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Grade-by-grade instructions and guidelines designed to help your student reach success.
>Freshman
>Sophomore
>Junior
>Senior
9th Grade Matters:
Preparing for the future during your Freshman year
FALL
- Become familiar with the graduation requirements for Lakeshore High School, especially the classes that you need as a freshman.
- Work hard in all classes, especially core subjects. Enroll in challenging courses.
- Develop good organization habits by using your planner for recording homework assignments.
- Learn how to ask for help when needed. Tutors are available.
- Get to know your counselors and the resources which are available in their office.
- Practice good attendance, organization, citizenship, study habits and health habits.
- Find out which colleges/careers match your interests. Visit www.careercruising.com for more information. (username: lakeshorehs Password: lancer)
- Begin a High School Portfolio that highlights your special skills, talents and interests. Save certificates, special awards, assignments, news articles and pictures that show achievements in school, sports, community, etc.
- Start a file to collect college and career information. Keep anything of interest to you about colleges and universities, technical schools, military opportunities or apprenticeships and scholarships you hear about. Add to this for the next 4 years. You will be glad you did.
- Be aware of NCAA requirements if hoping to play sports in college. Visit www.corecoursegpa.com for more information (school id: 233515, school code: 739588055).
- Get involved with clubs, organizations and volunteering opportunities. Community involvement is a great tool for acquiring scholarships as a senior.
SPRING
- Plan your sophomore year and your summer with some of the following activities.
- Research college costs. Start a college savings account. Calculate an amount you can begin saving monthly.
- Find job shadowing opportunities in the community, spend a day shadowing someone at work and watching what he or she does.
- Discover the value of summer employment to help with your savings or find volunteer or service opportunities in the community.
- Explore summer programs or camps to attend at local colleges and universities. Look for opportunities visit colleges while traveling.
- Review and update EDP (Educational Development Plan)
- Make good use of your free time.
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10th Grade Matters:
Preparing for the future during your Sophomore year
FALL
- Continue to work hard in all classes.
- If you have interests in the Armed Forces, talk with visiting recruiters for information.
- Take the PSAT during October to prepare for college testing. A fee is required.
- Take the PLAN in March to prepare for Junior year ACT testing. This test is free.
- High school grades and ACT Scores are very important for getting scholarships. Keep your Grade Point Average up.
- Explore career fields of interest and research what type of training is required. Interview people in the fields of your interest, to get more information.
- Talk with your parents about your aptitudes, interests and abilities.
- Find out which colleges offer programs that fit your interests. Go to www.collegeboard.org or www.triptocollege.org
- Continue to add to your college savings account as often as possible. Most Michigan college websites now have a "college cost estimator" for your convenience.
- Review and update EDP (Educational Development Plan). While scheduling classes in the spring, consider taking challenging college prep classes.
- Get involved with organizations and volunteering opportunities. Community involvement is a great activity for acquiring scholarships.
SPRING
- Continue practicing good study skills, get help improving grades and staying caught up with skills and credits. Good attendance and grades are helpful when looking for jobs or needing recommendations from your teachers.
- Job shadow someone at their place of employment.
- Carefully select classes for next year. Continue to pursue a rigorous academic schedule. Enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) classes if you want to attend a University and possibly earn college credit.
- Use the internet to explore different careers.
- Select 5 -10 colleges to contact for brochures and applications.
- Make arrangements to visit an area career center.
- Make plans to use your summer vacation productively.
- Choose a summer camp, summer college, or find volunteer opportunities to gain experience.
- If you have failed any classes, sign up to retake them during the summer.
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11th Grade Matters:
Preparing for the future during your Junior year
FALL
- Use your agenda book to record test dates, application deadlines, college visitation days, and homework assignments.
- Stay focused on creating and achieving your goals. Stay organized.
- Sign up to take the PSAT given in October. This is great practice for college testing and high scores can qualify students for recognition with the National Merit Foundation which can lead to big scholarships.
- If you are interested in playing sports in college, register for the NCAA online clearing house at www.ncaa.org. Be sure you are taking the classes to meet the 16 core academic requirements. Visit www.corecoursegpa.com for more information.
- Continue collecting information about colleges/ universities and armed services from your Counseling Office and online. Make a list of the colleges you would like to learn more about.
- Explore college options. Consider the location, cost, size, available majors, reputation, facilities, competitiveness and community.
- Attend College/University Fairs.
- Take the time to do some job shadowing.
- Sign up in the counseling office to attend college presentations given at LHS by the college admissions officers. Juniors are encouraged to attend a few.
- When PSAT Score Reports come back, review which questions you missed and read the suggestions for how to improve in the “Improve Your Skills” section. Use the MY Road website www.collegeboard.com/psatextra to compare your test results with careers, majors, and colleges. Use the code in the upper right corner of your Score Report to access this site.
- The Armed Services give the ASVAB Interest Inventory to help with future decision making. This test is widely used to assess academic ability and predict success in a variety of military and civilian occupations. The test results are very informative, taking it is optional and does NOT sign you up for the military.
If you are interested in the Military, visit with Armed Services Recruiters when available.
- If you are struggling in your classes, practice maturity and personal responsibility by asking for help.
- Visit the campus of a college/university while the weather is nice. It is never too early.
- Find out the requirements for admission to your favorite colleges.
- During winter break, visit with friends and family members who are home from college.
- Have a family discussion about your post high school plans.
