Junior year college planning
The college search & post secondary planning
In the winter counselors meet with our juniors to discuss their post secondary plans, the college search and application process.
View links below to guide you through this process in your junior year.
Find your fit!
Use "Super match" or "Advanced College Search" tool to in your Naviance account to generate a list of colleges. Select the scattergram tab to view test scores and GPA admissions data.
Which SUNY Are You?
For the Class of 2025: SUNY is offering "Which SUNY Are You?" sessions throughout the spring, as well as EOP Information and Financial Aid sessions.
Juniors can register for all workshops here: suny.edu/studentevents.
Find your major: https://www.suny.edu/attend/find-a-suny-program/undergraduate/
Trade schools
Trade school search: Career & technical education (CTE). Jobs for trade school graduates. SUNY & WCC learn a trade link. Check that the trade school is accredited and licensed. Federal trade commission: Choosing a vocational or certificate program.
Junior checklist, Naviance & The college search guide
Use this tool to research colleges, view scattergrams, generate a college list, and register for college rep visits to YHS
Students login through Classlink. Parents: parent login for Naviance (select "parent or guardian" to login. Ask counselor for parent registration code)
College standardized testing information & registration:
Use your personal email when registering for the SAT or ACT:
PSAT: register in school
Registration link is emailed to juniors in mid-September. The PSAT is offered by The College Board once per year in October. School counselors visit junior classes in the fall to provide additional information. Results are posted to the College Board website in November.
Online prep:
Free SAT Prep: Khan Academy & College Board- online test preparation programs and resources
Free Digital practice: Khan Academy free digital practice
Review course:
SAT Review course/YHS PTSA - Test Prep Information. Visit for registration material and dates of SAT prep courses.
Test registration:
FREE ACT Prep: ACT Academy online
Review course:
ACT review course/YHS PTSA - Test Prep Information. Visit for registration material and dates of ACT prep courses.
Test registration:
Check with individual colleges for their entrance testing requirements. See college websites and fairtest.org for updates on test optional schools.
College visits & campus tours: schedule a visit!
College visits
Plan college visits! Refer to college websites to register for and attend in person or virtual college visits, fairs and information sessions at several colleges/universities. Obtain information about admissions requirements, testing requirements, merit scholarship opportunities, majors and additional updates about their programs.
Campus tours
SUNY campus tours
College fairs: The Westchester-Putnam College Conference Committee hosts colleges fairs in the fall and spring of each school year. View Link for additional information: https://www.wpccc.org
College rep visits to YHS
Representatives from college admissions offices visit our high school in the fall and spring each year. The calendar of visits is posted in the guidance office as well as listed in your Naviance account. Interested juniors and seniors must register in their Naviance accounts and stop by the guidance office at the time of the meeting. Prior teacher permission is required.
Exploring your career & college major:
Take career inventories and look up different career options
Grades, community service, clubs & activities: It counts!
Many colleges follow a "holistic" and comprehensive admissions process when viewing an application. Student grades and course rigor serve as an important factor when determining admission. In addition, student contribution to their school community and beyond, including volunteer service, participation in clubs, positive character, leadership roles, creative talent and/or athletics are considered in the application. As you prepare for your application in your senior year, make sure you put your best foot forward, maintain strong grades and remain involved in activities.
Grades
Your GPA (grade point average) posted to your high school transcript is an average of your final grades in 9th, 10th and 11th grade. Continue to maintain strong grades throughout high school including senior year when you submit your applications.
See link for how to submit pre-approval and documentation forms. Keep track of your community service hours. Contact mmero@yorktown.org with questions.
See link for description of the variety of clubs offered at YHS. Email club advisors for dates of meetings.
Letters of recommendation: June
Complete your Recommendation Questionnaire located in your Naviance account. See instructional video.
Ask your parents to complete the Parent “Brag sheet” link to provide additional information.
In June of your junior year, ask two (2) teachers whether they would write you a letter of recommendation for college?
Summer before senior year:
Narrow down your college list, continue to visit colleges, work on your college essay, register for additional SAT/ACT exams (if needed) and create your Common Application account in August on www.commonapp.org and begin to complete your college application. Use a personal email when you register for the common application. Look for email from the YHS Guidance Department for updates and attend our Common app workshops in the guidance office at the end of the summer. If you created your account earlier than August 1st, see link regarding common app roll over.
The College Essay: summer
See the essay prompts on the Common application. Work on your college essay over the summer and bring it to school to show your English teacher or the writing center. Discuss with your counselor any sensitive topics that may impact your essay. Expect to revise it.
Financial Aid: what will it cost?
Cost estimator: Estimate your federal student aid using their cost estimator tool on the studentaid.gov website.
Applications for financial aid (FAFSA and CSS Profile) cannot be filed until October* of your senior year of high school. See senior college application section for additional information. *Note: Due to changes in the FAFSA, it will be available to file in December of 2023.
Fall of senior year:
View senior year application checklist and senior college application section of this website. Meet with your counselor to review your college list, match your school naviance account (login through Classlink) to your common app account, and discuss the steps to applying to college in the fall of your senior year. Counselors will help you through these steps! Reach out with questions. Your final numerical GPA will be posted to your senior high school transcript in the fall of senior year.
NCAA: student athletes
NCAA Eligibility Center: If you are interested in participating in Division I or II at the college level, register for the NCAA Eligibility Center by the end of your junior year. Reach out to college coaches. Review list of approved high school core courses and GPA requirements in these core courses. Our School code: 336-085.
NCAA worksheet: Use this worksheet to help you see whether you have met the requirements for Div. I. View student athlete core courses.
GPA Conversion scale
Many colleges use a GPA conversion scale to convert a numerical GPA to a 4.0 scale. This scale is from www.collegeboard.com