9th Grade

There are some steps you can take as a 9th grader to make sure you’re on the right track for college. This list will help you navigate the college planning process.

Get high school off to a good start!

Check in with your academic study habits (organization, how you keep of track of deadlines, planning for long term projects, setting distractions aside, etc) and get assistance from teachers and counselors if you need to. You must have an effective system in place so that you can perform to your optimal level and also enjoy the non academic aspects of UAS.

Revisit the Morrisby Career platform with your College and Career Counselor.

It’s fun to start thinking about your future possibilities. Using career exploration tools (UAS has the Morrisby and BridgeU platforms) allows UAS students to take information from interest, priority, & personality  and digest the reports-which are about about themselves. This is then matched to careers that typically match with those criteria.

Participating in career exploration activities that the UAS College Counselor does with you throughout the school year will gradually build your understanding of yourself as well as the options available for you in college and beyond.

Talk to other people, such as your school counselor, teachers, recent college graduates who are working, professionals in the community, etc., about careers you might find interesting.

Drop in and chat with your College Counselor. Your counselor knows how to help you get the most out of high school. Be sure to take some time during the school year to discuss anything related to college and career with him or her. No appointment necessary during your breaktime.

Participate in extracurricular activities. Academics aren’t everything. Explore your interest in a sports, school clubs,music or drama groups, or community volunteer activity. Remember that colleges would rather see real involvement in one activity instead of a loose connection to several.

If you’re interested in playing sports in college, research the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility requirements. The NCAA requires completion of certain core courses; you can find the specifics at ncaaclearinghouse.net.

Save for college. It’s not too late to put money aside for college. Every little bit helps! Learning about financial aid early on can also help you down the road. Let your parents know that they can ask the UAS College Counselor questions they may have about how to plan to pay for college.

Explore summer opportunities. Look for a job, internship, or volunteer position that will help you learn about a field of interest.