Find out about all the programs and people just waiting to help you obtain your academic goals. Visit the graduate school on your campus and find out about possible summer research programs for minority students both on your own campus and at other colleges. These programs are fun, pay a stipend and travel expenses to the place you will be working at. You will meet students from other campuses and learn all about academic research in a supportive environment. Some programs offer GRE test preparation, opportunities for travel and other enrichment programs.
Deadlines are in the late fall and very early spring so start collecting applications now.
Ask faculty advisor which courses are needed to prepare for such a research experience and register for them now. Visit the graduate school on your campus and collect all the resources and handouts on applying to graduate programs, taking the GRE and graduate funding. Identify and meet with a faculty advisor who is willing to mentor you through the graduate application process as soon as possible. Ask the advisor for referrals for possible graduate programs in your academic area. Start requesting applications and information from those programs.