The 9th Grade Game Plan

10 Things to Do Freshman Year to Make the Next Four Years Easier

Welcome to high school!

If college feels very far away right now, that’s because it is. You don’t need a college list. You don’t need to know your major. And you definitely don’t need to have your entire life figured out at 14 or 15.

But there are a few things you can do during freshman year that will make everything—from choosing classes to applying for scholarships—much easier later.

Think of 9th grade as your foundation year.

Here are 10 things worth doing.

1. Understand Your GPA

Freshman grades count.

The grades you earn this year become part of your high school transcript, so this is a great time to develop good academic habits.

Learn how your school calculates GPA and ask:

• Does our school use a weighted GPA?
• Which classes receive extra weight?
• How often is GPA recalculated?
• What happens if I retake a class?

You don’t need straight A’s to have a successful future. What matters is taking your education seriously and getting help when you need it.

2. Know What You Need to Graduate

This sounds simple, but it’s surprisingly important.

Find your high school’s graduation requirements and learn how many credits you’ll need in English, math, science, social studies, foreign language and electives.

Then look ahead.

Are there prerequisites for classes you may want to take junior or senior year? Does your school offer AP, IB, honors, dual enrollment or career and technical education programs?

A little planning now can prevent a lot of scrambling later.

3. Create a Simple Four-Year Course Plan

You aren’t locking yourself into anything.

You’re simply creating a rough map.

Sketch out the courses you might take in grades 9–12, including electives you’re interested in.

Revisit the plan every year with your counselor. Interests change. Goals change. That’s completely normal.

A plan gives you direction without taking away your flexibility.

4. Get Involved—But Don’t Join Everything

You do not need 14 clubs.

Try a few things that genuinely interest you: sports, theater, robotics, art, student government, church activities, volunteering, music, academic clubs or something completely different.

Then pay attention to what you enjoy.

Over time, it’s usually more meaningful to become deeply involved in a few activities than to collect memberships simply because you think they’ll “look good” on an application.

Freshman year is a wonderful time to experiment.

5. Start Your “Future You” File

Your senior-year self is going to love you for this.

Create a simple document or folder and begin recording:

• Activities
• Volunteer work
• Awards
• Leadership roles
• Jobs
• Summer programs
• Competitions
• Certifications
• Special projects
• Accomplishments you’re proud of

Add to it throughout high school.

Four years from now, when someone asks, “What did you do freshman year?” you won’t have to stare at the ceiling trying to remember.

6. Get to Know Your Teachers

You don’t have to become the teacher’s favorite student.

Show up. Participate. Ask questions. Be respectful. Turn in your work. Ask for help when you’re struggling.

Learning how to communicate with adults and advocate for yourself is one of the most valuable skills you can develop in high school.

Those relationships can also become important later when you need advice, recommendations or opportunities.

7. Begin Exploring Careers

Notice the word exploring.

You do not need to decide what you’re going to do for the rest of your life.

Instead, start paying attention to what interests you.

What subjects do you enjoy? What problems do you like solving? Do you enjoy working with people, ideas, numbers, technology, animals, art or your hands?

Take career-interest assessments. Interview adults about their jobs. Visit workplaces. Explore majors. Watch career videos.

Your job right now isn’t to choose.

It’s to get curious.

8. Start Learning How College Money Works

Parents, this one is for you, too.

College has a sticker price, but that’s not necessarily what a family will actually pay. Financial aid, grants, scholarships and institutional awards can dramatically change the final cost.

Freshman year is a great time to begin learning terms like:

FAFSA. SAI. Grants. Scholarships. Net price. Merit aid. Student loans.

You don’t need to become a financial-aid expert overnight.

But understanding the system early can help your family make much better decisions later.

9. Start Looking at Scholarships

No, you don’t need to spend every Saturday filling out scholarship applications. However, with over $30 Billion in Scholarships here, it’s a great time to get started.

But students are often surprised to learn that some scholarship opportunities, contests, awards and programs are available before senior year.

Start learning what’s out there.

Keep track of opportunities that interest you and pay attention to the qualifications scholarship providers value.

By senior year, searching for scholarships won’t feel like entering an entirely new world.

10. Don’t Forget to Have a Life

This may be the most important item on the list.

Go to the football game.

Try out for the play.

Paint something.

Join the weird club your friend told you about.

Make friends.

Read books that aren’t assigned.

Learn something simply because you’re curious about it.

High school is not a four-year college application.

It’s four years of your life.

The goal isn’t to create a perfect student on paper. It’s to become a capable, curious, responsible young adult who has options when graduation arrives.

Parents: Your Freshman Year Game Plan

You don’t have to manage every assignment or start planning campus tours every weekend.

Instead, help your student build independence.

Ask questions. Help them find resources. Talk openly about money. Encourage them to try new things. Let them solve age-appropriate problems.

And once or twice a year, sit down together and ask:

What’s going well?

What’s been hard?

What are you interested in now?

Is there anything we should change for next year?

That’s enough.

The Freshman-Year Bottom Line

By the end of 9th grade, a student doesn’t need a dream college, a future major or a perfectly polished résumé.

A successful freshman year can be much simpler:

Build good academic habits.
Explore your interests.
Get involved.
Learn about money.
Keep track of what you accomplish.
And give yourself room to grow.

You’ve got four years.

Enjoy !

For more information and helpful tips for parents and students, check out the blog on Imagine Scholarships.

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