Junior Year - Where Do I Start?!

September

• Look through College Application Resource Guide and begin thinking about your future plans.

• Sign up for college visits in Naviance

• Take challenging classes, when appropriate

• Continue with community service/extracurricular activities during school year

October

• Make a plan for taking the PSAT/SAT (if applicable/if colleges you are applying require it).

• Make sure you are meeting the “a–g” course requirements for UC/CSU

• Start developing a resume - list of your accomplishments, activities and work experience. Reach out to your counselor if you need help with this!

November

• Use Naviance to explore colleges and careers that interest you through Super Match Search. Start putting colleges into your college you are "thinking about" tab.

• Visit local college(s) over Thanksgiving break, if possible.

December

• Begin to have the conversation with your family regarding college. Discuss a plan for financial aid and where you would like to apply/attend.

January

• Continue community service

• Register for the SAT, and/or ACT (based on what your target schools require) www.collegeboard.com www.act.org

• Begin to think about your senior year courses. Counselors will meet with you in the next month or so to choose these courses - be sure you are continuing to challenge yourself and taking the courses required for your A-G requirements.

• Naviance! Use it! Click here to see how to sign into Naviance

February

• Make a list of your top 10 colleges and begin investigating them - including reach schools, target schools and safety schools (click here)

• Explore careers/majors more in depth. Complete the Career Interest Survey in Naviance—(click here)

• Meet with your counselor to review transcripts and senior classes as well as your plan.

• Research and sign up for summer internships

• Take the SAT or ACT (if applicable)

• Keep your grades up and continue to work hard.

April–August

• Volunteer or get work experience. This will help you fill up your resume.

• Brainstorm ideas for writing college personal statement—draft statement

• Discuss college finances with parents - Access the "Net-Price Calculator" on college websites

• Visit more colleges during the summer

• Register with NCAA Eligibility Center by end of junior year if you want to play collegiate sports in college (Division I or II)

College Conversations

• • • Learn everything you can to prepare for college

    • Make a solid list of around 6-8 schools by the end of 11th grade

    • Start the college conversation with your parents/guardians (university vs community, on campus housing vs living at home)

Get Information about Scholarships

• • • www.fastweb.com

    • www.naviance.com

Think about signing up for the SAT /ACT in the Spring

• • • www.collegeboard.org / www.actstudent.org

    • PLEASE NOTE: Many colleges have become test blind/test optional which means you do not need to have an SAT/ACT score for admission. Be sure to look into the schools you are applying to see what they require.

Visit College Campuses, if possible

• • • This is a crucial part of finding the BEST FIT

    • Check out college websites for open house information and online virtual tours

    • Attend local college fairs and speak with campus representatives

    • Attend on-campus college speakers (posted on Naviance, twitter and announced)