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Getting into college isn’t luck. It’s a process. And processes can be learned.

For rural students, that process can be harder to see. Your school might have one counselor. The nearest campus might be hours away. Only 31% of rural adults hold an associate degree or higher, so there may not be many people around who’ve done it recently.

If you’re the first in your family to go, you’re in good company. More than half of all U.S. undergraduates are first-generation students.

Wherever you’re starting from, here’s the plan, grade by grade, whether you’re aiming for your state school or the most selective colleges in the country. Our plan works for it all.

Your Grade by Grade Plan

Middle School: Explore and Build the Foundation

Explore careers. Knowing what interests you makes every later choice easier.
Take the strongest math you can. Math builds on itself. If your school offers algebra in 8th grade, consider it.
Read for fun. It builds the vocabulary and writing skills you’ll use on every test and essay.
Build habits. Turning work in on time matters more than you think.

9th Grade: Your Record Starts Now

Grades count from day one. Your high school GPA starts in 9th grade, and colleges see all four years.
Challenge yourself. Take honors or advanced classes where you can. Colleges look at what you took, not just what you got.
Get involved. Sports, FFA, 4‑H, church youth groups, a job, caring for family. It all counts.
Keep a running list (a brag sheet). Write down every activity, award, and job. You’ll need it senior year. And it’s useful for your resume.

10th Grade: Go Deeper

Take the PSAT 10. It’s practice, and it can qualify you for national recognition.
Pick your focus. Colleges would rather see depth in two or three activities than a long list of clubs.
Look for summer programs. Many are free for first-generation and low-income students.

Rural Advantage: Rural And Small Town Recognition Award

The College Board recognizes top rural and small town students in 10th and 11th grade. You need a B+ average (3.3 GPA) or higher, plus a top 10% PSAT score among rural students in your state or a 3 or higher on two AP exams. It’s recognition, not cash. But colleges notice it.

11th Grade: The Big Year

Take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall. It’s another shot at national recognition and scholarships.
Plan your SAT or ACT. Ask your counselor about fee waivers so cost isn’t a barrier.
Build your college list. Include a mix of reach, match, and likely schools. Look beyond the ones within driving distance.
Visit, even virtually. Many colleges offer virtual tours, and some pay travel costs for first-generation and rural students to visit.
Ask for recommendations. Ask two teachers in the spring. In a small school, your teachers know you well. That’s an advantage.
Start your essay over the summer. It’s your chance to tell your story in your own words.

12th Grade: Hit Submit

Know your deadlines. Early Action and Early Decision deadlines usually fall in November. Some programs, like QuestBridge, close even earlier in the fall.
Complete the Common App. It lets you apply to hundreds of colleges with one application. Avoid the most common mistakes.
Use fee waivers. If you qualify, you can apply without paying application fees.
File the FAFSA. Do it as soon as it opens. Complete it in 30 minutes and see what changed this year.
Check for the CSS Profile. Many highly selective colleges require it for their own financial aid.

Expert Tip

If you’re first-generation, tell colleges. There’s a question on the Common App, and you can write about it in your essay. At many colleges, first-gen status strengthens your application.

Aiming High? What Highly Selective Colleges Look For

Rigor. The most challenging courses your school offers. If your school offers only a few, colleges understand. They judge you in context.
Impact. Leadership and commitment matter more than a long list. Running the family farm or working to support your household shows responsibility.
Your story. Where you’re from is part of what makes you stand out. Many selective colleges actively recruit rural students.
Early programs. Look into QuestBridge and other programs that connect high-achieving students from lower-income households with top colleges.

Myth vs. Fact

Myth: Highly selective colleges are too expensive for my family.

Fact: Many of them meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. For some families, a highly selective college can cost less than a state school. Always check the net price calculator.

Step-by-Step Expert Guidance with Level All

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Level All gives you a clear path, from exploring careers in middle school to the moment you hit submit.

Get Into College Journey. Step-by-step expert guidance that breaks the whole process into manageable steps, from middle school through application day.
Get Into a Highly Selective College Journey. Expert guidance for students aiming for the most competitive colleges in the country.
College Finder. Search colleges by what matters to you.
Scholarship Finder. Search 27,000+ scholarships, including ones for first-generation students.
Pay Less for College Journey. See what college will really cost. Explore the tool that saves students thousands.

Want more? Read the first-generation college student guide and a guide to college just for rural and small-town students.

For Educators: How to Use It With Your Students

Start early. Assign the Get Into College Journey in middle school advisory so students build the foundation before it counts.
Flag your first-gen students. Help them find programs, fee waivers, and scholarships built for them.
Bring families in. Share the grade-by-grade plan at a family night so parents know what’s coming.
Use ready-made lessons. Try the lesson plans rural educators asked for.

Every student. Every pathway. Free in Level All.

Headed for College: Your Step-by-Step Plan From Middle School to Submit