Fall

• Support your student in preparing for and taking the Graduation Qualifying Exam (GQE) to fulfill high school graduation requirements.
• Urge your student to improve their study skills. Advise your son or daughter that if he or she needs to improve in some subjects, this is the time to do it. Reinforce the idea that colleges and future employers look at high school transcripts and are impressed with regular attendance and improving grades.
• Check to see if your student has taken a career interest inventory.
• Prepare for the SAT and ACT. Take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) - the preliminary version of the SAT - or the PLAN, the preliminary version of the ACT. Taking the PSAT now is practice.  To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, your student should take the PSAT again during their junior year.
• Know your options: check out colleges, apprenticeship and military opportunities.
• Encourage your student to begin or to continue job shadowing.
  

Spring

• Begin exploring financial aid and scholarships options.
• Explore careers
• Help your student select five to 10 colleges to contact for brochures and applications. (use College Profiles to get contact information).
• Arrange for your student to visit an Area Career Center.
• Visit Indiana colleges or universities with your student.
• Plan a productive summer. The summer before the 11th grade is a good time to have a part-time job to prepare for a future career.
• Choose a summer camp or help find volunteer service programs to jump start your teen's skills.
• Remind your student to sign up for the most challenging classes, including Core 40, Advanced Placement courses and dual credit.
• Help your student update his or her Indiana Guidance Portfolio and college folders with current career and education plans and information.