Sophomore / 10th Grade
Regularly meet with your counselor to build a strong relationship - they’ll help you stay on track for graduation and guide your college and career journey. Use resources like teacher office hours, school tutoring, and Khan Academy to keep up in your classes. Also, review your transcript each semester to ensure you’re on the right path.
Take the PSAT in October. Practice tests:
Use your summer to explore college and career options - join a program on a local campus, find a job that aligns with your interests, or volunteer. These experiences can help you choose electives that build on your skills and passions.
Explore colleges or trade programs by connecting with your school’s career center and exploring online. Attend college visits, go to college fairs/RMACAC fairs, and explore ways to fund your education after high school.
Add to your Raise.me account for micro-scholarships and start researching scholarships for your junior and senior years.
Stay active in extracurriculars and keep track of everything in a notebook - this info will be key for college and scholarship applications. This includes athletics, school clubs, school programs (i.e. ROTC, performing arts, student council, etc.), volunteer work, and part-time employment. Keep your ECAP updated with this information, tracking your progress in MyFutureAZ.
Talk to your parents about paying for college. Check out the FSA Estimator for an estimate of what your financial aid package might eventually be.
Get Involved
Looking for ways to get involved? Keep a lookout for your school’s club fair!
It is always a good time to get involved on your high school campus. There are clubs for everyone ranging from coloring clubs, K-pop, volunteer/service, mentoring, equality and many more. Also, all CTE programs have student organizations, as do all of the performing/visual arts and sports teams.
GPS High School Clubs & Activities
Meet With Your Counselor
Your counselor can help you with much more than just schedule changes!
Campo Verde High
Canyon Valley
Desert Ridge High
Gilbert Classical Academy
Gilbert High
Highland High
Mesquite High
Free/Reduced Lunch Application – for More than Just School Lunches!
Free/Reduced Lunch Application – for More than Just School Lunches!
Did you know that if you qualify for assistance through the National School Lunch Program (NLSP), you may be eligible to receive fee waivers for the SAT/ACT exams, some College Applications, and fee reductions for AP Exams?
Free and reduced-price meals are available to families who qualify. If your family chooses to apply, please fill out a Free & Reduced Meal Application.
From the College Board:
"The College Board fee-waiver service assists qualified, economically disadvantaged students who plan to take the SAT/SAT Subject Tests/PSAT/NMSQT/AP Exams. A student must be either enrolled in or eligible to participate in, the National School Lunch Program (NLSP) to receive a fee waiver. Schools participating in new federal programs such as Community Eligibility may not be able to use the NLSP criterion to identify and verify individual student fee-waiver eligibility. However, several other criteria or indicators can still be used to confirm eligibility for fee-waiver benefits."
For more information, please speak with your counselor.
Accepting Your Fee Waiver Benefits