Make Your High School Experience
Count for Post High School Pursuits

By Rodney & Robi Marshall
High School Guidance Overview

Discover how God designed you for life and work. Seek to discover your calling

  • Pray and study the Word of God
  • Utilize a Career Direct assessment with a Biblical worldview
  • Observe or intern in your fields of highest interest
  • Seek counsel from parents, teachers and pastor
  • Write a brief mission statement for life

School

  • Choose the right classes
  • Determine to achieve great grades
  • Learn how to take college preparation exams
  • Learn Biblical principles of managing money

Extracurricular Activities

  • Participate in Church, community and service activities
  • Engage in sports if appropriate
  • Seek a part time job to learn skills

Colleges, Technical Schools and Apprenticeships

  • Select a school or apprenticeship opportunity
  • Navigate the application process
  • Plan to finance your education

High School Calendar

Freshman Year

Fall

  • Find out how God designed you for life and work. Begin to find direction for your future. Recommended resources: Youth Exploration Survey! (YES!) and YES! Leaders Guide now or even in 8th grade. This Biblically based survey will help teens 13+ understand how God designed them for life and a future career.
  • Draft a four-year schedule of classes that meets the requirements for graduation and college/school admission.
  • Draft a four-year schedule of athletic and extracurricular activities you’d like to become involved in.
  • Commit yourself to learn Biblical principles of managing money during high school. Recommended resources: Money Matters for Teens with Workbook for Teens, ages 15-18 or for junior high level Workbook for Teens, ages 11-14.
  • Build a schedule that allows for these things.

Spring

  • Set a goal to get higher grades in the key subject areas (English, math, science, history, and foreign language).
  • Begin a vocabulary building program.
  • Look into work, study, or sports summer programs.

Summer

  • Volunteer some time in a good cause.
  • Pursue extracurricular and athletic interests.
  • Read at least four great books.
  • Consider a part time job.
Sophomore Year

Fall

  • Update your four-year class schedule. Seek to complete most of the minimum requirements for college/school admission by the end of your junior year.
  • Update your four-year athletic and extracurricular calendar.
  • Register for the PSAT/NMSQT. Recommended resource: Kaplan SAT/PSAT/ACT preparation CD ROM.
  • Take the PSAT (given only once in October).
  • If your are pursuing a sport seriously, research NCAA requirements.

Spring

  • Continue to set and achieve higher-grade averages in key subject areas.
  • Sharpen math and vocabulary skills.

Summer

  • Read at least four great books.
  • Involve yourself in at least one organized work, athletic, or study program especially focusing on career interest areas.
Junior Year

Gear up for the college/school application process.

Fall

  • Register and take the PSAT/NMSQT in October (This time it counts).
  • Narrow your choices of intended post-secondary education. Work toward choice of a college major field of study or vocational direction. Recommended resource: Career Direct Student Assessment now or in the spring semester. This Biblically based instrument matches the student’s God-given pattern of personality, and vocational interests, skills, and priorities with fitting career and educational direction. Designed for high school juniors, seniors and college students.
  • Begin the college search process. Narrow a list to no more than 20 schools. Write for admissions information. Write to college coaches if college sports are a goal. Reccommended Resource; Guide for the College bound.
  • Attend local college fairs and begin visiting colleges/schools.
  • Compare academic requirements to your course schedule and adjust as necessary.
  • Identify SAT I, ACT and SAT II test requirements for your target schools. Match these with your PSAT scores (multiply PSAT by 10 to compare with SAT).
  • Begin preparing for the SAT I or the ACT. Recommended resource: Kaplin SAT/ACT preparation CD-ROM.
  • Estimate college costs. Recommended resource: Debt Free College.
  • Begin searching for scholarships.

Spring

  • Complete study for the SAT I or ACT.
  • Take the SAT I in March or in May if you need extra time to prepare, and/or take the ACT.
  • Take the SAT IIs in the courses and key areas in which your have completed the last course for high school study and have scored a B+ or better, and have an interest.
  • Take the Advanced Placement test for those AP or college level courses you will complete this spring.
  • Plan for the summer.

Summer

  • Begin visiting college/school campuses.
  • Prepare drafts of your essays for your target schools.
  • Become involved in at least one organized study, athletic, or work activity. Seek experience in your chosen field of post-secondary pursuit.
  • Read at least four great books.
  • Prepare to retake the SAT I or ACT if you need higher test scores.
Senior year

Time to get serious about applying for colleges, technical schools and apprenticeships. Stay organized as you approach numerous deadlines.

Fall

  • Narrow your target college/school list.
  • Retake the SAT I or ACT if you need higher test scores and have prepared over the summer to improve them.
  • If pursuing collegiate athletics, make telephone contact with coaches. Update your athletic resume. Find out Letter of Intent date for your sport from the NCAA.
  • Send for college/school applications, and financial aid materials. Complete and submit materials.
  • Send for scholarship and grant program application materials. Complete and submit materials.
  • Visit your target college/school campuses.
  • Select two teachers and two extracurricular advisors to write glowing recommendations about you.
  • Obtain a copy of the Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Spring

  • Complete the FAFSA by March 1 to qualify for most financial aid.
  • Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) for accuracy and completeness.
  • Decide the college, university or technical school you will attend and notify them of your decision to matriculate.
  • Take SAT II exams if high scores will allow you to place out of academic requirements.
  • Estimate college/school costs and sources for the two to four or more year college/school period. If in a deficit investigate minimum loan sources. Recommended resource: Money Management for College Students
  • Take the Advanced Placement exams for appropriate courses.
  • Begin evaluating housing options for the fall.
  • Consider summer employment to earn money for college expenses.
  • Confirm Biblical principles of managing money and establish a budget for post-secondary life.
  • Get ready for a great time training to fulfill your calling.

 

Resources

Robi Marshall is a free lance writer, educational consultant, and speaker with 20 years experience in Christian education and a home schooling mother of four children.