**Bay Path Guidance Class Of 2014**

IT'S TIME TO THINK ABOUT COLLEGE! The requirements for colleges are getting tougher and the number of students needing financial help to pay for college is increasing. It's never to early to start preparing and researching schools! It is important to get prepared early so you can get the most financial help from the school you are choosing. Your chosen school has money but most is gone by the spring of your senior year, so get things done over the summer of your junior year and apply as soon as our first quarter grades are available. Learning is a lifelong process, and we hope that your high school years will help prepare you for an exciting personal and professional future.

The following are suggestions to consider as you build the foundation for your futures:

High school is a time to take responsibility for your learning and your results. Ask yourself what you are most capable of, rather than what is the least you need to do to complete your task.
Now is the time to decide what you are passionate about in terms of academics, the trades, athletics and more. Take your energy and focus. Remember that your academic record is permanent beginning in Grade 9. Your 11th and 12th grades are very important, they are the years that even little mistakes matter. Your transcript will be viewed by many people, businesses and colleges in the future and these two years are weighted heavily and will play a role in your future oppurnitunites after high school. Be proud of what you will have to show for your four years and make it good!

Recommendations For College and Career Preparation:

TIME TO GET STARTED!
Start considering your options for college, you need to decide things like--do I want to live a home or a school, do I want to work full-time and go to college evenings, do I want a four-year college or start off at a two year school then transfer? What will be my major?
Continue to build strong academic skills by taking challenging core subject courses. It's all about the grades and classes this year!
Study hard!
Best plan is to have three schools that you are considering just in case one does not work out then you have options.
Join sports teams, student groups and other school activities...volunteer--it looks great on an application!
Pick one college/university and learn what it takes to be accepted--its not easy so know what your up against.
Research a career path and what it requires of you to work in that career-our career cruising site is perfect for this.
Check out online sites that offer practice for the PSATand SAT test.
Plan who you will ask for recommendation letters,get that resume and portpolio complete!