11th Grade

Maintain a strong academic schedule and stay involved in meaningful activities.

Stay engaged in extracurriculars that reflect your passions.

Explore careers and their earning potential in the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/oco.

Research colleges and attend college fairs or presentations.

Start narrowing your college list.

Register for and take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall. You must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for scholarships and programs associated with the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Register for and take exams for college admission. The tests that many colleges require are the SAT, the SAT Subject Tests, and the ACT. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.

Begin your scholarship search. Some deadlines fall as early as the summer between 11th and 12th grades, so prepare now to submit applications soon.

Begin serious conversations with your school counselor about the college application process. Ask about financial aid, admission requirements, and deadlines.

Decide whether you are going to apply under a particular college’s early decision or early action program. Be sure to learn about the program deadlines and requirements.

Use the Studentaid.gov financial aid estimator and compare the results to the actual costs at the colleges. To supplement any aid estimates you might receive, be sure to apply for scholarships. The goal is to minimize the amount of loan funds you borrow.

Take a look at your financial situation, and be sure you’re on the right track to pay for college. Get in-depth information on the federal student aid programs.

Create your own FSA ID if you don’t have one yet. (The FSA ID is a username and password that you’ll use for such purposes as signing your child’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid.) Note: You must create your own FSA ID. If your child creates it for you, or if you create your child’s, it will cause confusion later and slow down the financial aid application process.

Talk to your child about the schools he or she is considering. Ask why those schools appeal to your child and help him or her clarify goals and priorities.

Attend college fairs with your child, but don’t take over the conversation with the college representatives. Just listen, and let your child do the talking.

Take your child to visit college campuses, preferably when classes are in session.

Make sure your child is looking into or already has applied for scholarships.

Ask your employer whether scholarships are available for employees’ children.