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High school is a time of transition as you鈥檙e making your way into adulthood and preparing for the future. To help guide you through this exciting, but sometimes stressful time in your life, we鈥檝e put together a 鈥渢o do鈥� list for each year of high school.

It鈥檚 never too early to start planning for one of the biggest changes in your life 鈥� applying to college 鈥� so, let鈥檚 get started with your freshman year 鈥渢o do鈥� list to keep you on track!

Work hard

From now on, your overall academic success and involvement in school will count towards your future college applications. Here are some steps to ensure your hard work is moving you towards your goals:

Create a yearly schedule that includes challenging classes and meets graduation requirements. Learn about Advanced Placement and Honors courses; what are they exactly? How can I challenge myself academically and not seem too overwhelmed? Which classes are available at my school?

Involvement in high school goes beyond simply getting good grades. Engage in after-school activities and, if possible, seek out leadership roles. These extracurricular activities are what admission committees look for on an application. Besides, it could be fun! Consider getting involved in community-based activities, academic programs, summer workshops and camps. Keep in mind that it鈥檚 also important to not over-commit yourself to TOO many extracurricular activities. Dabble in a few that pique your interest, but remember鈥� your academic record is an extremely important piece of your college application, so stay the course with your academics and work hard!

Remember to be honest with yourself. If you鈥檙e shooting for a top college, or any college for that matter, you need to start working towards that goal immediately. Don鈥檛 wait until your senior year to put in the effort, or you鈥檒l risk falling behind.

Get out of your comfort zone

High school is a brand new chapter of your life. It鈥檚 the place to try new things – classes, programs you might not be normally interested in, and activities you didn鈥檛 explore before. Who knows, maybe you鈥檒l discover a new passion!

Exploring new fields will allow you to expand your horizons and keep an open mind while researching potential careers of interest. It is perfectly normal to be unsure of what you want to do for a living. 听Start exploring career opportunities. There are many to explore your options. You can also go to career fairs in your area. Think about talking to adults about their jobs, as well. Start building a support group of family, friends, counselors, and teachers who will serve as mentors during your college search process.

Be present

Keep track of all your successes. This will come in handy when you start applying for colleges and summer jobs or internships, as well. Create a running list of accomplishments, awards, honors, recognitions, extracurricular activities, and work experiences – whether paid or volunteer.

Remember to be present and live in the moment. 听Enjoy your high school years to the fullest and enjoy the ride. It鈥檚 only just begun!