A Complete College Prep Checklist High School Junior Year

Wow, can you believe it?! Your students junior year already marks the halfway point of their high school journey and is a pivotal time. Colleges and universities look closely at their grades, scheduled courses, and activities when making admissions decisions. For both students and parents, it is imperative to stay on top of the college preparation process both duringhigh school junior year and the following summer.While there is not any one way to approach the tasks needed to prepare for college, we believe there are certain tasks that, when completed, will put your student on a path for success.Planning and preparation are essential components to accomplishing you and your childs goals.Let us help you make that ride as smooth as possible! Here is our complete college prep list for high school juniors!Is your student in high school but not a junior? Click your students year for a checklist for them too!Senior in High School ChecklistClick here to grab a copy of the checklistShould be completed prior to high school junior year:Meet your guidance counselorGet involved in extracurricular activitiesConsider a college savings plan and add to an existing one if you have already have one startedGetting involved: Continue to build your credentials- Keep track of your extracurricular awards, community service achievements, and anything else you participate inCreate your resumeBegin getting ready for the ACTStay on track with your courses: Talk with your guidance counselor to make sure youre enrolled in the classes you need to prepare you for college or a careerExplore your career options in more detail: Job shadow someone who does what you think youd like to doVolunteer in your communityStart your college searchFall:Start studying for the SAT/ACT, SAT Subject Tests and AP exams as soon as the school year beginsTake the PSATStay on track with your classes and gradesHave your child study for the ACT/SATMake a list of potential colleges you would like to attendMake sure yo ur resume is up-to-date and continue updating it throughout the yearCreate a document of any awards and involvements to use in the futureEvaluate education options: vocational-technical school, career college, or two-year or four-year college, military collegeDiscuss careers and which majors can lead thereGather college information: Attend college fairs, college nights and speak to representatives from colleges that attend your high schoolBegin planning campus visitsMark the dates on a calendar for upcoming tests: SAT, ACT, and AP examsContinue involvement in extracurricular and volunteer activities and seek leadership rolesContinue building relationships with your teachers as 11th grade teachers are the ones that you will most likely ask for letters of recommendationRead as much as possible: Expand your outside reading listIf acourse member, begin watching videos, implementing action items as you goApply for scholarships as many allow juniors to applyWinter:Stay involved with extra curricular activitiesStudy for the ACT/SATGetting involved: Holidays and winter break are great times to volunteerOrganize your college informationStart narrowing down your college choices: if you havent already start planning some college visitsNote merit scholarship requirements for these collegesContinue discussing careers and corresponding majorsShadow career fieldsPrepare for standardized tests: research the test requirements of the colleges you wish to attend (SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests) and register for the testsLearn more about financial aidApply for scholarships: find scholarships with little competition but can fund a free rideStart planning for a productive summer: Check on internship deadlinesIf acourse member, winter break is a great time to implement a large portion of the materialsSpring:Getting involved: Some schools allow new members to join after winter breakPrepare your class schedule for senior year: stick with a schedule that challenges you versus all easy c lasses/meet with your school counselor to discuss your optionsConsider ways to earn college credit via Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, CLEP, or Dual Enrollment coursesContinue your scholarship search and apply: find scholarships with little competition BUT will fund a free rideContact your letter of recommendation writers: employer, coach, activity leader, or adult who knows you well outside of schoolCheck for local scholarships in the guidance office before school year endsApply for a summer internship or jobSet up appointments at your top college choices including a personal interview, tour of the campus and meet with a professor/coachSummer:Visit Colleges: Visit the top 5 campuses on your listWork a summer job to gain experience, build a resume, and save money for collegeMaximize summer to build competitivenessTalk to others about their experience in college especially if the student is attending a college on your listOrganize your financial aid informationStart working on your college application essays: Have a teacher read and discuss the essays with youContinue to pursue scholarship opportunities and apply! *Junior year summer is ideal for mastering the scholarship process, slowly working through the 6-step process Doing so over the summer means you can have materials ready to reuse for senior year!Letters of Recommendation: Request these letters with at least a 2-week noticeDevelop a strong personal statement for scholarshipsRetake the SAT/ACT to improve scoreFinalize personal statement based on junior yearWrite down all deadlines for FAFSA, admissions applications and scholarships (including state-based and merit-based scholarships)Its easy to get caught up in all the college prep but dont forget to cheer your student throughout the process. They have worked so incredibly hard to get here and deserve TONS of praise for their efforts and hard work!Download a copy of the checklist by clicking the button below:Click here to grab a copy of the checklistIf you and your child would like to learn more about how to get started with scholarships, sign up for ourfree college scholarship webinar! Its a great way to learn about the process and how to identify opportunities that can help your student avoid debt while pursuing their education!And if you wantour latest list of scholarshipswith deadlines coming up, go towww.thescholarshipsystem.com/scholarshiplist.