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• | Help your parents to remain involved in your school life,
especially in course planning with the guidance counselor
or other academic advisor. Have them attend any and all
Parent and Teacher Conferences with you. |
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• | With your guidance counselor or other academic advisor,
schedule a four-year college preparatory plan of classes. |
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• | Insist on taking challenging classes, for example, honors. |
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• | Be sure to join a volunteer organization and become involved
in community service. A big part of scholarship consideration and
college entrance applications is community service. Check with
the Tribal Office for any volunteer work they might have such
as helping with the Cultural Center or the Annual Pow Wow. |
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• | You should consider attending summer enrichment programs which
strengthen you in academics or the arts.
|
|
• | Ask your parents to remain involved in your school life,
especially in course planning with the guidance counselor
or other academic advisor. Have them attend any and all
Parent and Teacher Conferences with you.
|
|
• | You need to stay on track with your four-year college preparatory
plan of classes and continue to take challenging classes.
Colleges are impressed by students who challenged themselves
academically rather than those who got an easy "A."
|
|
• | You should start researching possible colleges to attend and
become familiar with their entry requirements. Guidance
counselors have research material. Contact the colleges
and have them send you a package.
|
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• | You should take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) if offered at the high school.
Placing as a finalist or semifinalist in this National Merit
Scholar competition will opens many scholarships offers and
invitations from universities.
|
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• | Look up dates for the ACT test and take the ACT test in the
second half of your junior year with plans to retake it at
least one more time the next year before applying to colleges.
|
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• | Start making a list of teachers, advisors or supervisors who you
might ask to write recommendation letters for college and
scholarship applications.
|
|
• | You should continue participating in community service and
in summer enrichment programs. Check with the Tribal Office
for any volunteer work they might have such as helping with
the Cultural Center or the Annual Pow Wow.
|
|
• | With your parent(s), discuss college financial aid with your guidance counselor.
|
|
• | Most important for receiving good financial aid from the
college of your choice is filling the Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) early after January 1st. Each College has its FAFSA deadline
usually between February and March. The FAFSA is necessary for any financial
aid. NOT NOT MISS this very, very important deadline!
|
|
• | Ask your parents to remain involved in your final year in high school,
especially in course planning with the guidance counselor, looking for
scholarships available, and the college search. Have them attend any
and all Parent and Teacher Conferences with you.
|
|
• | You should continue participating in community service. Check with
the Tribal Office for any volunteer work they might have such as
helping with the Cultural Center or the Annual Pow Wow.
|
|
• | With your parent, consult guidance counselor on scholarships
opportunities available through the school, colleges, or private
organizations. You should have a clear plan on how to fulfill
scholarship application requirements.
|
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• | Apply for scholarships from private organizations. Parents and
guidance counselors can help you search for them. Check the
Tribe’s website for any you qualify for.
|
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• | Fulfill college scholarship requirements such as
necessary letters of recommendation, personal essays, and/or
portfolios. Don’t forget to thank teachers and supervisors
who write recommendation letters.
|
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• | Be sure to take the ACT test during the first semester.
If the ACT test is taken more than once, send the best
scores to the colleges you are interested in.
|
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• | You should take the SAT subject test only if you choice
of colleges requires it. The ACT test is accepted by most
universities even the Ivy League.
|
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• | In November, do not miss the deadline if applying for a
college’s Early Decision acceptance into college.
|
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• | Be sure to ask the college(s) of your choice for an
application and check the deadlines for applying. DO NOT MISS
the deadlines. Many colleges have their applications and
information online.
|
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• | Fulfill any application requirements such as sending test scores,
letters of recommendation, personal essays, and/or portfolios.
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With hard work and commitment, you can realize
your dreams to attend college. It just involves staying focused during your high school
years on not just graduating but on setting up the foundation for which you will
continue onto higher education. I cannot stress enough how important it is for
your parents to be involved in this process.
