11th Grade

juniors

Your junior year can be stressful, exciting, busy, and fun all wrapped into one! We encourage you to take the time to explore what your life may look like after graduation. Whether this path includes college, a career, or traveling around the world, now is the time to begin exploring all opportunities, research, college visits and beyond. As many of you know, Junior year is an important one. Maintaining good grades, and keep in contact with your counselor about grades and course selection are all important keys to a successful Junior year. Read LCC Parent Communicator to stay up to date with important information and events.


JUNIOR TO-DO LIST

Parent Action Plan for Juniors

August - September

  • Make sure to join the counseling google classroom for your graduation year to learn about and apply for scholarship opportunities, receive important information, forms, etc..

  • Use Big Future and California Colleges to research the admissions qualifications and acceptance history, including GPA and test scores, for the college(s) of your choice. Review your academic record, determine any areas in which you may need to improve, and get suggestions on how to strengthen your candidacy for the schools you are considering.

  • Maintain or improve your grades. Colleges look closely at your 11th-grade year, including grades and courses taken.

  • Review the schedules for the SAT and SAT Subject Test, ACT with Writing, and AP exams, and create a tentative testing timeline for yourself. Determine if you should take these exams and how they could benefit you. If so, register early and prepare for the exams you decide to take. SAT and ACT are *not* required for community college. Many students take the SAT or ACT with Writing in the fall, but some choose to wait until January or February. See your counselor if you have questions about the best time for you to take these exams.

  • Register for the PSAT exam offered in October. The 11th-grade PSAT score counts toward the National Achievement Program (and it is good practice for the SAT). By taking the PSAT/NMSQT, you may qualify to enter the competitions for prestigious scholarships and participate in recognition programs.

  • Participate in extracurricular activities that you truly enjoy. This is important not only because discovering your passions is a significant part of life, but also because college admission representatives seek candidates that have direction or an identified passion, and use their time in a valuable manner.

  • Join an on-campus club to get involved and meet people with similar interests.

October – November

  • Register for AP testing.

  • Attend local college programs or college nights, and attend college visits in the LCC College & Career Center. Notices are posted on the College Visits Page and in the Counseling Office. SDUHSD has a College Night at the San Diego County Fairgrounds in the spring.

  • Consider going on campus tours at colleges of interest. You and your parent(s)/guardian(s) may want to visit the colleges and universities during breaks and summer vacation, so that you do not miss school, however, you may get a better feel for the college’s student climate if you visit the campus while students are in session.

December – January

  • Scores from the October administration of the PSAT will be returned. Review your results in order to identify your strengths and to determine the areas that you may need to improve. Depending on the results, you may want to consider further preparation before taking the SAT. College Board and ACT offer free test preparation on their website.

  • Sign up to SAT and/or ACT in the spring to allow you time to review your results and re-take the exams in the fall of 12th grade, if necessary. Remember, SAT and ACT are not required for community college.

  • Begin or update your resume. This can help you get prepared for filling out college applications in the fall of 12th grade.

  • Make sure to join the counseling google classroom for your graduation year to learn about and apply for scholarship opportunities.

February – March

  • Attend the Junior Counseling Presentation presented by LCC Counselors- typically scheduled through your English course as a group presentation. This presentation will give you tips on how to best prepare for the college application process in 12th grade, and discuss other post-high school options.

  • Use the college search tools under Big Future and California Colleges. This is a great way to search for colleges that fit the criteria you are looking for (location, size, cost, majors offered, admissions rates, etc…)

  • If you haven’t already, start creating a "Colleges I’m Thinking About" list under the college link in California Colleges. It is called "My Plan" and then "My College Plan." This will help you keep track of colleges and universities of interest and reduce stress in the 12th grade college application process.

  • Look for and plan to attend local college nights and college fairs in the community.

  • If appropriate, take the SAT and/or ACT with Writing. Remember, SAT and ACT are not required for community college.

April – May

  • Take the Advanced Placement exams if you have taken any AP classes. You will need to register and pay for these exams in October.

  • Consider taking a summer course at a local community college or at a college or university that offers a program that genuinely interests you. This may require some research. Summer course catalogs can be found online on the individual community colleges' websites. An Off Campus Form is required.

  • If appropriate, take the SAT, SAT Subject tests and/or ACT with Writing. Remember, SAT and ACT are not required for community college.

June

  • If appropriate, take the SAT, SAT Subject tests and/or the ACT with Writing. Remember, SAT, ACT are not required for community college.

  • Continue to look for scholarship opportunities.

Summer before Senior Year

  • If you are able, go on campus tours at colleges and universities of interest.

  • Based on your test results, determine if it is necessary for you to re-take SAT or ACT in 12th grade. Most colleges/universities will accept an August, October, and November test score from the fall of senior year.

  • Start rough drafts of personal essays and short answer portions of college applications, and update your resume of extracurricular activities and accomplishments.

  • If you are able, seek employment or possibly an internship.