College Planning

Sophomore Planning

Make certain you are enrolled in courses meeting Westmont's entry requirements:

English	4 years
Science	3 years (two years of laboratory science)
Mathematics	3 years (including at least Algebra II) *Algebra I taken in the 8th grade is acceptable
Foreign Language	2 years of the same language (3 years recommended)
Social Science	2 years (history, government, sociology, political science, economics, psychology, civilization, geography)

Attend meetings with the college representatives who visit your school.
Read viewbooks, catalogs, and web sites.
Talk with teachers, college students, and/or recent graduates from your high school. Spend time in the college counseling office or career center.
Get on college mailing lists.
Begin keeping a journal. Develop a list of items important to you.
Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October as practice. You will take it again as a junior and it’s only as a junior that you may qualify for a National Merit Scholarship.
Begin thinking about taking the SAT and/or the ACT.
Attend college fairs, parent nights, and financial aid workshops.
Review your high school course of study. Challenge yourself.
Talk to your counselor about Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses.
Get a summer job.
Keep track of your extracurricular activities and athletic programs. These will go on your college application.
Begin researching scholarship and financial aid programs. A good web site is: www.fastweb.com