Thomas Jefferson

High School | Home of the Spartans

College Readiness

Preparation for life beyond high school begins freshman year and steps up each year until graduation. Through awareness and diligent preparation, students can maximize their college-readiness stance and identify their best post-secondary options with the support of parents and counselors.

Together, TJ’s counselors, administrators and staff work with students and parents to ensure the proper level of academic challenge, rigor and growth is achieved for each student. A number of services and resources are available through our Counseling and Future Center including test preparation, assistance with applications and admissions processes, and identification of opportunities best suited to each student. We also help to facilitate college visits and college information events that help students better understand their options. Assistance with Maia Learning, transcripts, admissions, financial aid, scholarships and more is available to students and their families by phone or appointment.

The resources and college-bound checklist below will help families better understand the targets and timing for students, and how parents can support students in staying on track. Upon graduation, the goal is for students to be empowered as self-advocates and have the necessary skills to take responsibility for their own academic success, college and career planning, and personal/social well-being.

Denver Scholarship Foundation

Emily Webster:  Future Center College Advisor

The Future Center and Denver Scholarship Foundation

The Future Center is made possible through the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF). The DSF works proactively with every DPS senior, and staffs each Future Center with a DSF College Advisor.

The Future Center at TJ provides a roadmap to college that helps senior students achieve educational goals. TJ’s DSF College Advisor skillfully guides students through the college application and financial aid processes.

College-Bound Checklist by Grade Levels

9th Grade Checklist

  • New Graduation Requirements and Credit Mapping
  • Understand your GPA
    • Your Grade Point Average (GPA) during your freshmen year will have a major impact on the colleges that will accept you and the number of scholarships that you’ll be eligible for as a senior. Your GPA will also determine your eligibility for sports.
  • Understand high school graduation & college admissions requirements
    • By the time you make decisions about your schedule for your sophomore year, make sure you understand all the graduation requirements. This means understand how many credits you need to earn to graduate and the subjects you need to earn those credits in. Talk to your counselor, to learn more about this. Also, make sure you understand the college admissions requirements, which can be different from your high school graduation requirements. The college of your choice may expect you to take specific classes in high school, earn a specific GPA and get a certain ACT/SAT test score.
  • Learn “The Big 5 Things” that will help get you into college
    • Your GPA from ALL FOUR years of high school and the classes you take
    • Your ACT or SAT scores (tests taken during junior & senior years)
    • Extracurricular activities and community service/volunteering
    • Letters of Recommendation from teachers, counselors, coaches, or employers
    • A Personal Essay (written at the end of junior year/beginning of senior year)
  • Find extracurricular activities that interest you (join at least one)
    • Talk to your high school counselor or a teacher about getting involved in extracurricular activities and community service projects like sports or student groups. Finding activities that you enjoy will help you become a leader and help you stand out when you apply to college and for scholarships.
  • Volunteer
    • Many colleges and scholarships want to see that you have volunteered. Many scholarships require that you have earned a specific amount of volunteer hours in order to apply for their scholarship.
  • Visit Big Future and You can Go (College Board)
    • Utilize bigfuture.org as your step-by-step guide to college planning.
  • REMINDER – GRADES COUNT NOW!
    • Colleges look at grades starting your freshman year, don’t jeopardize your chances of getting into the college you want to attend by not caring your freshman year. Remember EVERY YEAR COUNTS!
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10th Grade Checklist

