Junior Year Checklist

August/September/October

• Confirm that you are in the right courses; scheduled to finish on time and on track for college admission.

• Stay on track and round out your activities! Stay Involved.

  • • • Colleges tend to favor well-rounded students who participate in a variety of activities beyond school, especially if a student displays consistent involvement or takes on a leadership role.

      • If your extracurricular activities or volunteer service hours are low, now is the time to add them to your schedule. Whether it’s honor societies, clubs, sports, or philanthropies, now’s the time to get involved!

• Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT Test.

  • • • Take the school-day PSAT/NMSQT at CPHS in October.

      • Study and Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT:

        • CollegeBoard PSAT/NMSQT Practice Tests

        • Khan Academy PSAT/NMSQT Practice Tests and Guide

        • Princeton Review PSAT Practice Tests and Events

• • • • Start to actively learn more about the schools in which you are interested.

        • Look online. Go to college fairs. Speak to college representatives who visit your school during our DEN College RepVisit series.

        • If possible, attend local college fairs in your area. (LISD hosts theirs each fall; this year's is on October 23 at VRHS.)

• • • Time to Research Schools! Start evaluating your options and connect with colleges.

      • Evaluate education options: vocational/technical school, two-year or four-year college, military academy, military branch, directly into the workforce.

      • Discuss careers and which majors can lead there.

        • Notes on the different types of colleges and schools: NACAC College Types

        •  Considerations for Comparing Schools: NACAC Determining the Right Fit

November/December

• Plan college visits. (Remember, you are permitted two pre-approved college visits in your juinor year.)

  • • • • If you're not able to visit in person, check to see what virtual options a college may offer.

• Find free money!  Research and prepare to apply for scholarships, grants and assistance programs.

• • • • Time is of the essence! Research, planning and taking action will provide you with a competitive advantage.

      • Put in the work!  Scholarships and grants are awarded to those that seek them out and take the effort to apply.

        • General information on scholarships & grants: 

          • Studentaid.gov Finding and Applying for Scholarships 

        • CollegeBoard Scholarship Search Tool:

          • CollegeBoard Search For Scholarships Tool

        • Note any available merit scholarship availability & requirements for your prospective colleges.

• Start developing your Résumé. 

• • • • A resume is a professionally focused record of your accomplishments, activities, and work experience. (This will be an important part of your future college applications.)

      • Princeton Review: How to Write a HS Resume for College Applications

January/February

• • • Work with your school counselor to review and set your senior class schedule. (January)

      • Ensure that you are on track to graduate and are meeting entrance requirements for the schools and programs on your short list.

    • Begin to prepare for the SAT/ACT. (The free CPHS School-Day SAT is the first week of March each year.)

      • CollegeBoard SAT Dates and Deadlines

      • ACT.org Dates & Deadlines

      • Take classes and courses as needed to polish your scores and gain testing experience.

      • Free resources, practice tests, tutorial videos and more. A little practice can go a long way.

        • CollegeBoard SAT Assessments and Practice Tests

        • Princeton Review SAT Free Practice Tests and Events

        • Khan Academy Free SAT Practice Tests and Tools

        • Khan Academy Free SAT Math Practice Resources

        • ACT.org Sample Test Questions

        • Princeton Review Free ACT Practice Tests and Events 

      • Needs-based application fee waivers are available for these exams. 

        • Ask your counselor for help.

          • CollegeBoard SAT Fee Waiver

          • ACT.org ACT Exam Fee Waiver

March/April 

• Create your short list! Research colleges and review the abundance of available data.

  • Compare schools: US Dept. of Education and Transparency Center: US Dept of  Education College Scorecard

  • Information, statistics, and data on 7K+ colleges and universities: NCES College Navigator

  • Notes on college rankings: NACAC College Rankings - What Do They Really Mean?

• Register for the SAT and/or ACT if you haven't already, or if you aren’t satisfied with your score and want to take it again. 

  • • • CollegeBoard SAT Dates and Deadlines

      • ACT.org Dates and Deadlines

  • Free resources, practice tests, tutorial videos, and more are available. A little practice can go a long way. 

    • • CollegeBoard SAT Assessments and Practice Tests 

      • Khan Academy Free SAT Practice Tests and Tools 

      • ACT.org Sample Test Questions 

  • Needs-based application fee waivers are available for these exams. Ask your counselor for help. 

    • • CollegeBoard SAT Fee Waiver 

      • ACT.org ACT Exam Fee Waiver 

May

• Reach out to Potential Sources for Letters of Recommendation.

  • • You are going to need recommendation letters when you apply to schools in the fall.

      • Why not beat the rush by contacting those writers (teachers, coaches, mentors) you want to ask now.

      • This courtesy provides your writers ample time to prepare and produce your letter of recommendation, often resulting in a stronger and more comprehensive letter.

      • Preparing for this requirement now will leave you with one less thing to do in the fall of next year.

• Essay Preparation

  • Your English III teachers will cover the CCMR Unit including writing the first of you college essasys/personal statements. 

  • Have your English III teacher or counselor (or even a college rep) look over your samples and ask for feedbak.

• Plan for a Fun, Productive Summer Aligned with Your College Pathway.

  • • Consider finding a summer job or internship, preferably one aligned to your potential future field of study. 

      • Indeed.com

      • LISD Student Job Board  

      • Chegg: High School Internship Listings

      • Ladders for Leaders

June/July

• Further college application preparation.

  • Begin ranking schools in which you're most interested and make note of application requirements and deadlines. 

  • Follow up on letters of recommendation.

  • Consider retaking SAT and ACT exams in early fall.

  • If possible, visit schools outside of your local area.