Following is a month-by-month timeline of tasks you should be accomplishing by the end of your 9th grade year of high school. Links to resources and helpful documents are attached where to appropriate, so please make use of all the tools available to you. If you have any questions about any of the tasks listed below, contact your regional counselor right away.

August

Meet with your high school counselor to introduce yourself and to let him or her know that you are planning on attending college following high school. This is the time to talk about the courses you’ll need to take in order to be ready for college, how you can plan to take Advanced Placement courses if they’re available at your school, and to find out what your counselor can do to help you on your way to college. Download a copy of your 4-Year High School Plan-DOE Schools or 4-Year High School Plan-Private Schools and along with your parents and/or counselor, determine which courses you’ll be taking over the next four years that will help you get to college.

September

  • Join a club! Tryout for a sport! Get involved in everything high school has to offer you!
  • If you are a high school athlete hoping to play at the collegiate level, check out the Pacific Athletic Alliance’s website. They are a non-profit organization serving Hawai’i’s high school athletes. Their website contains an incredible amount of valuable information about NCAA and NAIA eligibility, recruiting calendars, paying for college, and more.

October

  • With a couple months of high school under your belt, it’s time to begin thinking about possible career pathways you might be interested in. Knowing where you want to end up will help you determine which college or university might be appropriate for you. Consider your skills and interests, as well as your core values when considering possible occupations. Don’t forget to use the various tools available on Naviance to explore careers and colleges!
  • You’ll need a login and password to enter the Naviance site, so contact your regional counselor if you don’t have yours.

November

Visit the websites of colleges you might be interested in attending, just to get a feel for what they can offer you.

December

  • Take a moment on December 19 to remember our princess, Ke Ali’i Bernice Pauahi Bishop, and how much she loved her Hawaiian people. Without Pauahi’s largess, Kamehameha Schools and the Kamehameha Scholars program would not exist. Mahalo, Pauahi!
  • Merry Christmas from the entire Kamehameha Scholars staff. Have a blessed and safe Christmas holiday!

January

  • First semester grades are in. How did you do? Remember, your GPA is one area which potential colleges will look closely at. If you’re having trouble in any classes, now is the time to schedule a meeting with your teacher and/or your high school counselor.
  • Start gathering items which show evidence of your achievements in high school, and keep them all in one place so you won’t have to look for them come your senior year when you’re filling out college applications. You might want to download the Summary of Achievements worksheet to make tracking these items easier.

February

Start expanding your vocabulary in anticipation of taking the SAT test your junior year. The best way to do that is to read, read, read! But you can also visit the College Board website to take their SAT Question of the Day to learn vocabulary words. Or check your local or online book store for SAT vocabulary flashcards and books and practice, practice, practice!

March

  • Pre-registration for your sophomore year is coming up soon. Before selecting your classes, take some time to talk to your parents and counselor about which courses are right for you, and will help you succeed in college.
  • Are you at risk of failing any classes this year? Will you be required to attend summer school to make up any failed credits in your core classes? Start thinking now about making plans to recover those credits, and talk to your counselor about what your options are.

April

  • What are your plans for this summer? Why not use this time to do something you can include on your college resume? This might include paid work, volunteer work, academic or cultural enrichment programs, summer workshops, or camps that focus on music, arts, and science or other areas of career interest. Check Kamehameha Scholars’ Resource tab on our website to find out about opportunities on your island.
  • Visit a College Fair held each April on your island. This is an excellent opportunity to “shop” around for a college that suits your individual needs, and to meet and talk with representatives from that school. Take this list of Questions to Ask Colleges with you when you visit the college fair.

May

Congratulations! You made it through your first year of high school!

June

  • Enjoy your summer! If you are engaged in any activities this summer that will help support your college resume, remember to ask your supervisor or instructor for a letter of recommendation NOW. It’ll be so much easier to do that than trying to track them down in a few years.
  • Don’t forget to add any end-of-year report cards, awards, honors, and activities to your permanent file.

July

  • If you’re traveling on the mainland this summer, take some time to visit a few college campuses that you might be interested in attending. It’s best to do that when classes are in session so you can get a real feel for college life, so call the Admissions Office ahead of time if at all possible. If you’re staying home this summer, visit one of our local college campuses instead! Don’t forget to take along your list of Questions to ask college admissions offices with you!