder.
• Be sure your teenager participates in a remediation program if he or she did not pass one of the sections of the Graduation Qualifying Exam (GQE).
• During fall break, visit colleges.
• Encourage your teen to take the PSAT to prepare for the SAT and qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program.
• Participate in college nights and college fairs at schools or local community centers.
• Arrange campus visits to schools that your student is considering.
• During winter break, suggest the student meet with friends who are home from college.

Spring

• Double-check to make sure your teen is registered to take the SAT Reasoning Test™ or ACT. Find books to help them prepare at your local library or bookstore. Consider which colleges should receive the scores. Meet with your student's school counselor to learn what colleges and scholarships are available based on the test results.
• Begin actively searching for scholarships and financial aid.
• Continue encouraging your student to stay on course to complete all core courses necessary for graduation, plus any required for college admission.
• Encourage more college visits during the summer and talk with admissions counselors about what can be done to increase the student’s chances of being admitted.
• To gain a feel for college life and to explore possible careers, encourage participation in summer programs offered on college campuses to high-school students.

Fall

• Encourage your student to enroll in classes that offer college credit such as Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment.
• Help your senior narrow college possibilities and collect applications. Make a checklist of the admission requirements, transcripts, application fees, test score benchmarks, letters of recommendation, essays, and financial aid applications that are required by the colleges to which he or she wants to apply.
• Have your senior make a list of all school and community service performed, along with high school classes and awards. This list will help when it's time to start filling out admission applications.
• Have your student practice completing a college admission form and admission essay. Seek recommendation letters needed for college and scholarship applications.
• Visit schools your teen is considering. Call ahead to schedule appointments with admissions and financial aid officers.
• Keep track of application deadlines. Note that early admission deadlines may require sending in an application by November 1.
• Work with your student to complete college applications approximately two weeks before they are due. Offer to proofread them. Verify that the school guidance office is sending transcripts and test scores to the colleges your student has chosen.
• If your teen is not satisfied with his or her SAT® scores, suggest retaking the SAT® or ACT. Check college policies. Many admissions offices focus only on the best score.
• Attend as many college fairs and financial aid workshops as possible.
• Help your teen search online for scholarships and for general information about financial aid issues.

Winter

• Help your student fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) required of all applicants for financial aid. This form will determine the student’s eligibility for grants and loans to help cover the costs of college. The form must be submitted to the Federal Processor between January 1 and March 10.

Spring

• Make sure mid-year grades are forwarded, if needed, to selected colleges. Ask your student's school counselor to send the scores.
• Celebrate acceptance letters with your student and begin plans for his or her freshman year. Remind him or her to keep up grades and attendance.
• Continue encouraging your student to stay on course to complete all core courses necessary for graduation, plus any required for college admission.
• Review and evaluate financial aid offers. When your student makes a final college pick, check the deadlines for sending in the required deposit, housing application or any other items the school requests. Notify the other schools that he or she will not be attending.
• Help your teen start looking for a summer job.

Summer

• Make sure your student's final grades are forwarded to the selected college.
• Help your teen plan for the coming year in college by developing a budget, schedule, and a list of telephone numbers for important services and support.