Just For Juniors
BigFuture by The College Board
Wondering how to choose the right college fit for you? Not sure what you want to major in? Not sure what you should be doing right now to prepare for your post-high school plans? Go to BigFuture.org to find your path and helpful tools to guide you in finding the right fit. Time to Make A Plan! Check out the handout links for information on navigating BigFuture. Review the College Planning Calendar to see if you are on track this Junior year and what your next steps should be. There are also scholarship opportunities open to you starting Junior year. You can find these on the CollegeBoard Opportunities Button. Check it out today!
Junior Parent Night 04112024.pdfHonolulu Magazine College Guide -Click here for the 2024 digital issue!
2024 Horatio Alger Scholarship Program is available now to high school Juniors and Seniors. Go to scholarship listing for details or click HERE to visit their website.
Class of 2025!
Junior Jumpstart Financial Aid Planning Webinars
Distinguished Young Women Scholarship for Class of 2025
Program provides scholarships and life skills workshops. Join this positive peer network and showcase your abilities and what makes you unique!
Applicants must be graduating high school in 2025. The program will be held June-August 2024. Awards will include two 4-year full tuition scholarships to HPU and over $22,000 cash awards given in various categories.
Deadline to apply for this scholarship opportunity is May 20, 2024.
START EARNING NOW!
It's not too early to start thinking about scholarships!! Start a RaiseMe account today to start earning micro-scholarships. Go to our Scholarship Websites tab to find link and description of RaiseMe program.
HCC Summer CTE Academy Programs
High school sophmores, juniors and seniors in Hawaiʻi have a chance to explore career and technical (CTE) programs ranging from automotive technology to carpentry and fashion at Honolulu Community College this summer. The inaugural 2023 Summer CTE Academy is a free six-week exploratory program that offers the students a variety of hands-on experiences. Visit their site for more information an online application. (Application period has not opened for summer 2024 but you can preview program offerings and information.)
Auto Academy 2022.mp4Things to consider in your Junior year:
- Registration-make sure the courses you register for will fulfill college entrance requirements. For example: Algebra II is a minimum for most 4 year colleges. Or do you need a World Language credits?
- College Entrance Tests - MHS Code: 120-197. Check with your schools to see if you need a test. If you receive free/reduced lunch you can qualify for fee waivers for test fees and application fees. Check out our Testing tab to find out more information about dates and test prep resources. These tests usually should be completed spring of your Junior year.
- Build your school list. Now is the time to do your research on schools & majors.
-Go to BigFuture.Collegeboard for some tips on how to build a college list. (Check out links in BigFuture section below)
-Check out our MHS College Catalog for just a small list schools that might be a good fit for you. These schools have provided contact information, links, videos, and (in some cases) special messages for MHS students and families.
-Check out our events tab and attend a College Fair or two to learn about many colleges all at once. Or go to individual school sessions to get a more in-depth view about a specific school that you are really interested in.
- Start thinking about who you might ask to write you a Letter of Recommendation (LOR). Choose teachers you have connected with and who you feel know you well. A Counselor Recommender can be grade level OR college & career counselor. A example of a Community Member can be a coach, pastor, or club advisor. (Not all schools will require one so check with the school you are applying to.)
- Create a Resume for requesting Letters of Recommendation (LOR). Your resume should be a list of activities, including leadership positions, list of awards/honors, any employment/volunteer positions you have held, and your academic information (GPA, Test Scores, etc.) This resume will help your recommenders write their letters with the most complete information available.
- If you are asking a counselor to do a LOR they might ask you to ask a teacher to complete a Student Evaluation Form. Your counselor will use this as reference when writing their LOR. This teacher should be someone who is NOT writing you a LOR.
- Check out scholarship opportunities such as CollegeBoard Opportunities that you can apply to in your Junior year.
- If you are considering entering the military you should be taking the ASVAB in your Junior year.
- Student Athletes should check out the College & Career Planning tab for information on NCAA & NAIA.
If you would like to print this information out please click on the button below. Also on our forms/handouts page.
Letters of Recommendation
All things being equal, a teacher's or counselor's well written letter of recommendation (LOR) can help tip the scale in favor of one student getting the nod over another in the selection process. On the other hand, it could plant a seed of doubt in the reader's mind. Choose your references well and treat them with the utmost courtesy...you never know how many you may need and when you will need them. Before you spring the big surprise, do practice the following:
Keep them informed of your activities. The better they know you, the better they can write about you.
Visit with your teachers even if only to stop by to say hello.
Do your best in every class. Teachers remember if you worked hard or put in the extra effort. They remember your leadership and your positive attitude and they tell other teachers about you. As a general rule, students who are active in school or community related activities are easier to write about because they are familiar to the staff and faculty.
Join 2-3 clubs or sports and stat actively involved with it over several years.
Volunteer your time in a community program, or better yet, develop a project on your own that is unique and enjoyable to do while giving back to your community.
Develop a Resume.
Ask for a LOR ahead of time...WAY ahead. The suggested two weeks is a bare minimum time to give your recommenders. If you no longer need a letter, let your recommenders know.
Watch this short video from Khan Academy: Letters of Recommendation video.