9TH GRADE

TAKE MATH! Most colleges prefer 9^th grade students to be taking Algebra 1 or Geometry. A student wishing to attend a California State University or University of California school needs to have taken and passed math at least through Algebra II. CSU and UC colleges require a minimum of 3 years of mathematics. Students at Holy Family are strongly encouraged to take 4.

2 Typical pathways for math are:

Algebra 1 → Geometry → Algebra 2 → Pre-Calculus

Geometry → Algebra → 2 Pre-Calculus → Calculus

Take a foreign language. Most four-year colleges want students to have taken a minimum of 2 consecutive years of a foreign language. The more the better!

Take an elective or Visual and Performing Arts class. This is not always possible with the already full load many freshman encounter. Ask to take physical education and health during the summer to make more room for academics based courses.

Take challenging courses. Honors and Advanced Placement courses are a must when appealing to college admissions staff. The earlier you start the better.

Create a pathway for your 4 years at Holy Family. Use your graduation checklist and Holy Family’s A-G course list when determining what courses to take and when.

Get involved in extracurricular activities. A key component of your college application is the sports, clubs, and volunteer activities you have participated in during high school. Keep track of everything and put it in your resume.

Take the Practice-SAT and discover what areas you need to improve in. This is a requirement for all of our 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th grade students. Holy Family takes the results from the PSAT and looks to see where we can improve our academics. As a student, it is your job to see what specific areas you can work harder in. This practice test is the first step in preparing yourself for the very important standardized tests to be taken in later years.

Study hard and do your best. Set-up good study habits that you can keep with you for years to come. A great resource to use for students interested in the California State University system is www.csumentor.edu.