  • Graduation Requirements and Credit Mapping
  • Earn the best grades you can
    • Students who have a solid GPA by the end of their sophomore year of high school are in a much better position to be admitted to college with scholarships than students who wait until their junior year to raise their GPA.
  • Understand the Higher Education Admission Requirements (HEAR)
    • Each graduating class will have different college admission requirements than previous classes. Make an appointment with your counselor or visit with your Future Center, room 114 to ensure that you are on track to be accepted into college.
  • Get involved
    • Extracurricular activities help give life and meaning to a high school career. They are a vital part of a good resume. Research the different clubs and organizations that your school has to offer. Volunteering is another great way to get involved during high school and can help prepare you for your future career and connect you with valuable resources. Volunteering is a huge advantage when it comes to scholarships and even some colleges.
  • Find extracurricular activities that interest you (join at least one)
    • Talk to your high school counselor or a teacher about getting involved in extracurricular activities and community service projects like sports or student groups.  Finding activities that you enjoy will help you become a leader and help you stand out when you apply to college and for scholarships.
  • Volunteer
    • Many colleges and scholarships want to see that you have volunteered. Many scholarships require that you have earned a specific amount of volunteer hours in order to apply for their scholarship.
  • Visit Big Future and You can Go (College Board)
    • Utilize bigfuture.org as your step-by-step guide to college planning.
  • Visit a College Campus
    • Whether you take a walking tour of a college campus or a virtual tour, it is important to know what type of school you would like to attend. Would you like to go to a private school, public school, vocational, large, small, etc.
  • REMINDER – GRADES COUNT NOW!
    • Colleges look at grades starting your freshman year, don’t jeopardize your chances of getting into the college you want to attend by not caring your sophomore year. Remember EVERY YEAR COUNTS!
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11th Grade Checklist

  • Graduation Requirements and Credit Mapping
  • Continue to build on successes at school
    • Colleges look closely at your grades during your sophomore and junior years to determine the “current you.” One bad grade during your junior year can be devastating, even if your cumulative GPA is high from your performance during 9th and 10th grades.
  • Begin scholarship search
    • Since scholarship deadlines are usually at the same time each year, you can use your junior year to find and save scholarships for which you may be eligible. Create and account on fastweb.com to receive updates on scholarships that you may qualify for or check out the scholarship directory on the Denver Scholarship Foundation website: www.denverscholarship.org/scholarshipdirectory
  • Prepare for and take the SAT
    • Make sure you study and understand what is on the test. Take a practice test. Remember that every student in Colorado will take the statewide SAT assessment in April during their junior year. For Test Prep, go www.collegeboard.com.
  • Find 10 colleges that match your interests
    • By summer before senior year, narrow your list to maximum 6 colleges.
    • Research your colleges and place them into three categories:
      • Safety schools: your grades and test scores are well above the college’s average.
      • target Schools: your grades and test scores are about the same as the college’s average.
      • Reach schools: your grades and test scores are below the college’s average.
  • Understand all the necessary parts of the college application.
    • Not all the college applications are the same, so make sure you pay close attention to the application requirements for each school to which you plan to apply. (Applications fees, transcripts, ACT/SAT test scores, essays, letters of rec.)
  • Write a draft of your personal essay.
    • Most scholarship applications require a personal essay but not all colleges require an essay, however, it is always good to send one in. Your essay will help you to stand out from other applicants.
  • Create/update personal resume.
    • Update your personal resume so that it highlights your accomplishments and involvement, which should include school activities, work, and volunteering/community service activities.
  • Consider who to ask about letters of recommendation.
    • Build a resume and/or complete a letter of recommendation request form and keep them on file so that you can give to teachers, coaches, counselors, employers and/or advisors/mentors during your senior year.
  • Student-Athletes register for The NCAA Clearinghouse.
    • Register for the NCAA by logging onto eligibilitycenter.org. Registering on this website is a requirement for student-athletes who plan to play collegiate sports at the Division I or Division II level. The clearinghouse, which is a separate organization from the college you plan to attend, evaluates your academic record to determine if you are eligible to play as a freshman in college. (You still have to apply to the college separately for admission, just like everyone else).
  • Attend College Nights and College Fairs.
    • This is the ideal year to gather college information. If you attend college nights and fairs now it will make your senior year that much easier.
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12th Grade Calendar and Checklist:

Given the amount of relevant post-secondary information intended for seniors, we have included all the documents that students receive during their senior meeting.

Graduation Requirements and Credit Mapping
Senior Calendar
SAT
College Admissions 101
Credit Check Form
Letter of Recommendation Request Form
Senior Graduation Info & Dates
Financial Aid 101
TJ Transcript & Document Request Form
TJHS Senior Presentation
Scholarship Resources
FAFSA Workshop Flyer
Tips for Parents on Finding the Right College

Links for Grade-Specific College Rediness Strategies

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Post Secondary:

For additional information please contact your Counselor or the DSF Advisor.

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