How to Start Thinking About Your Future in 9th Grade

Students and parents often ask, “How early should we start planning for college?” The answer is it's never too early. As a 9th grader, you're starting an exciting journey that will shape your future. Planning and creating a vision board is a powerful way to turn your dreams into reality. It’s a visual representation of your goals and aspirations, helping you stay motivated and focused. 

Create a Vision Board.

Your vision board should include the following steps to help you plan for the rest of your time in high school. Creating a vision board is like crafting a four-year high school plan. It’s exciting to see your future ahead of you! 

Remember, your goals and interests can always be replaced and changed as you grow. Think about what you’d like to accomplish in high school. Then meet with your school counselor to ensure you're taking the right classes for your goals. Also, ask your teachers about the types of courses offered by your school to find the best fit for your interests.

1. Take the Career Quiz: Discover careers that match your interests and strengths by taking the 10-minute Career Quiz. Screenshot careers that inspire you.
2. Review Interest Areas: Explore your interest areas. Capture images of careers that spark your curiosity or align with your passions.
3. Explore Majors: Look into majors related to your interests. Note those that stand out to help guide your high school course selections.
4. Take the College Quiz: Investigate colleges offering your chosen majors by taking the college quiz. Save screenshots of schools that appeal to you and their highlights.
5. Get Inspired: Look at key actions to take in 9th grade if you want inspiration for your vision board.

Explore Advanced Placement® (AP®) Courses.

• Learn about the AP Program and how it can lead to college credit, advanced placement, or both at most colleges in the U.S. 
• Consider which of the 40 AP courses you want to take during high school.
• Use the results from your career quiz to help guide your choices. Explore how specific AP courses are mapped to careers. Check out the AP courses by major and career to help you choose the best courses for your goals.
• Find out your likelihood to succeed in AP. Identify AP courses that match your strengths. The AP Potential™ tool can help you choose the best AP classes for your skills and interests.

Participate in Extracurricular Activities.

• Participate in extracurricular activities such as sports teams, school clubs, drama clubs, or volunteering.
• If you’re interested in playing college sports, make sure you research the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) even as a first-year student.
  • The NCAA requires completion of certain core classes in high school for eligibility. Visit the NCAA Eligibility Center for more information.
• Stay motivated over the summer. Colleges look for students who pursue meaningful summer activities.

Here's a breakdown of the steps in our college planning checklist for 9th grade.