High School Preparation

Know what's important

You must be prepared for success! Here are some key tips for success in high school:

Take advantage of every opportunity to succeed.

Get and maintain a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or better

Set a goal of a minimum score of 1100 on the SAT

Start taking practice SAT tests on Khan Academy in 9th grade (6th grade preferably)

Begin volunteering in your freshman year. Set a goal of 20-40 service learning/volunteer hours each year. Focus on volunteering in fields for which you plan to pursue a career.

Set up an account on College Greenlight and begin researching scholarship requirements

If you are a Chicago Public Schools student, set up your CPS Academic Works account beginning in your freshman year (9th grade)

Develop a resume in 9th grade. Every semester add any accomplishments (job, awards, honors, etc.) It will help you when you need to give a teacher something from which to write a letter of recommendation.

Get credentials in high school!

Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment

Why pay $300-700 per credit hour for Intro to English and Intro to Psychology when you can take those courses for FREE in high school? Speak with your counselor in your sophomore year to find out if your school has a Dual Credit or Dual Enrollment program with a local college. Chicago Public Schools has a Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment program with the City Colleges of Chicago!

Advanced Placement

Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment

The College Board developed Advanced Placement courses years ago to help high school students gain access to a more rigorous curriculum. These courses are college-level and high school students can take them. If they pass the AP Exam with a score of 3 or higher in the state of Illinois, they can receive college credit (you'll have to read the guidelines and speak with your counselor to get the facts).

Test Prep

The secret sauce for merit scholarships includes a good cumulative grade point average (GPA) and good standardized test scores. Not the best standardized test-taker? No problem -- you just have to GRIND! Work hard. Khan Academy has free SAT test prep. Create an account and use it beginning in 9th grade.

High School Preparation

Know what's important

Get credentials in high school!

Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment

Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment

Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment

Advanced Placement

Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment

Dual Credit/Dual Enrollment

Test Prep

Test Prep

Test Prep

Test Prep

Test Prep

Great Financial Aid Websites

Do your research!

What to study?

Middle School Financial Aid

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Portal

FAFSA Forecaster (EFC Calculator)

Loan Payment Calculator

Financial Aid Documents & Tools

Federal Student Aid

EFC Calculator