Timely College Strategies & Tips

College Tips Every Student Should Follow

Attend All Classes
Avoid Being Distracted by Social Media
Avoid Procrastinating or Waiting to Start Assignments
Monitor Your Health (Mental and Physical)
Make Friends
Ask for Help When Needed
Join Clubs on Campus
Attend Campus Events
Budget Time Wisely (practice good time management)
Budget Money Wisely
Beware of Dating APPs
Stay Focused
Search for Scholarships, Work Study, and Grants Opportunities
Search for Study Abroad Opportunities
Search for Job and Intern Opportunities
Submit FAFSA Application Each Year
Learn to Share a Living Space with a Roommate
Adapt to College Life (college vs. high school)
Schedule “Down” Time
Find a Mentor/Accept Support
Learn to Handle Conflict Resolution with Compassion and Empathy
Grow Up and Be Responsible

Soft Skills & Social Skills Needed for College

Self-Advocacy
Self-Care
Digital Citizenship & Safety
Communication
Collaboration
Time Management/Punctuality
Customer Service
Keeping an Open Mind
Integrity/Acting Honestly
Maintaining Composure/Self-Control
Socializing with Others
Getting Along with Others
Sustaining Effort
Self-Confidence
Empathy
Curiosity
Perseverance
Optimism

College Application Process Checklist

Researched schools and made a college list
Visited prospective school in-person or virtually
Completed college essay(s)
Selected application platform
Created accounts on application portals
Completed personal information, extracurricular activities, and awards in my college application
Requested transcripts be sent to prospective schools
Requested letters of recommendation
Paid college application fee or requested application fee waiver(s)
Verified that my application has all the requested documents and information before it is submitted
Organized college application deadlines and requirements in a college application tracker
Completed and submitted FAFSA Application online
Completed scholarship application(s) and submitted the proper documentation
Completed college entrance exam(s) and sent scores to prospective schools
Prepared for college interview(s)

College Timelines by Grade Level

9th Grade Checklist

Set goals (personal, professional, behavior, family, relationships, spiritual, physical, and community)
Meet and get to know your high school Guidance Counselor
Practice good study habits and earn good grades
Get involved in activities, sports, and clubs on your campus
Look for Community service and volunteer opportunities to help build your resume
Take multiple Career Aptitude Surveys to help you determine your interests, college and career goals
Attend tutoring when necessary
Start exploring colleges you may be interested in attending
Review student athlete eligibility requirements
Read as much as possible to help build vocabulary, prepare for aptitude tests, and learn new ideas
Practice your writing skills using prompts or free style to help develop your voice and prepare you for college essays later
Register for summer programs or take additional academic courses

10th Grade Checklist

Ask your Guidance Counselor to enroll you in rigorous courses to help prepare you for college and discuss graduation requirements, future classes and goals
Maintain good grades
Attend tutoring when necessary
Register for the Pre-SAT (PSAT) Test and Pre-ACT (PLAN) Test, if offered at your school, to get an idea of what to expect when you take the actual ACT/SAT Tests
Find an ACT/SAT Prep Program online or in your school community
Familiarize yourself with the basic college entrance requirements and the college admissions process
Continue to research careers and schools that interest you
Create a balanced list of schools that fit your interests: safety, match, and reach
Continue your participation with extracurricular activities
Continue to practice reading and writing in your spare time to help prepare you for college entrance exams and admission essays
Plan college visits (virtual or in-person)
Attend College Fairs

11th Grade Checklist

Meet with your Guidance Counselor to ensure you’re on track for graduation, monitor GPA, and class rank
Focus on maintaining good grades
Attend tutoring when necessary
Register for the PSAT in October
Review admission requirements for colleges/universities on your school list
Stay engaged in extracurricular activities and prepare for a leadership role in sports, clubs, church, etc.
Enroll in an ACT/SAT Prep Program online or in your school community
Review ACT/SAT Test dates, register and request a fee waiver from your Guidance Counselor
Start building positive relationships with educators who can write a glowing letter of recommendation for you
Attend College Fairs and Information Sessions
Continue to plan college tours (virtually or in-person)
Research scholarship opportunities
Narrow down your college list: safety, match, and reach
Enroll in summer programs/classes, secure a job or internship
Start brainstorming or drafting ideas for your college essays and search for essay prompts from previous years

12th Grade Checklist

Meet with your high school Guidance Counselor to review your academic status, remaining credits to complete, request letter of recommendation, and discuss post-secondary goals
Retake ACT/SAT to improve your score and release scores to all school on your list
Stay organized
Complete college applications
Create a resume
Request letters of recommendation from counselors, teachers, coaches, club sponsors, community organizations, etc.
Create a college portfolio
Finalize college list: safety, match, and reach
Continue to attend College Fairs and Informational Sessions
Continue to plan college visits (virtually and in-person)
Complete the FAFSA as early as October 1st
Verify that all materials were received by prospective colleges/universities on your school list (applications, letters of recommendation, transcripts, ACT/SAT scores, financial aid, immunization/health records, NCAA or NAIA Eligibility status, etc.)
Apply for multiple scholarships
Review and compare financial aid packages and acceptance letters
Choose a college or university

MECCA Pre/Post Assessment

I am extremely comfortable navigating the college admissions process with little to no assistance.
I plan to apply to one college for admission.
I am familiar with all college applications.
I know that I can only apply to colleges and universities using online applications.
I will only apply to colleges and universities I can afford to attend.
No other materials are required with my college application.
I will need to declare a major before I apply to a college or university.
I should apply for financial aid only if I believe I qualify.
My parents’ tax return has nothing to do with my dependency status
I should not apply to a college or university if my GPA and ACT/SAT test scores are below the school’s entrance requirements.

1=strongly disagree
2=disagree
3=neutral
4=agree
5=strongly agree

HBCU GUIDES AND LINK FOR HBCUS

REACH FOR IT!

A college education is more important—and more expensive—than ever. But UNCF works with the 38 historically black universities and colleges in this guide to help any student get the education he/she needs at tuition he/she can afford.

Each of these schools is unique. But they all offer a small-college experience, one-on-one student-faculty relationships and lower tuitions than most private colleges.

You may be able to get additional assistance at any school by applying for scholarship and internship support from our more than 400 financial assistance programs.

These UNCF-member colleges and universities offer a quality education at an affordable cost. You can choose from a variety of majors in several academic disciplines, including those that celebrate African American culture and achievement.

Graduates of schools in this guide include Martin Luther King, Jr., Spike Lee, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Lionel Richie and many notable government, political and cultural leaders.

The Guide to UNCF Colleges & Universities

HBCU LISTING

There are 107 colleges in the United States that are identified by the US Department of Education as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Of those 107, three are currently closed.

Click School To View Website

* Not recognized by US Department of Education as an HBCU *
** Not currently accredited **