Get Into College Plan for the Junior Year

Source: College Data

Your junior year of high school is an important year because it’s the last full year of high school colleges evaluate. Here is a junior year college checklist and some key things to do this fall to get ready to apply to college next fall.

1. CONTINUE TO DO WELL AND CHALLENGE YOURSELF IN ALL OF YOUR CLASSES

One of the best tips for junior year is “challenge yourself academically.” When colleges evaluate your application, they consider the "strength of curriculum" on your transcript. They want to see that you took advantage of the variety of courses available to you and did well in them. Make sure your class schedule junior year includes some honors or AP courses in subjects in which you excel.

2. COMMIT TO AND SHOW INITIATIVE IN ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Your activities outside the classroom can help colleges see what talents, expertise and interests you have beyond academics. Focus on one or two activities that genuinely interest you and through which you can demonstrate initiative, commitment, accomplishment and leadership. Many colleges consider the quality and depth of an applicant’s extracurricular activities over the number of activities on their application.

3. MEET WITH YOUR COUNSELOR TO DISCUSS COLLEGE PLANNING

If you haven’t met with your high school counselor yet—or not in a while—stop by his or her office or schedule an appointment. Your counselor can recommend colleges that might be a good fit for you, provide information about local and state scholarships and admission tests, and help you manage junior year. See more ways to Get Help from Your College Counselor.

4. TAKE SAT AND ACT PRACTICE TESTS

A good way to begin to prepare for the SAT is to take the PSAT. Many students take the PSAT at their high school in the fall of their sophomore or junior year. A practice test for the ACT is the PreACT. Your school may or may not administer the PreACT. If you have not taken either of these tests, free practice ACT and SAT tests are available online. Use your practice and pre-test results to help you decide which test to focus on and to plan your test prep.

5. ATTEND COLLEGE FAIRS AND COLLEGE PRESENTATIONS

Whether you attend virtually or in person, college fairs and presentations are great opportunities to learn about schools and connect with admissions reps. Check college websites for information about virtual student panels, guided tours, or webinars, for students and parents, or visit the website of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) for a list of upcoming virtual college fairs.  

6. REVIEW COLLEGE SAVING/FINANCING PLANS WITH YOUR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS

Be sure to talk with your parents about how much they can afford to pay for college and how much financial aid, loan, or other sources you might need to finance your education. Keep these amounts in mind as you research colleges. Learn more about finding your college fit, financially speaking, and college net price.

7. RESEARCH COLLEGES ONLINE AND START YOUR PRELIMINARY COLLEGE LIST

You can find out a lot about colleges by spending time on their websites. Many colleges even post virtual campus tours. For a guide to researching colleges online, see Mining for Gold on College Websites.