Junior Year Planning Calendar
Summer
Junior Year Planning Checklist
Students
Parents
Summer
- Review your high school course plans and school activities.
- Ensure that you are on track for graduation and college entrance requirements.
- Think about how you will pay for college.
- Talk to your parents about your post-secondary goals.
- Schedule a meeting with your school counselor.
- Enroll in courses that will challenge you.
- Attend College and Career Fairs.
- Register and pay for the PSAT.
- Take the PSAT to be entered into the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) competition.
- Review your academic records (report cards, transcripts, GPA).
- Continue to attend College and Career Fairs.
- Begin to prepare for admission and scholarship essays. What are your interests, educational priorities, and special talents?
- Check on the nomination process for military academies if you are interested. You must contact your local state-level elected officials for most military programs.
- PSAT results are returned.
- Begin to identify college features that suit your needs. These include size, location, majors, financial opportunities, and social/cultural activities.
- Review CFNC.org application process.
- Register for the SAT or ACT if appropriate.
- Study for your finals.
- Start discussing course selections for your senior year with your teachers and school counselor to ensure you are on track for graduation.
- Student athletes - research NCAA Clearinghouse requirements.
- Develop your high school resume. If you are taking an AP exam, make sure you register online.
- Research summer enrichment opportunities and part-time jobs.
- Prepare for final exams. Colleges will see your final grades.
- Finalize your course selection for senior year. See your school counselor if you need help or have any questions.
- Visit college campuses.
- Research potential scholarships.
- Prioritize college choices.
- Determine deadlines for colleges and scholarships.
- Continue to visit colleges.
- Create/update your resume.
- Register for SAT/ACT if needed.
- Be aware of timeline for competitive scholarships.
- Make sure senior course selections meet college expectations.
- Fill out the "Student Brag Sheet" if you need a recommendation from your school counselor for college admission or a scholarship.
- Athletes, check NCAA requirements.
Junior Year Planning Checklist
Students
- Register and pay to take the PSAT/NMSQT.
- Check the dates and locations of local college fairs.
- Attend college fairs.
- Take the PSAT if necessary.
- Register for challenging courses (i.e., honors, advanced placement).
- Refine your lists of schools; eliminate the ones that do not meet your criteria.
- Visit the websites of the colleges that interest you.
- Schedule an official tour during a teacher workday, spring break, or summer vacation.
- Consider taking an SAT prep course to improve your scores.
- Register to take the SAT or ACT if appropriate to meet your post secondary goals.
- Find out which schools require the SAT II subject tests in addition to the SAT test. There are currently 15 subject tests.
- Consider volunteer experience in your area of interest.
- Finalize your list of colleges or universities in which you are interested. Include "reach, reasonable, and safety net" schools in your list.
- Note all college and university admissions deadlines.
- Register for a CFNC.org account to apply online if you don’t already have one (but you should).
- Develop a resume and keep it updated. CFNC.org can keep track of all of these things for you. You can also visit Ms. Abolins, Career Development Coordinator, to help you with this. Schedule an appointment with him at jabolins@wcpss.net or 919-387-2219.
- Conduct scholarship research over the summer. You want to start applying for scholarships at the beginning of your senior year!
- ATHLETES! If you intend to participate in college athletics at a Division I or II school, start your NCAA Clearinghouse application at the END of your Junior Year.
Parents
- Help your student set realistic goals.
- Look at the financial costs for various colleges and discuss them with your student.
- Have your student start a checklist that includes deadlines and make sure they complete it.
- Allow your student to make their own future plans.
- Encourage independence so that they will complete their own applications (meaning don't do them for them).
- Make sure they keep up their grades and turn in all assignments.
- Encourage them to do volunteer work and participate in extracurricular activities.
- Meet with your student’s school counselor and attend any programs that are offered at the school.
- Make it possible for your student to visit many schools in his/her list.
- Teach your student how to advocate for themselves respectfully.
- Encourage your student to sign up for SAT study courses.
- Instill in your student the importance of deadlines. They will be crucial in their senior year.
