Junior year is extremely important. Thus the Counseling Department provides a number of checkpoints in which we meet with students and parents regarding researching best fit colleges, preparing for standardized testing, writing the college essay, and accomplishing  many other pieces of post high school planning to ensure that each student is fully prepared to accomplish each component of the process.

• Post High School Planning Night - In November the counselors host a “Post High School Planning” event which covers a range of topics related to the college search. 

• Family Meetings - The family meeting which occurs in January of junior year covers a review of progress to date, course selection for senior year and college planning. 

• Junior Counseling Workshops - In the 2nd and 3rd quarter of junior year, the counselors will present a series of lessons to the entire junior class. The topics covered during these workshops include; a consideration of student interests, familiarization with Maia Learning and College Kickstart, performing a college search and compiling a list of prospective colleges, completing a Resume and Student Brag Sheet, accessing the Common Application and looking at the supplemental questions that some colleges require. 

TIPS FOR JUNIORS

• Plan a standardized testing schedule and a study schedule.

• Sign up for SAT/ACT (spots fill up fast and some exams are not offered in the state of New York during certain months).

• Research colleges and visit colleges.

• Speak with two academic teachers regarding college recommendation letters. Ideally, these two teachers are junior year teachers from English/history/foreign language and math/science.

• Summer between junior and senior year should be spent pursuing intellectual or extracurricular interests, employment to gain real world experience and completion of post high school planning tasks.

• Meet with your counselor as much as needed to discuss your intentions, ideas, and goals as they relate to college admissions - we are here to help!

• August prior to senior year, start working on supplemental essays.

• Make a resume and complete your brag sheet. Encourage parents to complete theirs too!

• Use the College Kickstart software to determine if your initial college list is balanced.