College

Join the Class of 2025 group message for information about college visits, leadership and community opportunities, and more:

• Text the message "@hhca2025" to the number 81010
   

9th Grade College/Future Planning (WINTER/SPRING):

• Build an awesome summer reading list:- Start with picks from this recommended list for excellent teen reads. And consider asking your teachers what their favorite reads were in high school.
• 100 Brave/Interesting Questions + NYT Writing Prompts for Students: If you haven’t already, start keeping a journal and use some of these questions as inspiration.
• Clubs on Campus - Here is a list and description of most clubs on campus, but keep in mind it's a working document in progress.

• 5 Ways to Spend Your High School Summer: Think about your summer in the context of how your choices can help you to lead a happier life (really!).

• Four Year Course Planner - Make sure you stay on track for both high school and college requirements by filling out this planner each semester. Review the graduation requirements for each subject area and the different course levels offered. The more selective the college, the more they will want to see you go above and beyond the minimum requirements.
• How do I learn best? - Take this quick quiz and get study tips based on your learning style. 
• Feeling like you’re falling behind in a class?  Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and the sooner, the better. Check in with your teacher. Ask older students and/or peers if they might be open to tutoring. Form a study group.
• Activity Log - Get involved in a couple of clubs, sports or other extracurricular activities either at your school or in your local community. Keep track of your engagement over time on this simple spreadsheet. Remember to update your spreadsheet at the start of each new semester.
• Be careful with your social media use - Any words or pictures you post are part of your permanent online record. If it’s something you wouldn’t want your grandparent to see, maybe don’t post it.
• Big 5 Personality Assessment - Learn more about your strengths, challenges, and communication and learning style.
• Build healthy routines - Prioritize sleep, healthy food choices and exercise. Stronger physical health = stronger mental health, increased focus and better decision making skills.
• Values Exercise (video): What’s important to you? Spend some time thinking about your core values with this quick exercise.
• Time management: Finding it hard to balance your school work, extracurricular activities, and sleep? This worksheet can help assess whether you’re doing too much.
• Uplevel your study skills: This guide has tips to help you study smarter, not harder.

(Check back for new guides each season.)

Join the Class of 2024 group message for information about college visits, leadership and community opportunities, and more:

• Text the message "@hhca2024" to the number 81010

10th Grade College/Future Planning (WINTER/SPRING):

• Clubs on Campus - Here is a list and description of most clubs on campus, but keep in mind it's a working document in progress.
• Build an awesome summer reading list that includes some biographies and memoirs: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is a must-read and can be found at your local library.
• 100 Brave/Interesting Questions + NYT Writing Prompts for Students: Commit to keeping a journal this summer, and use some of these questions as inspiration.

• 5 Ways to Spend Your High School Summer: Think about your summer in the context of how your choices can help you to lead a happier life (really!).

• College App & Admissions Timeline - A timeline and set of resources that track the college search and application process from 9th through 12th grade.
• Study Schedule - If you don’t have a plan in place, now is a great time to create one. Use a paper or online planner to stay organized and help manage your time.
• 80 Extracurricular Activity Examples: Wondering what other students listed on their applications? These examples may inspire you.
• Activity Log: Remember to update your log so you don’t forget what you’ve done. And this is a great time to inventory your extracurricular activities. Where do you want to deepen your involvement? And what do you want to let go?
• Start exploring possible careers - There are so many possibilities out there. What sounds interesting to you? Start with your interests and see where your research takes you.
• YouScience Aptitudes Test - What are you good at? Take this online assessment in SCOIR that uses a combination of personality, interest, and aptitudes testing to help you explore careers that might be a good fit.
• Values Exercise (video): Use your priority values to guide your extracurricular choices. This is a great time to deepen your involvement in the clubs/teams/jobs that excite you— maybe take on a leadership role. Or sign up for a new club? Or start your own?
• Tips for Planning a College Visit: Make a commitment to visit one local college between now and the end of the school year. That experience can be a great reference point as you begin to figure out what you’re looking for in a school. And some schools offer incentive grants if you visit campus, either in person or virtually.
• Start thinking about financial fit: As you begin your college search, it’s important to think about cost. Experiment with the Net Price Calculator to get a rough estimate of what you might pay for college, and start the conversation with your parents or guardians.

• If you think you may play Division I or II sports in college:

  • Register for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Clearinghouse.

  • Register for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletes (NAIA) Eligibility Center.

  • Familiarize yourself with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requirements. Then double-check that all of your courses are NCAA-approved. Not all high school classes count towards their requirements.

  • Let your high school counselor know you’re considering college athletics. 

(Check back for new guides each season.)

Join the Class of 2023 group message for information about college visits, leadership and community opportunities, and more:

• Text the message "@hhca2023" to the number 81010

Junior Meeting with Mrs. Robinson - Schedule yours during Jan-Feb here. (Be sure your PSAT results, January transcript, and SCOIR YouScience assessment are complete and ready before your meeting!)

