Junior Year At A Glance

August

Begin the formal college selection process.

Attend college fairs, financial aid seminars, general information sessions, etc., to

learn as much as you can about the college application process. This information can

be found in your counseling office,

Make sure you are meeting NCAA requirements if you want to play Division I or II

sports in college.

September

Junior year grades are extremely important in the college admission process

because they are a measure of how well you do in advanced, upper-level courses.

Grades are used to determine merit-based scholarships and grants for which you

may be eligible. Put in the extra effort and keep those grades up!

Register for the October PSAT/NMSQT.

Meet with your college/guidance counselor to review your courses for the year and

plan out possible courses for senior year.

Save samples of your best work for your academic portfolio (all year).

Maintain your co-curricular and achievement record (all year).

Develop a schedule with registration and test dates for when you will take the ACT,

SAT, or SAT II tests during your junior year.

Begin reviewing scholarship opportunities from local companies and organizations.

Visit college campuses over 3-day weekends, fall break and/or school holidays.

October

Junior year PSAT scores may qualify a student for the National Merit Scholarship

Competition and the National Achievement and the National Hispanic Scholars

Programs. So, even though these scores will not be used for college admission, it is

still a good idea to take the PSAT. The more times you take standardized tests, the

more familiar you will become with the format and the types of questions asked. If

you wish to receive free information from colleges, indicate on the PSAT test answer

form that you want to participate in the Student Search.

November/December

If you will require financial aid, start researching your options for grants,

scholarships, and work-study programs.

You should receive the results of your PSAT in December. Read your score report

and consult with your school counselor to determine how you might improve on

future standardized tests. The PSAT is excellent preparation for the SAT, which you

will likely take in the spring.

The State of Colorado will require that you take the SAT in the spring. By now you

should be participating in test-prep classes for this test. Some colleges require the

ACT or the SAT and the SAT Subject Tests. When you begin to explore different

colleges and universities, double-check to see if they prefer the ACT, the SAT and/or

the SAT Subject Tests.

January

Begin to make a preliminary list of colleges you would like to investigate further if

you have not already done so. Continue to research these schools online and use

the college resources in the counseling or post-graduate center on campus.

Ask your parents for your Social Security number (sometimes requested on college

applications). If you were never issued a Social Security number, contact the closest

Social Security office as soon as possible to obtain a number.

Begin to plan out summer activities, camps, internships and/or work.

February

Meet with your college/guidance counselor to discuss your preliminary list of

colleges. Discuss whether your initial list of colleges meets your needs and interests

(academic program, size, location, cost, etc.) and whether you are considering

colleges where you will likely be admitted. You should be both optimistic and

realistic when applying to colleges.

Prepare for the SAT or ACT by signing up for a prep course, using computer

software, or taking the SAT/ACT practice tests available in the counseling office or

in bookstores. However, don't spend so much time trying to improve standardized

test scores that your grades and co-curricular involvement suffer.

Now is the time when many high schools begin registration for classes next year.

When selecting your senior courses, be sure to continue to challenge yourself

academically.

March

Request admission and financial aid information from the colleges and universities

on your list. You can do this online or by calling the Office of Admission.

Update your academic resume.

Refer to the Common Application website to see if the schools on your list accept

this application. Review the essay prompts and begin to develop a rough essay that

you will use on your application. Schools that do not use the Common Application

may require an essay with a similar prompt.

Continue to visit colleges. Set up your visit online or by calling the Office of

Admission. If possible, participate in an event specifically for rising juniors.

April

Register for the May/June SAT and/or the May/June SAT Subject Tests. Not all SAT

Subject Tests are given on every test date. Check the calendar carefully to

determine when the Subject Tests you want are offered. Register for the June ACT if

you want to re-take that test.

Continue to evaluate your list of colleges and universities. Eliminate colleges from

the original list that no longer interest you and add others as appropriate.

Look into summer jobs or apply for special summer academic or enrichment

programs. Colleges love to see students using their knowledge and developing

various skills and interests.

Continue to work on your college essay. Ask your language arts teacher for help.

Take the Colorado state required SAT.

The spring Out-of-State college fair will be in Denver. Plan on attending.

May/June

Get a jump start on summer activities. Consider enrolling in an academic course at a

local college, pursuing a summer school program, applying for an internship,

working, or volunteering. If you work, save part of your earnings for college.

Once the school year ends, continue to visit colleges. Seeing the college firsthand,

taking a tour and talking to students can be the greatest help in deciding whether or

not a school is right for you. Although it is ideal to visit colleges during the academicyear, going in the summer is also valuable. Admission offices employ their students

to give tours and answer questions from prospective students and their parents.

If the school where you will be applying to requires an interview as part of the

application process, consult your counselor, teacher, employer, or a senior who has

experience with college interviews. Many colleges will tell you that an interview is

optional, but fulfilling the requirement will show interest, enthusiasm, and initiative

on your part and provide an excellent opportunity to have your questions answered.

Practice interviewing with your counselor, teacher, or parent.

Take the SAT Reasoning Test, the SAT Subject Tests and/or the ACT with writing.

July/August

Continue to refine your list of potential colleges and universities.

Begin preparing for the actual application process: draft application essays; collect

writing samples, and assemble academic portfolios or audition tapes.

If you are an athlete and plan on playing in college, contact the coaches at the

schools to which you are applying and ask about intercollegiate and intramural

sports programs and athletic scholarships.

Complete the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse registration if you hope to play

Division I or II or the NAIA registration for Junior Colleges.

School to Employment - STEP