You currently have the "Edit Top Bar" toggle on. This lets you edit the top bar text without interference from Weebly's default pop-up tools. If this was an accident, or if you want to go back into the default view, simply go into the "Theme" Tab, click on "Theme Options" and de-select the Edit Top Bar. Cheers!

In Pursuit of Wisdom

Grace Christian Academy

Student Checklist

​The PaCE Student Checklist is a tool to help students prepare for life after high school. Students can use this checklist at each grade level to explore activities and experiences that can help them prepare for college and career. 

The checklist is organized around the same three key areas as the Illinois PaCE Framework:
  • Career - Career Exploration and Development 
  • ​Money - Financial Aid and Literacy 
  • College - Postsecondary Education Exploration, Preparation, and Selection 

8th Grade

Career
  • Identify potential careers you are interested in. 
  • A career cluster is a group of jobs that are related by skills or products. Each cluster has classes or training opportunities to prepare you for a career in that cluster. 
  • Research careers you are interested in: what the job responsibilities are for each career, and what kind of education and skills are needed.
  • Speak with someone from a career you are interested in and ask them what their favorite and least favorite part of their job is, as well as how much education is needed for their job.
Money
  • Ask someone you know that went to college (teacher, family member, etc.) about grants, scholarships, loans, and working while attending college. How did they find the money to pay for college? 
​
College
  • Create a plan with potential classes you need and want to take in high school to prepare for college. Think of taking interesting and challenging classes to explore your interests.
  • Talk to your school counselor, teacher, or family member about how community service and extracurricular activities can help you explore your college and career goals. 

9th Grade

Schedule
  • Create a 4-year map for High School (using Overgrad)
  • Identify two or three potential clubs, organizations, or sports that you may be interested in joining
  • Identify a possible community service opportunity
  • Sign up for a college’s mailing list or add them to your social media
Career
  • Revisit the careers you are interested in and expand on your current career interests. Identify one or two new careers that you might want to explore.
  • Explore career clusters
  • Research the careers you are interested in to find out what the job responsibilities are for each career, and what kind of education and skills are needed.
  • Consider talking to someone who works in those careers about their favorite and least favorite part of their job, as well as how much eduction is needed for their job.
Money
  • Talk to your parent(s)/guardian about what financial resources are available to help you pay for college.
  • Research how much it would cost to attend an:
  • - in-state 4-year public college/ university vs. in-state 4-year private college/university
  • - in-state 4-year public college/ university vs. out-of-state 4-year public college/university
  • - in-state 4-year private college/ university vs. out-of-state 4-year private college/university
  • - local community college vs. instate 4-year public college/ university and in-state 4-year private college/university
  • Compare colleges and degree programs by cost

College
  • Research what degree/certificate programs colleges offer.
  • Make an appointment to meet with a counselor at your school to talk about what classes you need to take to prepare for college.
  • Talk to your counselor about College Credit classes: what the courses require as well as how and when you can take them.
  • Identify different community service and extracurricular activities that could help you explore your career interests.
  • Talk to your school counselor or teacher about how your school grades and attendance can affect your future plans for life after high school.
  • Talk to your school counselor or teacher about why it is important to get involved in community service and extracurricular activities and how it can affect your future/college plans. 

10th Grade

Schedule
  • Keep Overgrad up-to-date.
  • Create an account in College Greenlight to begin exploring colleges
  • Explore earning college credit while in high school
  • Attend Grace's college fair. Identify a local college fair
  • Register for a College Entrance Exam
  • Take a tour of Kankakee Community College and Olivet Nazarene University
  • If not involved in any extracurricular activities make sure to seek out opportunities in and out of school
Career
  • Get in contact with someone who works in a career you are interested in and ask if you can visit or take a tour of where they work. When you visit their workplace, think about whether you could see yourself there in the future.
  • Explore career clusters
  • Of the careers you researched and are interested in, pick a favorite and identify what steps you can take to help you get there. Write out a plan.
  • For your top career choice, research what jobs people start out in, how much they make per year, and how much education is needed for the entry level job vs. higher level job. 
Money
  • Plan to attend a presentation on college financial aid with an adult family member.
College
  • Talk to your school counselor and see if you can take any Dual Enrollment classes during your junior year.
  • Talk to 2-3 adults (e.g., parent, relative, teacher, coach, counselor/advisor) and express that you would like to receive their support and help in preparing for college and your future career.
  • Talk to your counselor about ISBE’s College and Career Readiness Indicators, what they are, how you can meet those indicators, and check back on your progress with your counselor each year.
  • Research the differences between associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate’s degrees. Also, research the differences between a community college vs. university vs. college vs. trade school.
  • Research what exams (example: SAT, ACT, or CLT) you need to take to be accepted into college, when and where you can take them, how much it costs to take them, and how you can prepare for them.
  • Talk to your school counselor about dual-credit: how and when you can take them, as well as how you can benefit in college from taking these classes.

