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It covers creating a four-year course plan, recording extracurricular involvement, preparing for PSAT/SAT/ACT, researching schools and financial aid options, and visiting campuses. For seniors, it details planning essays, completing the FAFSA by Oct. 1, tracking application deadlines, monitoring student email decisions, and finalizing deposits while maintaining grades.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/college-planning-guide-get-a-head-start/266326/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/college-planning-guide-get-a-head-start/266326.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Caleb Sterling","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-22","2026-09-14",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":52},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"How should first-year students plan courses and extracurriculars for college applications?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"Create a four-year high school course plan and ensure required courses keep you on track, while taking challenging classes. Record all extracurricular activities in a journal to reference when filling out college and scholarship applications.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What steps do juniors need to take for testing and college planning?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"Take the PSAT and review results to prepare for the SAT. Choose final college choices, investigate scholarships and grants, take the SAT or ACT in the spring, plan college entrance essay ideas, and visit campuses to capture the feel of each.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"What are the key actions for seniors regarding FAFSA and application deadlines?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Create the FSA account username and password and complete the FAFSA when it opens (Oct. 1). 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Jefferson St.• Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1316 •  \ntel: 734-763-6600 • fax: 734-647-3081 • email: [financial.aid@umich.edu](financial.aid@umich.edu) • web: [finaid.umich.edu](finaid.umich.edu)  \nCOLLEGE PLANNING GUIDE: GET A HEAD START!  \nFirst-years  \nCreate 􀁘 Make a four-year high school course plan and make sure you are completing necessary courses to stay on track. Challenge yourself by taking difficult courses.  \nRecord 􀁘 List all extracurricular activities (e.g., clubs, leadership, religious groups, etc.) you are involved in. Use this journal asa reference when filling out college and scholarship applications.  \nSave 􀁘 College is expensive, and it’s never too early to save.  \nSearch 􀁘 Scholarships are everywhere, if you look.  \nExplore 􀁘 Summer camps, jobs, and internships all build a good college application. Make your summers count!  \nPractice 􀁘 Get familiar with upcoming PSAT/SAT/ ACT testing formats and content.  \n| Juniors | |\n| --- | --- |\n| Practice 􀁘 Take the PSAT and review your results to prepare for the SAT.\u003Cbr>Choose 􀁘 Make a list of final college choices and request more information.\u003Cbr>Investigate 􀁘 Check out scholarships, grants, and\u003Cbr>other financial resources you qualify for. Test 􀁘 Take the SAT or ACT in the spring of\u003Cbr>your junior year.\u003Cbr>Brainstorm 􀁘 Plan ideas for college entrance essays. Review your record of extracurriculars from the past four years.\u003Cbr>Visit 􀁘 Go on any final college campus visitsand focus on the feel of each campus.\u003Cbr>Important 􀁘 Create your Federal Student Aid account username and password at [studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account](studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account). In October of your senior year, you will file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) .\u003Cbr>STUDENTAID.GOV/FSA-ID/ |  |\n\nCREATE-ACCOUNT  \nSophomores  \nConsult 􀁘 Meet with your high school counselor to  \ndiscuss college requirements.  \nConnect 􀁘 Attend college and career fairs to begin exploring your options and connect with admissions officers.  \nTour 􀁘 A college visit is the best way to get a feel for a university you are considering. If you cannot travel, look for online virtual tours.  \nResearch 􀁘 Look at colleges you are considering. Be sure to consider financial aid offered, majors, clubs, faculty-to-student ratio, cost of attendance, graduation rates,  \nand employment data, etc. Consider 􀁘 Taking a practice SAT or ACT exam.  \nSeniors  \nRegister 􀁘  \nReview 􀁘  \nRequest 􀁘  \nAttend 􀁘  \nComplete your FAFSA 􀁘  \nFinalize 􀁘  \nSubmit 􀁘  \nCheck! 􀁘  \nMake a final choice 􀁘  \nGraduate 􀁘  \nRetake any standardized testing (if necessary) .  \nKnow application deadlines and specific school requirements. Make sure you haven’t missed any important Early Action deadlines or materials you need to submit.  \nAsk for letters of recommendation and other documents early to give counselors/teachers/others enough time to write and submit their materials.  \nWatch for Financial Aid Nights hosted in your community.  \nThe Free Application For Federal Student Aid opens on Oct. 1. This determines the amount of aid you are eligible to receive. Complete it as soon as you can. (Some colleges also require the CSS Profile, which opens Oct. 1.)  \nComplete all essays and collect completed application materials.  \nBe on time with all applications according to Early Action, Regular, and Rolling deadlines.  \nWatch your student email for admissions decisions.  \nOnce you decide where you will attend college, send your deposit and formally accept (if necessary) .  \nDon’t forget the importance of keeping your grades up in your final year!  \nSchools DO check.  \nQUESTIONS TO ASK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES  \n? 􀁘 ADMISSIONS  \n| 􀂆 | What are your admissions criteria? |\n| --- | --- |\n| 􀂆 | What types of courses should I take prior to college? |\n| 􀂆 | Do you have any special visitation days? May I stay overnight in a residence hall, attend a class, or speak with a professor or coach? How do I arrange that? |\n| 􀂆 | Wh","cbCaibwQN783sZ9p","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibwQN783sZ9p","pdf",97121,"English","# First-years\n## Create - Record - Save - Search - Explore - Practice\n# Juniors\n## Practice - Choose - Investigate - Test - Brainstorm - Visit - Important\n# Sophomores\n## Consult - Connect - Tour - Research - Consider\n# Seniors\n## Register - Review - Request - Attend - Complete FAFSA - Finalize - Submit - Check\n# Questions to Ask Colleges and Universities\n## Admissions - Financial Aid - Campus Life","[{\"question\":\"How should first-year students plan courses and extracurriculars for college applications?\",\"answer\":\"Create a four-year high school course plan and ensure required courses keep you on track, while taking challenging classes. Record all extracurricular activities in a journal to reference when filling out college and scholarship applications.\"},{\"question\":\"What steps do juniors need to take for testing and college planning?\",\"answer\":\"Take the PSAT and review results to prepare for the SAT. Choose final college choices, investigate scholarships and grants, take the SAT or ACT in the spring, plan college entrance essay ideas, and visit campuses to capture the feel of each.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the key actions for seniors regarding FAFSA and application deadlines?\",\"answer\":\"Create the FSA account username and password and complete the FAFSA when it opens (Oct. 1). Finalize and submit applications by Early Action, Regular, and Rolling deadlines, watch student email for admissions decisions, and know important deadlines and school-specific requirements.\"}]","College Planning Guide - Get a Head Start | PDF"]