Using the Roadmap
Start Where You Are
This guide is designed for eighth through senior year students and the families supporting them. The earlier you start, the better — but it’s never too late! Start with your current grade and explore steps you can take now to prepare for college.
Each item in the roadmap is marked one of two ways:
check markMUST DO
Required actions that may affect college readiness, admissions eligibility or scholarship opportunities. Students should prioritize completing these steps.
InfoRECOMMENDED
Additional opportunities that strengthen your application and support college readiness. While not required, students who do these tend to arrive better prepared for college.
8th Grade: Build Your Foundation
Planning ahead before high school begins
check markCourse registration
Begin planning for high school course registration. Talk to your counselor about which courses best position you for college admissions, including honors and advanced options available your freshman year.
check markPaying for college
Talk to a trusted adult about how college is paid for. Understanding financial aid, scholarships and cost of attendance early can help you plan more confidently. Learn more about how to prepare to pay for college.
InfoYour brag sheet
Start a running list of interests and activities you enjoy, including sports, clubs, hobbies, jobs and volunteer work. This will help you when you begin drafting your high school résumé in your junior year. Download the brag sheet on the Resource page.
InfoEarly exploration
Learn the basics of how college admission works, including what colleges look for, what a GPA is and how test scores factor in. A conversation with a school counselor is a great place to start!
Freshman Year: Get Involved
Participating in activities and tracking your achievements
check markYour brag sheet
Start or continue adding to your brag sheet. It is a running list of every activity, achievement, award, leadership role, job and community involvement experience you’ve had since eighth grade. This document becomes your high school résumé in your junior year. Save this document and update it every semester. Download the brag sheet on the Resource page.
check markInvolvement
Get involved in at least one club, sport or community activity you genuinely care about. Colleges value sustained, meaningful involvement more than a long list of brief memberships.
InfoDo your math
Learn the tools available to pay for college. Explore the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which students and families complete to apply for financial aid including grants, loans and work-study. You can also begin exploring merit scholarships and net price calculators. Learn more about how to prepare to pay for college.
InfoCareer exploration
Ask trusted adults (family members, teachers, neighbors) about their careers and what they studied. Gathering real-world perspectives now can help you explore potential majors and career paths in the future. UA’s Choosing A Major page has great resources to help you understand what different careers look like.
InfoCollege fairs
Attend a college fair or information session — even a virtual one! Getting familiar with the campus visit experience early makes future visits more productive. Visit campus from anywhere with our virtual tour.
InfoUA’s Early College
Look into UA’s Early College program, where high school students can earn college credit before graduation at a reduced tuition rate. Details are available on the Early College website.
PARENT / FAMILY TIP
Help Your Student Start Their Brag Sheet
One of the highest-value tasks you can do with your ninth grader is to help them start and maintain a brag sheet — a running record of activities, awards and achievements. Prompt them every semester with a simple question: “What are you proud of this term?” Students who track accomplishments in real time arrive at the college application process with stronger, more specific material. You can use any document format; the habit is what matters! Download the brag sheet on the Resource page.
Sophomore Year: Take Action
Testing, leadership and strengthening your involvement
check markGrowing involvement
Continue your involvement and begin working toward leadership roles in activities you are already part of. Colleges value long-term involvement and meaningful participation.
check markYour first test
Take your first ACT or SAT. Most students take these tests more than once, so use your sophomore year score to identify areas of improvement before testing again in your junior year. UA’s Crimson Compass offers online or in-person options to prepare for standardized tests and build other college-readiness skills.
InfoStrategize course registration
Plan your AP or Dual Enrollment registration for your junior year. Talk to your counselor now about which courses are available at your school, how they factor into college admissions decisions, and how they may count toward college credit later.
InfoJob shadowing
Try job shadowing in a field you are curious about. Seeing what a career looks like day-to-day can help you better understand your interests and future goals. You can also use the Career Clusters Survey to help guide your decision.
InfoStand out
Take on a special project, community service initiative or independent pursuit outside of school. Original, self-directed efforts stand out in college applications.
InfoCampus visits
Start visiting college campuses. Seeing schools in person can help you identify the right environment for you before narrowing your list during junior year. Schedule a UA campus visit, access our virtual tour at any time.
InfoUA’s Early College
Explore UA’s Early College program in more depth and identify courses you might be interested in taking for college credit before graduation. Learn more on the Early College website.
PARENT / FAMILY TIP
Get Ready for 11th Grade
Junior year is the most consequential year in the college preparation process. Here are three things to do before it starts: confirm your student has an ACT or SAT test date on the calendar, review the cost of attendance at the schools they are considering, and help them understand what they may need to qualify for scholarships at UA. Getting ahead of those requirements now, rather than senior year, gives your student a real advantage. Explore scholarship opportunities on UA’s Afford website.
Junior Year: Make It Count
The most important year — visits, testing and preparing to apply
check markCampus visits
Visit your top college campuses. Seeing a school in person before your senior year application window can give you clarity about where you want to apply. Connect with your admissions advisor for a personalized tour tailored to your interests.
check markStandardized testing
Finalize your testing strategy and take the ACT or SAT. Access UA’s testing resources. Access UA’s testing resources.
check markReview costs
Revisit the cost of attendance at each school on your list, including tuition, housing and fees. Compare this to available scholarships and financial aid. Use UA’s net price calculator.
check markYour résumé
Turn your brag sheet into a polished high school résumé. A clean, well-organized résumé is required for many competitive scholarships and admission applications. You can download UA’s resume template on the Resource page to get started. Once you’ve created a resume, ask a counselor, teacher or trusted adult to review it for clarity and completeness.
check markPreparing to apply
Many college applications open the summer before your senior year. Begin preparing your materials now. Identify which schools require essays and gather information for requesting your high school transcript. Review UA’s Freshman Admission Requirements.