- Begin a high school resume. Include any awards, honors offices held, committee membership, work experience, community service, athletic activities, religious activities/membership, and travel. Write a few sentences about events and people who have strongly influenced you. Add to this on a regular basis. Don’t wait till your senior year to begin this.
SPRING
- Counselors will conduct sessions to help juniors complete MME Pretesting information.
Students will need to provide their Social Security Numbers if they wish to benefit from the Michigan scholarships that are offered thru MME testing scores. This is strongly recommended.
- The Michigan Merit Exam (MME) is given in March to all Juniors in the state of Michigan. It is a 3 day test which consists of ACT, Work Keys and additional tests created by the Michigan Department of Education. It is required for all students. There are many rewards for the students as well as our school if students achieve high scores on this test. It is treated with much priority and importance.
- If you are interested in one of the U.S. Military Academies, begin the pre-application process. Check their websites for this information. Or speak to a visiting recruiter.
- Research online to find FREE scholarship information. www.fastweb.com
- Request admission and scholarship applications from your top colleges.
- Continue to investigate college costs and save money.
- Attend a Junior Audit meeting with your counselor.
- Begin narrowing the number of favorite colleges in your file.
- During Spring Break, take the time to visit colleges of interest.
- If you currently take AP classes, prepare to take your AP exams in May.
- Carefully select classes for next year. Continue to pursue a rigorous academic schedule. Enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) classes if you want to attend a University.
- If you plan to retake the ACT in June to attempt to raise your score, be sure to register on time. You may register for this at www.actstudent.org. There is a fee. Request that the scores be sent to colleges of your choice.
- Make plans for summer. If you are not working, find other opportunities for personal growth or academic achievement and add to your resume.
SUMMER
- Visit some colleges!!! Make a list of people who you can ask to write letters of recommendations for you. And have a copy of your resume ready to give them so they have a reminder of all you have done.
- Complete some college applications before September 1st. Your counselor will then complete the counselor section, attach transcripts and mail the final packet to the college.
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12th Grade Matters:
Planning for your future during your Senior Year
FALL
- Continue to use your agenda book to record test dates, application deadlines, college visitations days, etc. as well as homework, college fairs and other important events.
- Enroll in classes that offer college credit such as Advanced Placement (AP) to get the most rigorous education.
- Narrow your college possibilities and continue to collect applications. Make a checklist of the admission requirements, find out if they require a letter of recommendation, fees, essays, etc.
- Keep track of application deadlines, Note that early admission deadlines may require sending in an application by NOV. 1. We strongly recommend by OCT. 1.
- Use your high school resume to help with filling out your college admission applications.
- Meet with your counselor for a senior audit to be sure you have taken what you need and see if you are on track to graduation and for college admission requirement.
- Submit college applications during September so you can be ahead of the game and not have to worry later when you have lots of homework, extra curricular events and other deadlines.
- Ask teachers who teach core classes to write letters of recommendation if your applications require these. The teachers will need plenty of time to do this favor for you and several others.
- Sign up early if you plan to retake the ACT. You may sign up at www.actstudent.org. Request that test scores be sent directly to colleges of your choice to avoid delays.
- College admissions representatives from many colleges visit LHS to give a presentation about their school. There is a schedule and signup sheet in available in the counseling office. Sign up to get more information and answers about the schools that interest you most.
- Search for Scholarships. www.Fastweb.com is one of many online sources. There are deadlines for these each month and a large selection is available early spring.
- Ask for personal references and letters of recommendation from teachers, school counselors, or employers early in the year.
- Complete admissions applications and essays in the fall. Pay close attention to deadlines. Request your transcript via docufide (www.docufide.com)
- Be sure to apply to at least one “safe” college which you are sure to be accepted and able to afford.
- Go visit the campus of colleges that have invited you to enroll.
- Meet with counselors to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements.
WINTER
- Students and Parents should work together to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). First apply online for a PIN number www.pin.ed.gov , (parents may already have one from older siblings), then complete the FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov . Begin this process in January after obtaining family income information. There will be workshops at the high school and at local colleges for parents and students to attend. This form will determine eligibility for grants and loans to help cover the costs of college. Notice there is a deadline: usually early in March but double check.
- Ask your counselors in January to send first semester transcripts to colleges. Send your final transcripts at the end of the 2nd semester.
- Watch the mail or e-mail for your Student Aid Report (SAR). It will arrive three to six weeks after you file the FAFSA.
- After reviewing and visiting the colleges at which you have been accepted, decide which one you’ll attend and inform them of your choice (usually by May 1st but don’t delay). Register for your college classes and dorms as soon as they will allow. Classes and housing facilities fill up fast.
- Males who will be 18 in or after January must register with Selective Service.
SPRING
- Make sure mid-year grades are forwarded, if needed, to selected colleges. Ask counselors to send these.
- Celebrate acceptance letters and begin plans for your freshman year. Also, continue to keep good grades and attendance at school.
- If you currently take AP classes, prepare to take your AP exams in May.
- Continue to stay on course and complete all core courses necessary for graduation, plus any required for college admission.
- Review and evaluate financial aid offers. When you make a final decision on colleges, check the deadlines for sending in the required deposit. Notify the other schools that you will not be attending.
- Make a list of items you will need for college, share it with loved ones before your graduation party. Maybe these would make nice gifts for you.
- Find a summer job.
- Plan your graduation celebration!
- During the summer, be sure to attend your college freshman orientation.
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