Talk to your school counselor or teachers about Advanced Placement courses

Colleges want to see that you are interested in learning new things and will work hard to excel in the classroom

Colleges want to see that you care about your community and are willing to make it a better place

Examples of volunteering:

• Helping at a hospital, pet shelter, library, or summer camp

• Tutoring students through an official organization

• Helping at church events

Visit our 'Volunteer Info' page under the 'Resources' tab for volunteering opportunities in San Antonio

Being involved at your school shows that you are committed to something that you care about 

Gaining leadership experience early in your high school career shows that you are a team player, can manage your time well, and care about diversifying your experiences

Academic preparation is a critical part of being college-ready

Some high schools have programs like Upward Bound which helps students prepare for college through tutoring and other enrichment events

Ask your college advisor if there are any programs on your campus

When applying to colleges and scholarships in your senior year, you will be asked to list all of your challenging classes, volunteer experiences, extracurricular activities, and enrichment programs

Colleges want to see what you are passionate about and how hard you worked over your high school career

Visit the 'Resume Building' page under the 'Resources' tab for free templates

What subjects do you like? What makes you happy? What do you enjoy doing with your free time?

Searching your career options will help you select a major later on

Visit the 'Career Search' page under the 'Resources' tab for help searching

In your junior and senior year of high school, you will need to take the SAT or ACT. These are important test that colleges require before you can apply to their school

Some schools require a minimum score for acceptance

Get free SAT preparation at KahnAcademy.org/sat

Do you want to go to a big school or small school? Do you want to live in Texas or venture out of state? Do you prefer having small class sizes or big class sizes?

The earlier you start your search, the more best match options you will find by your senior year

Saving money for important college necessities like books, food, dorms, and tuition can be very beneficial if you start early

Talk to a parent or guardian about opening a savings account