InfoLeadership
Step into leadership roles in the activities you are already part of (club officer, team captain, committee chair, project lead, etc.). Long-term involvement and leadership is more meaningful to admission reviewers than a new title in a new activity.
InfoYour top schools
Narrow your college list to a focused set of schools (typically six to 10) with a realistic range of selectivity. Having a clear list makes senior year applications more intentional and less overwhelming. Visit the Find Your Fit page to help make the decision if you’re having trouble deciding which college is right for you.
InfoPart-time work
Get a part-time job if your schedule allows. Employment demonstrates responsibility, time management and maturity. These quality all translate well on college applications and can help with admission interviews where required. (UA does not require admissions interviews.)
Senior Year: The Final Stretch
Applications, financial aid and committing to your future
check markApply to college
Submit your college applications. The UA application opens the summer before senior year. Early submission strengthens your scholarship consideration. Apply via the UA Undergraduate App or via the Common App.
check markSubmit the FAFSA
Submit the FAFSA – Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after it opens. Filing early maximizes your eligibility for need-based aid, including federal grants, loans and work study. UA also uses the FAFSA to award need-based scholarships. Learn more about the FAFSA.
check markScholarship applications
Apply for scholarships early. Scholarship deadlines vary, and many close before spring. Review additional scholarship information or explore external scholarships that you may qualify for.
check markDeadlines
Track all deadlines, admission decisions and financial aid award letters in one place, such as a spreadsheet, calendar or dedicated app. Staying organized helps you avoid missing important scholarship and enrollment deadlines.
InfoFinal visits
Visit any remaining schools before making your college decision. Most colleges host admitted student days in the spring that let you see the campus with other students who have already been accepted.
InfoCalculate costs
Compare financial aid award letters carefully. The school with the lowest sticker price is not always the school with the lowest net cost. Look closely at what each school is offering, including grants, scholarships and loans, before making a decision.
InfoEnjoy your senior year!
You have worked hard to reach this point. Take time to celebrate milestones and stay present throughout the process.
THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
How UA Fits into Your Plan
From earning college credit in high school through UA Early College to exploring financial aid and walking the Quad during a campus visit, The University of Alabama offers resources for every stage of this roadmap.
Earn college credit beginning the summer after your freshman year at a reduced tuition rate.
Student-guided tours are available year-round. Junior year is the most important year to visit, but any year is a good time to explore campus.
Scholarships, need-based aid and a net price calculator — all in one place.
Explore UA’s 200+ majors, take a self assessment, learn about hundreds of careers and find out how to match a career with your major.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions Students and Parents Ask
These are the questions UA admissions advisors hear most often. If you don’t see yours here, our team is ready to help.
When should I start preparing for college?
The earlier you start, the better, but it’s never too late. This roadmap begins in 8th grade, when you can first start shaping your high school course selections and building strong habits. Even if you are already in sophomore or junior year, the steps for your current grade are still actionable. Start at the top of this Roadmap page to easily jump directly to your grade.
What are UA’s admissions requirements?
The University of Alabama considers GPA, ACT or SAT scores, rigor of high school coursework and extracurricular involvement. Review full requirements and deadlines on UA’s Admissions website.
What scholarships does UA offer?
UA offers scholarships and need-based financial aid for qualifying students. Scholarship amounts depend on GPA, test scores and state residency, and they can vary each year. UA’s Afford website includes information on current scholarships — including awards specific to in-state students and National Merit Scholars.
What is UA’s Early College program?
UA Early College allows eligible high school students to earn college credit before graduating. Students can take UA courses and apply credits toward a degree. Visit the Early College website for eligibility requirements and enrollment steps.
How do I visit The University of Alabama?
UA offers student-guided campus tours and virtual tours year-round. Junior year is the most important year to visit, but campus tours are available to students of all ages. Schedule a visit or take the virtual tour.
When does the UA application open and what is the deadline?
The UA application opens in the summer before senior year, and students are encouraged to submit their application early. Scholarship consideration begins as applications are reviewed. The FAFSA opens October 1 and should be completed as early as possible. Review deadlines on the Admissions site.
For Parents and Families
Your Role in the Roadmap
Parents and guardians are among the most important factors in a student’s college preparation. Here’s how to support your student at each stage.
Tracking activities on a brag sheet makes it easier to craft a resume when your student is ready to apply for college and scholarships. You can download templates for both on the Resources page at any time. Download the brag sheet template and review a résumé example to get started.
The FAFSA opens October 1 of senior year, and we encourage students to apply as soon as possible after it opens. UA offers scholarships alongside need-based aid. Start exploring what your family’s net cost might be.
Junior year is the most important visit year, so make sure to plan ahead. UA offers student-guided tours year-round, and visiting multiple campuses gives your student meaningful comparison points. Schedule your tour today.
UA admissions advisors are available to speak with students and families at any grade level — not just seniors. Connect with your admissions advisor.
You Have a Plan. Now Take the Next Step.
See what UA has to offer you
The best way to know if UA is right for you is to visit in person. We have student-guided tours available year-round.