Juniors
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Preparing for College Admissions
TL Hanna College Planning Guide
This is a detailed guide for how to prepare for and apply to college. Of course, this booklet is not meant to replace the individual advisement of your school counselor, but it can answer many of your questions.
Grade-Level Tips
Attend school every day unless you are sick. Missing school makes it challenging to keep up in your classes.
Submit assignments on time and study for tests. Every grade counts.
You will need to have 3 English credits, 3 math credits, 2 science credits and 9 additional credits with a minimum of 17 credits to be a senior next year.
Aim for a GPA above 3.0 (B-average) to allow for state and other scholarship opportunities. If you have at least a 3.0 GPA, you qualify for the LIFE scholarship at any South Carolina technical (2-year) college! To learn how to qualify for LIFE at a four year college, click this link: LIFE Scholarship
Write out 1-3 goals for this year. A good idea would be to set one goal for each area: personal, academic, and college or career.
If you are not already committed, find a school club, sport, or volunteer work. Your future employers and college admissions representatives want to see that you are involved in your school or community. Plus, these experiences give you opportunities to develop real-life skills and grow as a leader.
Update your resume with any extracurricular activities, academic achievements, or volunteer experience.
Utilize free testing practice through the College Board (the SAT) and ACT websites. There are many standardized tests during this third year of high school, but doing well on them will open up more opportunities for college admissions or scholarships.
If your career path requires an apprenticeship, internship, or other type of job training, make an appointment with our career counselor, Mrs. Amanda Hayes. She can help direct you to those opportunities.
If you will require a two-year college degree, perhaps entering a Tri-County Pathways program your senior year will give you the best head start.
If you will attend a four-year college directly or transfer to one, now is the time to start searching for colleges that will be a good fit for you. CAPPEX allows you to filter your search, and you can input your current GPA and test scores.
As a junior, you are allowed two excused school days to visit colleges, but many campuses have Saturday visit days as well.
If you are an athlete and want to be eligible to play at the college level on a scholarship, register online at the NCAA Eligibility Center.
NMSQT (optional) - Students who want to try for a National Merit Scholarship must sign up and pay a fee to take the PSAT/NMSQT as a junior. Testing will be held during a school day in the fall semester.
Accuplacer - college readiness assessment; qualifying scores are required for dual credit coursework and for admission to a technical college (2-year). Click here to see information on dual enrollment and using your Accuplacer scores for course requests
SAT or ACT - 4-year college admissions assessment
Your parent will need to sign a form indicating your choice of either the SAT or the ACT.
If you want to take the SAT or ACT Saturday test on your own, register through the testing websites. SAT or ACT
Career readiness assessment
ASVAB - Military assessment
Advanced Courses
If you are currently enrolled in honors courses and want to increase your academic rigor, consider taking advanced placement (AP) or dual credit courses. Advanced coursework will prepare you well for your future college experience!