Juniors
Preparing for College
by James Hope
High School Juniors
Fall
Plan for the Year Ahead
- Meet with your counselor to discuss and refine your post-secondary plans. Review your schedule with him or her to make sure you're enrolled in right classes that will help you prepare for life after High School.
- Speak with your Student Success Coach about your long and short term goals
- Review and update your Texas Achievement Plan
- Consider taking Dual Credit classes for Fall and/or Spring
- Get more involved in extracurricular activities.
- Go to college and career fairs in your area.
Taking the PSAT
- Sign up for the PSAT, which is given in October. See Counselor for details.
Winter
Explore Colleges and Careers
- Continue to learn about college costs and how financial aid works.
- Begin to look for scholarships. See your counselor for websites and applications.
- Talk to your parents about financing college or post-secondary plans.
- Request catalogs, descriptive material and/or financial aid information from different colleges of your choice.
- Visit colleges in your area.
Plan your Spring Testing Schedule
- Register for a spring administration of the SAT and or ACT
- Review PSAT results and review questions that were missed.
- Prepare for SAT/ACT by taking practice tests or online reviews-See counselor for practice materials.
- Consider taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
Spring
Stay Focused
- Review your long term and short term goals with your success coach.
- Take a Dual Credit course this spring and or in the Fall of your Senior year.
- Start looking for a job, internship, or volunteer position.
- If working consider the Diversified Career Prep (DCP) for your Senior Year.
- Check what summer school programs for high school students might be available
Summer
Stay Busy
- Find a job in a paid or unpaid position. Look for opportunities to work in jobs in your chosen career pathway and/or program of study.
- Volunteer at your church or local civic center.
- Consider summer school for any credits you are behind in or wish to get ahead on.