11th Grade

Schedule
  • ​Sign up for a spring ACT/SAT/CLT test date– by fall, latest December, since space fills up fast
  • Complete free online practice tests at ACT’s or SAT’s website– (2-3 practice tests before you take your test)
  • Keep Overgrad up-to-date.
  • Conduct a college search on College Greenlight 
  • Attend college fair
  • Visit colleges – Ideally during spring break or summer
  • Complete preliminary scholarship search
  • Meet with your counselor about senior classes in regards to requirements for the colleges you want to attend
  • Find a summer job, internship, or volunteer
Career
  • Re-take the career interest survey you took in 9th grade. 
  • To get a job, employers will want to interview you. To prepare for this, see if a teacher, counselor, or family member would be willing to do a mock interview with you.
  • Create a resume and have it reviewed by a teacher or counselor. In addition, create a personal statement for your college applications. Ask a teacher, counselor, or family member to review and provide you with feedback on your personal statement.
  • Find an internship or summer job to help you get experience in a field you are interested in. Visit studentportal. isac.org/Jobs.
  • Research what colleges have the degree or certificate program you are interested in. Find out their cost of attendance, admissions application deadline, and any additional requirements you may need to fulfill.
  • Research different aspects of a career you are interested in, including responsibilities, salary, education requirements, and employment opportunities. 
Money
  • Research what scholarships are offered by the colleges you are interested in. Also, research national, state, and local scholarships. Keep track of application deadlines by writing them down in your calendar. Start applying! 
College
  • Talk to your counselor about what classes you still need to take to fulfill the requirement to be accepted into college.
  • Talk to your counselor to see whether you can take a dual-credit and/or AP class. Make arrangements to take the SAT or ACT exam. Consider taking a practice test beforehand.
  • Talk to a college recruiter from the colleges you are interested in attending. Gather information on how much they cost to attend, what scholarships they offer, what degree and/or certificate programs they offer, and any other opportunities they offer.
  • Take an in-person or virtual tour of at least three colleges you are interested in attending.
  • Research the colleges you are interested in and find out the following information: application deadline, application fee, application requirements, and program of study if you were to attend.
  • Determine what colleges you will be applying to next year. You want to have one “safety”, three “match”, and one “reach” college. Research the terms “match”, “safety,” and “reach” college if you haven’t heard them before.
  • Identify what level of math and English courses you need to take so you don’t have to start college with classes that don’t count as credit toward your degree.

12th Grade

Schedule
  • Complete your FAFSA by October
  • Keep Overgrad up-to-date.
  • Determine application requirements for the colleges that interest you
  • Create CommonApp account.
  • Submit five to eight applications
  • Send in college acceptance form or tuition deposit
  • Submit housing contract if living on campus – before or at the same time as accepting offer of admission
  • Complete “next steps” for college transition and find out their deadlines
Career
  • Talk to your counselor to see if you need to take any additional math/ English classes to graduate and be accepted into college.
  • Take advantage of an internship/ job shadow opportunity or summer job to get experience in the feld you are interested in.
  • If your school awards industry-based certifications, research the process and requirements to receive a certificate related to your career pathway.
  • Complete a project or activity with a group of friends focused on everyone’s career pathway. 
  • Talk to your counselor about how a dual-credit class, internship, or summer job could help you decide what program of study you’d like to pursue in college. 
Money
  • Attend a FAFSA completion workshop with your parent(s). 
  • Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) as soon as possible after October 1st.
  • Attend a financial aid award letter workshop, sit down with your school counselor or ISACorps member, or use the online award letter comparison tool at studentportal.isac.org/ toolbox > Financial Aid Comparison Worksheet to compare your financial aid award letters.
  • Talk to your parent(s) about what school you want to attend, what your financial aid package includes, if there are any out-ofpocket costs, and your plan for future college years.
  • For the college(s) of your choice, use the Illinois WorkNet Center and College Scorecard tools at studentportal.isac.org/resources to find out the average entry-level salary, graduation rates, and average salary after graduation.
  • Research the difference between federal government and private loans. Research their terms, conditions and repayment options. Take a look at isac.org/ loans to start learning about loans. In addition, research the requirements to keep and renew any scholarships received.
College
  • Apply to the five colleges you determined you would apply to (one safety, three match, and one reach). It’s good to have options.
  • Figure out what your current GPA is, where you need it to be to get into college, and what do you need to work on to get it where it needs to be. Talk to your counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and have completed all of the classes necessary to be accepted into college.
  • Learn how to order transcripts
Like what is happening at Grace? 
Leave a review to help others find us.
Can't Find Something?
Grace Christian Academy
2499 Waldron Rd. Kankakee, Il 60901
(815) 939-4579
Consider supporting the educational ministries of GCA with a monthly donation.

A ministry of Grace Baptist Church
​
© 2021 GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Private, Christian Education in Kankakee County
Grace Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, nationality, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to GCA students. We do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of our educational policies, admissions procedures, tuition assistance awards, athletic and other school administered programs. We do, however, reserve the right to deny admission to any individual who cannot benefit from enrollment based on past academic achievement, disqualifying disability, or whose personal life-style is not in harmony with the stated philosophy and purpose of Grace Christian Academy.