CONTENTS

High School Guidance Overview

Freshman Year

Sophomore Year

Junior Year

Senior Year

Resources

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Make Your High School Experience Count for Post 
High School Pursuits

By Rodney & Robi Marshall

The wisely planned high school experience will prepare teens for life and give them every advantage for their future development. God has called each Christian teen to a life of influence for His glory. God calls some to Church work. The calling of most will lead them to godly impact in the broader society through education, law, public policy, medicine, technology, management, entrepreneurism, the arts, various trades and so on. Use this High School Guidance Overview and Calendar as a checklist to procure the advantages of wise preparation. Recommended resources are available in the online catalog. High School Guidance Overview and Calendar as a checklist to procure the advantages of wise preparation. Recommended resources are available in the online catalog.
High School Guidance Overview  TOP

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  TOP

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.
  • 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  TOP

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  TOP

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  TOP

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. Contact at careered@gte.net

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