Back to School Checklist for High School Success

Whether you’re a new 9th grader or a graduating senior, start your school year strong!

From academics to extracurriculars and beyond, these action items will help you get focused, stay productive, and prepare for success in manageable, low-stress steps.

If you're applying to college this year, congratulations on reaching this milestone! Be sure to review the College Planning and Applications section at the end of the article.

Here is your back to school checklist for high school success!

For Academic Success

• Finalize your course schedule before the add/drop deadline.

  
  

• Greet your teachers with a simple "hi" or "how are you?" Bonus points for introducing yourself or taking a moment to chat with teachers before or after class!

  
  

• Read the course syllabus, overview, or description for each class. Look at the list of major assignments or expectations if the teacher provides one. Set appropriately challenging goals for what you hope to learn or accomplish in each class.

  
  

• Develop a plan for studying and completing assignments on time (hello Google calendar, academic year planner, or time management app!).

  
  

• Schedule an appointment with your school counselor. Keep in mind that your counselor works with many students and is very busy! Your appointment may not be until later in the semester, and it might be short, so make sure you have some clear questions or topics in mind. Below are some suggestions for what you might discuss, given where you are in your high school journey.

  
  

9th graders: Introduce yourself, including your interests and any goals you have for high school or college. Ask questions about school activities related to those interests and goals.

10th graders: Say “hi!" Provide updates about what you did during the summer. Ask questions about opportunities for interest-related exploration or enrichment.

11th graders: Provide updates. Ask questions about college planning resources offered at school, such as standardized testing opportunities, college fairs, and information sessions.

12th graders: Provide updates on your college planning and application progress. Ask questions about your college list (bring this with you), about school or counseling department deadlines for application materials, and any other questions you have about applying to college.

For Extracurricular Success

• Attend a “club fair” at school or obtain a list of student clubs and organizations (ask your school counselor, a teacher, or the administrator in charge of student activities if you can’t find this on the website or in your student handbook).

  
  

• 9th and 10th graders: Try out clubs of interest to you by going to a meeting or two. Join 1-2 clubs in an academic interest area and 1-2 clubs in an extracurricular interest area. (If you’re a student-athlete, join a club or two in addition to your sports team!)

  
  

• 11th and 12th graders: Continue participating in clubs in which you’re already a member (if you’re not a member yet, you can still join!). Look for ways to demonstrate leadership and make an impact, regardless of whether or not you hold an “official” leadership position or title.

  
  

• Do the above for outside-of-school activities too, such as after school or weekend jobs, church youth groups, local or national organizations like Girl Scouts or Scouting America, community service or volunteer activities, and self-directed or independent projects.

  
  

• Demonstrate a problem-solving mindset:

  
  

  • When you notice a conflict, issue, or gap in resources, consider ways that you can help improve the situation. And then make a plan to take action!

    
    

  • Use your interests and strengths to help others in your school or community.

For Personal Success

• Each weekend: Block off time to do something fun or relaxing, especially with friends or family.

  
  

• Every day: Read, watch, or listen to one thing that makes you laugh and one thing that makes you think.

  
  

• At least twice each week: Write in a journal or practice another form of reflection. Keep this low-pressure, fun, and creative, reflecting on topics, events, or ideas that are meaningful or interesting to you (even if the topic seems unimportant or cliché).

  
  

• Every night: Practice healthy sleep habits. Aim for 8-10 hours of sleep as much as possible, with a 6-7-hour minimum reserved only for the very busiest days.

  
  

• Whenever you need it: Ask for help!

For College Planning & Application Success

11th graders:

• Sign up for standardized tests (for example, ACT or SAT and AP exams).

  
  

• Reflect on your interests and strengths, considering how different career paths and/or college majors might enable you to continue doing what you already love. If you’re not sure where to start, try some of the suggestions listed here.

  
  

• Visit 2-3 different kinds of colleges, including one smaller-sized liberal arts college and one larger-sized university (public or private). Take notes on what you liked and disliked about each of them, and seek out other colleges and/or universities that share the elements you liked.

12th graders:

• Sign up for standardized tests, if you haven’t completed them already.

  
  

• Check in with your letter of recommendation writers to make sure they have everything they need to write positive letters of support (find out more about letters of recommendation here).

  
  

• Finalize the list of colleges and universities to which you’ll apply. Consider academic, social, and financial fit, and make sure you have a balance of "reach," "possible," and "likely" admission schools in order to maximize your options when it's time to decide where to enroll.

  
  

• Create a Common App account (or a Coalition App or institutional application account), if you haven’t done so already. Complete as much of the background, education, and other basic information as you can. For the Common App, use the AXS Companion to help you.

  
  

• Begin working on the more time-intensive application components, including the activities list and essays. Leave plenty of time for revising and editing your work.

  
  

• Attend school- or community-based information sessions related to college planning and applications (for example, local college fairs or a financial aid night at your school).

Above all, remember to HAVE FUN! If you’re not excited about or fulfilled by any of your classes or activities, then talk to a parent, guardian, friend, teacher, counselor, or other trusted adult about what’s missing from your academic, extracurricular, or personal routine. The best plan for future success is a plan that is uniquely focused on the interests, strengths, and goals that make you who you are.

Have an incredible school year!

If you have questions about college planning or need help with your applications, email Jenny at hilltopcollegeconsulting@gmail.com. Schedule your free initial consultation here.