For 9th, 10th, and 11th Grade Students

Preparing for Francis Marion University, or any other four year university begins with the first day of your ninth grade year. Every class you take, and all of your successes will be considered when evaluating your application for admission. Striving to excel in you academic, athletic, and extracurricular pursuits will make you more competetive when applying to the university of your choice. Hopefully that university will be FMU!!!

9th Grade

• If you haven't done so yet, get to know your school counselor. Remind him or her that you want to attend a four-year college and that you need to schedule the college-preparatory courses needed to do so. Be sure to take Algebra I, college-prep English, a lab science, a foreign language, and academic electives.
• If you attend a year-round school, make sure you are assigned to a track that offers college-preparatory classes.
• Strive for A's in all your classes; do at least one hour of homework every night.
• Create a résumé file including academic honors, organizations, teams, certificates, volunteer work, or paid jobs that you hold. These will all be important when applying for admissions and scholarships. Update the file each year.
• Actively participate in at least one extracurricular or athletic activity.
• Over the summer, take part in academic enrichment programs and special summer workshops and camps, volunteer in your community, or consider retaking a class in which you received a grade you weren't satisfied by.

10th Grade

• Review your ninth and tenth grade schedules with your counselor to make sure you are taking all the college-prep courses you need for a four year college. You should take either Algebra II or Geometry, English II, a second lab science, a second unit of a foreign language, a full unit of a social science, and other electives.
• Strive for A's in all of your classes, and do at least two hours of homework every night. Seek help for classes you are struggling with.
• Work on an academic project in a subject that interests you.
• Get actively involved in at least one new extracurricular activity. Try to take a leadership role.
• Update your résumé file.
• Speak with your guidance counselor about your plan for your eleventh grade year, including testing, course load, and college choices.
• If you have the time, work during the summer as a volunteer in an area where your community needs help, or in a paid job.

11th Grade

• Check with your counselor to make sure you are on a track to take the college-preparatory subjects you need to attend FMU. You should be taking, or should have taken, Algebra II or Geometry, English III, a third unit of labratory science, a third unit of social science, and other academic electives.
• Strive for A's in all of your classes. You should also be doing at least two hours of homework every night.
• Register for the PSAT in October. The PSAT is the preliminary exam for the SAT I and is required for several national scholarship programs, including the National Merit Scholarship. You can prepare for it by reviewing old PSAT or SAT exams. The results of the PSAT will also give you and your counselor an idea of your strengths and the areas you need to improve as you prepare for college admission.
• Attend college fairs and presentations by representatives who visit your school.
• Continue your extracurricular activities, and take initiative in setting up programs or planning activities. Work to improve your favorite skill, and seek out people or programs that will help you. Explore ways to help other people by pursuing your main interests.
• If you are taking any Advanced Placement courses this year, register to take the AP exams in the spring, when the material is still fresh in your mind. Scoring well on the AP exams will help you earn college units.
• Come to FMU for a campus visit! Try to attend one of our Open Houses. You will be able to meet with staff from admission and academic departments.
• Start thinking about when and how often you will take your college entrance exams (SAT I or ACT). Your school counselor can provide you with the necessary information. Taking the SAT I or ACT in the spring will allow you to receive the results and meet with your counselor to see if you need to take the exam again in the fall. Plan to register for the tests at least one month in advance of the test date.
• Update your résumé file with new information and materials.
• In the spring, begin planning your senior-year classes, including AP courses. A fourth year of math and a lab science are strongly recommended for your senior year.
• In the spring, you'll begin receiving a lot of college mail. Return the reply cards to the schools that interest you, including FMU. You will then start receiving view books, catalogues and applications.
• Investigate summer programs, workshops, internships and camps in your community or on college campuses, and apply to any that interest you.
• Over the summer, prepare for the SAT I or ACT by reading books with testing tips and sample questions. You can find these in bookstores or libraries and at your school, or you can access them on the Internet. There are also workshops available on how to prepare for the college entrance exams. Check with your counselor to determine which are the most credible.

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