Preparing for College in Middle School
It’s never too early to start getting ready for college.
Beginning in 7th and 8th grade will allow you to have a clear path throughout high school. Thinking about your college goals will allow you to take the most meaningful courses in high school.
There’s also the potential to earn college credits in high school through programs like Dual Enrollment and Advanced Placement, so the preparation for college needs to begin before 9th grade.
So how can you prepare for college while you’re in middle school?
Explore Careers and Take a Career Quiz
There are many ways to explore your career interests and take quizzes that help identify potential career paths.
One of my favorite options is through CollegeBoard, the makers of the SAT. They created a platform called BigFuture where you can search for careers, take a career quiz, learn about career clusters, and get help selecting a future major.
Later on when you are in high school, and are stepping up the college preps, you can use BigFuture to search for scholarships, and a lot more.
You can also use the assessments built into Eastern Florida State College’s free Career Coach tool to explore your interests.
Finding a career that matches your interests can help you plan the core classes and electives you take in high school. It may even help you select the high school you attend.
For example, maybe you’re interested in Robotics so you choose to go to Palm Bay High, which has a focus on that area. Or you’re interested in being a Dental Assistant so you choose Viera High, which has the BPS-run Dental Aide option.
There are many careers to choose from, so exploring them all and narrowing down your choices with a career quiz is a great first step.
Meet with Your School Counselor
No matter what grade level you are in now, your School Counselor is in your corner. They can help connect you to resources and recommend classes for you. You will certainly want to get to know your High School Counselor well as they will be a terrific go-to person for planning for college.
Take Rigorous Courses
Your School Counselor and classroom teachers will come in handy at this step. Taking rigorous courses (honors level or higher) in middle school and high school will prepare you for the demands of college coursework.
If your goal is to be Dual Enrolled and earn college credits while in high school through a DE program such as the one at Eastern Florida State College, then you will need at least a 3.0 unweighted high school GPA. Being successful in challenging courses tells a college/university that you are ready to be a college student and will likely be success in those courses too.
Focus on Organization
To be successful in rigorous courses, you will need to know how to be organized as challenging courses often come with time-sensitive projects, assignments, and exams.
Find a system that works for you to keep track of all the requirements and stick to it.
For some a digital calendar works, for others a paper planner is best, and for others a to-do list app is preferred.
You will also need good time management skills. Keeping track of class requirements is part of this, but you will also need to manage sports, clubs, and possibly a job.
You may have to say no to hanging out with a friend to prioritize writing a research paper. The important key here is to find a system that works for you and stick with it.
Get Involved
A fantastic way to choose a career, improve your mood, and boost your college applications is by volunteering and getting involved with clubs at your school.
Many clubs, like National Junior Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Student Government, prioritize volunteering in the community — a great way to see if a certain career is the right fit for you.
If you are interested in health sciences, volunteer at a hospital. If you are interested in education, volunteer at an elementary school.
The steps you take now in middle school will truly pay off when it’s time to apply for, choose and go to college.
- Preparing for College in Middle School - August 23, 2023
- DE vs. AP vs. IB vs. AICE: Which Program is Right for You? - March 8, 2023
