11th Grade

Students

• Check with your school counselor to make sure you are taking the college prep classes needed for admission to a USNH college or university, including algebra II or advanced math and English.
• Aim for top grades, which are especially important during your junior and senior years.
• Register to take the Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test (PSAT), a practice exam for the SAT. Note that the SAT is required for several national scholarships, such as the National Merit Scholarship, the National Achievement Scholarship, and the National Hispanic Scholarship, and it may be needed for admission.
• Take the PSAT and use the results to see where you are strong and where you need to improve to be ready for college. Even if you took it in 10th grade, it won’t hurt to take it again. If you didn’t take the PSAT in 10th grade, you will receive online access to MyRoad when your score report is returned to you. MyRoad is yours to use free for college and career planning during the remainder of your high school years.
• Focus your energy on developing your academic record, but understand that colleges will be looking at what you do outside of the classroom as well. Remember, when it comes to extracurricular activities, it’s quality, not quantity, that colleges want to see.
• If taking Advanced Placement (AP) subjects, register to take the AP exams in the spring. Scoring well on the tests will give you college credit for those courses!
• Start thinking about when to take college entrance exams: SAT or American College Testing (ACT) exam. Register for the exam one month before the test date. Your school counselor can provide registration forms and information about fee waivers. If you take the exam in the spring or summer, you’ll get the results in time to decide if you want to retake the test in the fall. Discuss this with your school counselor.
• Prepare for the SAT or ACT by reviewing test preparation books with sample questions. Attend a workshop on how to prepare for these entrance exams. Financial aid may be available for some workshops—check with your school counselor.
• Develop a basic résumé. This will help you organize your activities from the past few years and can help your school counselor or teacher write a letter of recommendation, which many colleges require as part of your application.
• If you took an AP course, be sure to register to take the examination.
• Visit one or more of USNH’s colleges/universities. Contact the campus admissions office to schedule a tour and get information about academic programs, admission requirements, and financial aid (see “USNH Admissions Process”).
• Attend college information programs and meet with USNH college/university reps when they visit your high school.
• Attend Destination College, the free statewide college planning event held every March for high school juniors and parents. Visit www.destinationcollege.org for details.

Families

• Visit one or more of USNH’s colleges/universities. Contact the campus admissions office to schedule a tour and information session and get information about academic programs, admission requirements, campus life, and financial aid.
• Attend college information programs and meet with USNH college/university representatives when they visit your student’s high school.
• Attend “Destination College” with your student. This is a free statewide college planning event held every March for high school juniors and parents. Visit
  www.destinationcollege.org for details.
• Call the Center for College Planning at NHHEAF (1-800-525-2577, ext. 119) for help with any questions relating to the college process. Or make a FREE appointment with a college counselor to answer questions or fill out paperwork and visit NHHEAF’s college library.

What Classes Do I Need to Take?

Everyone who wants to enter a USNH college/university as a freshman should take these classes in high school. Try to earn top grades in your courses, but make sure that you earn at least a C grade. Remember, you want to keep up a good overall grade point average (GPA).

• English : 4 years of college preparatory English composition and literature (take one each year).
• Math : 3 years (4 years is recommended), including algebra I, geometry, algebra II, or higher mathematics (take one each year).
• History and Social Science : 2 years, including 1 year of US history (or 1 semester of US history and 1 semester of civics or American government) and 1 year of social studies.
• Laboratory Science : 2 years, including 1 biological science and 1 physical science.
• Language (other than English) : 2 years of the same language (American Sign Language is applicable).
• Visual and Performing Arts : 1 year of dance, drama, theater, music, or visual art.
• College Prep Elective : 1 additional year of any college prep subject.

Luckily you have plenty of time to complete these classes if you start planning early. Don’t get worried if you feel you are behind—check with your school counselor and she/he can give you a hand.