Intro: High School Timeline

When it comes to high school, there are typically two types of people. Those that go with the flow, or those that meticulously plan out the entire 4-year journey the exact same way many college students do. Those who are of the latter type often turn to private high school counselors who offer students their services to plan each and every class, extracurricular, sport, and opportunity for achievement. Why? To ensure that you enter your dream college. And even if you are not looking to attend college because it is not for you, being organized and having a plan will allow you to experience high school to the fullest, without anxiety or doubt with your next steps.

collage from lifelaunchr.com

This guide serves as a compilation of my experiences when I was a high school student and can hopefully serve as a helpful (and free) replacement for those private counselors. It is important to remember, though, that each person is admitted to a college for a unique reason, and it is difficult to find a formula that works for every single person. Nevertheless, my interactions with other students and their experiences have found that it is best to prioritize depth, genuine curiosity, and academic excellence during high school, and having a plan for each year is the best way to do just that.

Before we get started, it is best to have a general idea of what you want to achieve during AND post-high school. There is no need to go into an existential crisis and debate between pursuing law or medicine, but it can be as simple as "I want to achieve a 3.5 GPA my junior year" or "I want to experience and get a taste of some career options". Listing out these broad goals now will allow you the flexibility to adjust accordingly later down the road.

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Continue reading to learn all about the way in which you can tailor your high school experience to your interests!