Junior Spring - College Prep Top 10 List - Begin here!

Junior College Planning Meeting Presentation - 9/27/21
How to Write a College Resume

PSAT: National Merit Scholar Finalist cut off score

11th Grade College Planning Timeline (WINTER/SPRING):

• Clubs on Campus - Here is a list and description of most clubs on campus, but keep in mind it's a working document in progress.
• Values Exercise (video): Spend some time thinking about your core values by working through this simple exercise. Your answers may help drive how you spend your summer ahead.
• How to research colleges without visiting a campus: Learning more about colleges is an exciting and time-intensive process. Make sure to expand your search beyond your local public universities—and use your values as a guide.
• Colleges That Change Lives: As you build your college list, consider this set of 44 schools that focus on providing a personalized, student-centered experience. Listen to this podcast, and check out upcoming events.
• Explore colleges with 800+ lists: Use this fun online, searchable database from CollegeXpress, which covers everything from academic environments to school spirit.
• Think about financial fit: Experiment with the Net Price Calculator to get a rough estimate of what you might likely have to pay for college.

• QuestBridge College Prep Scholars: See if you qualify to apply for this top-notch college admission support program.
• Pre-work for your teacher recommendations: Take a look at this form and imagine how your teacher(s) might fill it out. What are your strengths/areas for improvement? What words will come to their mind when they think of you? You’ll request teacher recs in April/May, so this is a good time to start thinking about these important pieces of the college application process.
• 5 Ways to Spend Your High School Summer: Think about your summer in the context of how your choices can help you to lead a happier life (really!).
• College App & Admissions Timeline - A timeline and set of resources that track the college search and application process from 9th through 12th grade.
• Corsava - Check out this awesome resource that helps you figure out what you want (and don’t want) from your college experience. 
• Compass Guide to Admissions Testing - Start mapping out a standardized testing plan with the goal of taking the SAT or ACT at least once before the end of the school year.

• How to Create a College List (With Tracking Spreadsheet) - Use this guide and organizing tool to begin building a list of schools that you are excited about. 
• Identify high-value colleges: As you work on developing your college list, identify schools that’ll meet 100% of your financial need, institutions with generous merit-aid programs, and regional tuition agreements like WUE.
• How to research schools without visiting a campus - You don’t need to step on a college campus to begin researching schools. Here are four resources that will show you how.
• Going Test Optional: What is it? - Confused about whether or not test scores matter? Here’s an overview of what you need to know.
• FairTest - Looking for a comprehensive list of colleges and universities with test-optional admission policies? Here you go.
• Dealing with learning differences? - Researching the available support services and programs will be a critical part of your list building. Learn the differences between accommodations in high school and services offered at colleges. 
• AP practice resources: If you’re taking AP exams in May, here’s how to prep.

(Check back for new guides each season.)

Join the Class of 2022 group message for information about college visits, leadership and community opportunities, and more:

• Text the message "@hhca2022" to the number 81010
   

Senior College Planning Night Presentation - 9/13/21

College Application Checklist

Senior Year Timeline (WINTER/SPRING):

• Continue applying for scholarships. See the HHCA Scholarship Database, or stop by Mrs. Robinson's office to find out which ones you qualify for.
• Appealing financial aid: Read up on what to do if your financial aid offer doesn’t line up with your budget. And make sure to listen to this podcast before writing an appeal letter.
• Making your final college choice: It’s decision time. You need to enroll and submit a deposit by May 1st (or a few days after, depending on the school).

• Write thank you notes: Share gratitude with your teachers for writing letters of recommendation for you.
• Senioritis: This is not the time to slack off. Colleges will see your final transcript this summer, and they do have the right to rescind (i.e., take back) their offer of admission if your spring grades drop significantly (gulp).
• Admitted student events: If possible, attend in-person and virtual events for admitted students to get your questions answered and help inform your decision-making process.
• Scholarships: Search for possible fits based on your academic interests, gender, religion, and more.
• FAFSA + CSS PROFILE: Start filling out these forms to make sure to meet the deadlines set by the colleges on your list. 
• Check your applicant portals and emails: If you miss a request for more information or an additional document, it could jeopardize your admission chances, so check regularly.
• What to do if you’re deferred or waitlisted: Review your application and determine whether you want to write a letter of continued interest. And if you’re confused about the purpose of a waitlist, read this blog post by an admission director.
• Interview with colleges that offer them: Depending on the school, you can either sign up on its website or respond to an invitation it sends via email.
• Demonstrated interest: Remember that it’s important to let the colleges on your list know that you’re really interested in attending their schools. Keep connecting with college representatives when they visit your school, your community, or via virtual sessions online.

(Check back for new guides for each season.)