Junior Year
- Concentrate on your academics and stay involved with activities you genuinely care about.
- Begin active SAT/ACT prep
October - Take the PSAT. Scores on this test determine a student's standing in the National Merit Scholarship program.
Fall and Spring - Attend in-school information sessions with college representatives. A calendar of visiting schools and online sign-up can be found on Naviance Family Connection and on the College Counseling bulletin board.
November-January - Individual family and student conferences with Hallie to develop the initial list of colleges to investigate.
January-March - Start taking SAT/ACT exams.
Spring- It is advised that students take the SAT Reasoning Test and the ACT with Writing at least once by April/May. Since most colleges use the exams interchangeably, a student should retake the better of his/her exams in the spring of junior year or fall of senior year. Students should also take the appropriate SAT II Subject Tests in June if necessary.
- Begin to research specific colleges.
- In-school essay writing lesson with Hallie. Continue working on this essay throughout the spring and summer.
- Possible visits to several colleges over spring vacation.
- Attend local college fairs for juniors.
- Begin to think of teachers who may serve as good recommenders.
Summer between Junior and Senior Year- Write for catalogs and application materials, if not requested previously.
- Plan college visits, scheduling interviews where possible.
- Hint: try to have first interview experience at a school other than a possible first choice.
- Make appointments for fall visits – tour, interview, sample class, overnights, etc.