Freshman 9th Timeline | The School Counselor

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Class of 2025

9th Grade Timeline!

Here you will find a list of grade-specific activities that you should be doing based on your grade level.

Also included are resources to help you complete the process, (videos, handouts, presentations, links)

To find out more information and get specific dates/deadlines for these activities, just click on the links below.

Navigating your High School Experience!

Ninth grade is an important year in a student’s college-preparation journey. Learn how students can have a well-rounded experience in high school and how parents can support their child.

Top 26 Must Do's for Freshman:

Students:

Attend all classes and be on time, every day.

Participate and be an active member in every class.

Do the work.

Manage your time wisely.

Communicate with your teachers on a regular basis.

Attend tutoring sessions, when needed.

Know the UC/CSU "a-g" and SDHS Graduation Requirements.

Understand SDHS’s 4-Year Course Sequence and Pathway Options.

Learn how to read and understand your transcript.

Create a 4-year high school plan. Think about what you’d like to accomplish in the next four years. Make sure you know which high school courses are required by colleges, and that you’re taking the right classes as early as the ninth grade. You can ask your school counselor about what those “right” classes are.

Welcome to XELLO! - What is Xello? Xello is an online program that helps students create their very own unique roadmap for college, career, and future success. Interactive assessments highlight career pathways aligned with the student’s skills, interests, and unique personality. Students can discover their own personalized pathway through self-knowledge, exploration and planning. Students use Xello to access scholarships and assist you with the college application process for things like resumes, recommendation letter requests, transcript requests, and sending the school portion of the Common Application.
- How to log in to Xello: Students can log in to Xello by following these instructions.
  - Go to https://clever.com/in/sdusd.
  - Click on the button “Log in with Active Directory”.
  - Type in your student ID & Password.
  - Look for Xello under the instant Login Applications.
  - Click on the XELLO tab.

Get to know the levels of courses offered here at SDHS. Start thinking about your life after school, including the types of jobs that might interest you. Of course, these will change but it’s good to start thinking about the possibilities now. Ask your school counselor or teachers what Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses are available, whether you are eligible, and how to enroll in them.
- AP Page.
- IB Page.

Meet with your high school counselor. Your school counselor knows how to help you get the most out of high school. Be sure to take some time during the school year to discuss post-high-school plans with him or her.

Discover Your Strengths, Interests, and Learning Styles! Identify your interests, likes and dislikes, not just in classes but also in every area. This will help you focus on your goals. Gather feedback. Talk to other people, such as your school counselor, teachers, recent college graduates who are working, professionals in the community, etc., about careers you might find interesting.

Get Involved! Participate in extracurricular activities. Academics aren’t everything. Explore your interest in a sport, school club , music or drama group, or community volunteer activity. Remember that colleges would rather see real involvement in one activity instead of a loose connection to several. Get involved in school or community-based activities that interest you or let you explore career interests. Consider working, volunteering, and/or participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, or science. Remember, its quality (not quantity) that counts. Also, start a list of your awards, honors, paid and volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. Update it throughout high school.

Review NCAA requirements! If you’re interested in playing sports in college, research the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility requirements. The NCAA requires completion of certain core courses; you can find the specifics at NCAA Clearinghouse.

Save for college. It’s not too late to put money aside for college. Every little bit helps! Learning about financial aid early on can also help you down the road.

Explore summer opportunities! Look for a job, internship, or volunteer position that will help you learn about a field of interest. Check out the many summer camps that are offered a variety of colleges & universities. Learn about a variety of topic related, academic and/or athletic camps in your community.

Learn about the PSAT/NMSQT Exam! The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) measures what you're learning in school, determine if you're on track, and opens doors for opportunities to prepare and pay for college. Taking the PSAT/NMSQT offers the following benefits to help you prepare for your academic future:
- Connect to $300 Million in Scholarships: Check "yes" to the Student Search Service® question on the PSAT/NMSQT answer sheet or opt in online to connect with 1,500 colleges and over $300 million in scholarships.
- Be Eligible for the National Merit® Scholarship Program: When you take the PSAT/NMSQT, you may meet requirements to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program and compete for national recognition and college scholarships.
- Learn Your Academic Strengths: After you take the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10, your score report will show how well you performed and which college-level AP courses match your strengths.
- Access Free, Personalized Prep: Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT with free resources from College Board and Khan Academy, and use your PSAT/NMSQT score to create a personalized SAT study plan through Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy®.
- Talk to your school's counselors about when your school is offering the PSAT/NMSQT.
- The best way to prepare for these tests is to:
  - Take challenging courses
  - Do your homework
  - Prepare for tests and quizzes
  - Ask and answer lots of questions
  - Take charge of your education and learn as much as you can.

Research Career Options! Use the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search tool to research your career options.

Check out KnowHow2Go: The Four Steps to College! Getting into college take persistence. Learn about some actions you can take as you start thinking about education beyond high school. Explore reasons to consider college, and don’t be afraid to ask for help from your parents, school counselor, and older students as you prepare.

Start now learning how to save and manage your money.

Stay Healthy: Physically & Mentally!
- Eat healthy foods.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Get moving and exercise every day.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Avoid drugs and alcohol.
- Stay social.
- Keep yourself busy.
- Schedule downtime for yourself.
- Pursue a hobby or a new activity.
- Manage your stress.
- Know your strengths, weaknesses, and boundaries.
- Practice gratitude.

Ask for help & support when feeling overwhelmed! Be sure to identify people who can help you when needed as well as help you achieve your goals. Understanding how to set realistic goals and prepare for college/career involves resources outside of school as well as in school.

Set Goals Regularly! Remember, hope is not a goal! You will have to set specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-based goals if you expect to achieve anything in life. Those who set goals have a much higher success rate in achieving what they set out to accomplish. Meet with your school counselor and start your journey today towards reaching your dreams.

Enjoy the journey!

Parents:

Talk with your student about the list above, about how important it is to set yourself up for success, and encourage them to work to accomplish each one.