1. Get off to a good start academically.

• Starting in 9th grade, your courses and grades will appear on your high school transcript, which will be included with your college applications when you are a senior. Your freshman-year grades will be included in your GPA (Grade Point Average).
• Your academic achievement level will also factor into what scholarships you will eligible for: another reason to work toward a high GPA.

2.  Find ways to get involved.

• Find ways to get involved, both at Jackson-Reed and in your community. Take advantage of all the clubs, sports, and extracurriculars at our school.
• Figure out what you like to do and build your resume at the same time. By starting early in high school, you will be able to work your way up to some leadership positions in the areas you care most about.

3.  Start preparing for college.

• Take the PSAT offered in school in the fall for practice.
• Think about your four-year high school plan. Make sure you take all your required courses to graduate, plus any that might be required by specific colleges.

4.  Get familiar with Naviance.

• Naviance is the platform that DC Public Schools provides to students to help with college and career planning. When you are a senior, Naviance will play a big role in your college application process. Learn how to log into Naviance through Clever and get familiar with its features. Click on the button below for instructions for how to log into Naviance.

4.  Stay organized.

• Keep track of the usernames and passwords you set up for your school and college-related accounts, such as your College Board account. As you create more accounts, having one place for your log-in information will save you time and frustration.