10^th Grade Plan

Begin your year by practicing and then taking the PSAT (pre-SAT). Be sure to consult your counselor about your readiness to do so. You can also prepare for the SAT or ACT college entrance exams – which you will take in the 11th and/or 12th grades – by participating in their Question of the Day programs.

To get started, go to sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-question-of-the-day and www.act.org/qotd.

Learn more about your personality, skills, abilities, likes and dislikes. An understanding of these will assist in determining what career will bring you the most satisfaction. There are many assessments available to aid you in learning more about yourself such as The Campbell™ Interest and Skills Survey (CISS®), Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®), John Holland’s SDS® Self-Directed Search® and the Strong Interest Inventory®. Check with your counselor to see which are available through your high school. Talk to your family, friends, teachers and counselor and ask for their perceptions about what you do well. Then, ask yourself questions and make a list of your answers.

Here are a few questions to get you started:

• What are five things I like to do?
• Which classes do I enjoy?
• Which classes do I least enjoy?
• How would my friends describe me?
• How would my family describe me?
• What are five of my strengths?
• What are five of my weaknesses?
• What three accomplishments am I most proud of?
• What careers or professions are attractive to me?

Consider volunteering or job shadowing in a career that interests you. Ask people whose jobs look or sound interesting to explain what they really do and how they got to where they are now. Here are a few questions to get you started:

• Describe your typical day.
• What did you study in college?
• What courses best prepared you for your career?
• What do you like most about your job?
• What do you like least about your job?
• What advice do you have for someone interested in this career?

Find out more about the careers that interest you. What level of education is required? What is the average salary? What are the expected job prospects? The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov/ooh offers answers to these questions and provides information about occupational projections by state, as well as career exploration information.

• Do you wish to attend a large, medium or small-sized college or university?
• Close to home or far away?
• Public or private?
• Two-year or four-year?
• How important is cost?
• How important are clubs, activities and sports?
• Does your list include colleges and universities that offer your areas of academic interest?

Then, explore free college search programs, such as The College Board’s Big Future at www.bigfuture.org or SUNY’s campus search at www.suny.edu/attend/find-a-suny-campus.

It’s not too early to begin visiting college campuses. Check websites for information about campus tours and open house programs, as well as summer opportunities such as workshops and camps – these are often referred to as pre-college programs. Remember, a visit is not a commitment to attend a college but rather an opportunity to experience a campus first-hand.

• The courses you take in high school are important.
• Take academics seriously and keep your grades up.
• Get to know your teachers, counselor and principal.
• Get involved.
• Make the most of your summer.

A college education is an investment in your future. Do your research, learn about college costs, and develop a financial plan. Here are a few resources to get you started:

• SUNY Financial Planning:  www.suny.edu/smarttrack/literacy
• New York State Financial Planning:  www.hesc.ny.gov
• Federal Financial Planning:  studentaid.ed.gov
• Scholarships:  www.fastweb.com