■ 9th Grade College Planning Checklist

You don’t have to do it all. Just the right things at the right time.

It’s early — and that’s the point. 9th grade is all about forming strong habits, exploring interests, and laying the groundwork for everything that comes next. No pressure, just steady momentum.

🍂 Fall

• Get to know your school counselor and ask about graduation & college prep requirements
• Establish good homework and study routines
• Join a club, sport, or service project — try something new
• Track your grades and learn how GPA works early
• Start a basic activities log (Google Doc or paper folder)

❄️ Winter

• Develop a reading habit — fiction, nonfiction, essays, anything
• Explore resources like CommonLit or Longreads for free reading material
• Talk with adults about their careers and how they got there
• Build time management skills (calendar, planner, or checklist)
• Keep your resume or activities list updated with new involvement

🌸 Spring

• Choose next year’s classes with an eye toward challenge and balance
• Start thinking about summer plans — volunteer, work, read, or attend a program
• Take a free career interest quiz on BigFuture
• Reflect on what you liked this year — and what you want to do more of

Curious about what to expect next year? Here’s a sneak peek at 10th grade.