Junior focus
Junior focus
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Juniors, this is your year to win it! It can be stressful, but remember support is always available.
Focus on building your resume, college applications, and scholarships. Highlight your skills, interests, and caring side through community service and club involvement.
Take the PSAT in October for National Merit qualification, apply for the Governor’s Scholar Program, and consider dual-credit or AP classes to earn college credit. Explore apprenticeships, internships, or mentorships to gain real-world experience.
You’re climbing the mountain—enjoy the view and make the most of this journey. And yes…start preparing for PROM.
Academic goals
Academic goals
• Review your high school courses. Do they meet your high school graduation requirements?
• Record any awards or achievements you have gotten during this school year.
• What career and technical education courses do you need to take this year?
• What Advanced Placement or dual credit opportunities are available and how would these courses benefit your career goals?
• Begin preparing for the ACT.
Complete scholarship applications.
Career goals
Career goals
• Take an interest survey or career assessment and record your results in your ILP.
• Review your career goal. What educational requirements will you need to meet that career option?
• Review and update your resume.
• Attend a career fair.
• Consider applying for an apprenticeship, internship or mentorship program.
• Consider sitting for your industry certification assessment.
Postsecondary planning
Postsecondary planning
• Review your post high school educational or career goal. Is this still what you want to do after high school?
• Take the SAT or ACT tests and record your test results.
• Review two universities, community and technical colleges, apprentice programs or work-based opportunities that meet your post high school goals.
• What are the admission requirements and application deadlines? When should you apply?
• Do a review of costs for those two schools. Write your findings in your ILP.
• Create a financial plan for meeting college costs.
• Attend a college fair
The Junior planning timeline
The Junior planning timeline
August
Discuss your college plans with your school counselor or ccr coach, parents or another trusted adult.
Review your transcript to make sure you’re on track to graduate and be admitted.
Check out March 2 Success, a free web site that can help you in language arts, mathematics, and science.
Talk about college cost, location, housing and other subjects with your parents.
Stay involved in extracurricular activities and community volunteer work. Take leadership roles if possible.
September
Make a list of schools you’re interested in attending.
Start investigating sources of financial aid. Take note of deadlines and plan accordingly.
Visit college fairs, open houses and school’s web sites.
October
Take the PSAT. It’s good practice for the SAT and may qualify you for a National Merit Scholarship.
Consider taking ACT and SAT prep courses. Kentucky requires all juniors in public high schools to take the ACT.
November
Ask your counselor about the Governor’s Scholars Program.
December
Keep checking out the colleges in which you’re interested.
Use Affording Higher Education and the Scholarship Search link on kheaa.com to search for scholarships. The sooner you start looking, the easier it will be to select some to apply to during your senior year.
Check out registration dates and times for the ACT and SAT if you want to take them in the spring.
January
Meet with your counselor to set your senior schedule. Don’t take easy classes.
Talk with your counselor about AP, IB, CAI and dual credit courses.
Talk with people who may be willing to write recommendations for scholarships and colleges. If they’re willing to help, give them a brief list of your academic, extracurricular and volunteer activities for reference.
February
Look for a summer job, internship or co-op. Summer employment and internships look good on a college application or résumé. The money you earn can help pay application and testing fees.
Plan campus visits for spring break.
March/April
Get ready for AP exams.
Work on your college admissions résumé, which highlights your high school accomplishments. It will help when you fill out applications, meet with interviewers, ask for recommendations and apply for scholarships.
May
Take AP exams.
The deadline to accept or decline a Governor’s Scholars appointment is usually early May.
June/July
Talk with college students home for the summer.
Check your KEES award, GPA and personal information through MyKHEAA.
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