Junior Year of High School Checklist

Every year of high school is important, and your junior year is no exception. As you enter the second half of high school, college begins to feel much closer. The pressure is on to start thinking about where you want to pursue your degree. That, along with other challenges, makes junior year a stressful year for students.

But, it doesn’t have to be so bad if you go into it with a plan. Here’s the only junior-year-of-high- school checklist you need to ace your penultimate year. You’ve got this!

 

Make a List of Potential Colleges

Junior year is a great year to start thinking about where you want to go to college. While you may not be applying for another year, there is a lot you’ll need to do before then. Start researching colleges and make a list of safety schools, target schools, and reach schools. There are so many factors to consider when adding a college to your list. Do you want to go in-state or out-of-state? Is college size important to you? Does the college offer the major you want?

 

Research College Entrance Requirements

Once you have your list of colleges, you can start researching entrance requirements. Understand what placement exams you need to take and how many personal statements you need to write. Make note of application deadlines, and what type of admissions the college offers.

 

Connect With Current College Students

The best way to learn about a college is to hear from college students themselves! Don’t know any college students? Contact the admissions office at a college and ask to speak with current college students. Ask them how they like their college, what their major is, and the classes they’ve enjoyed taking.

 

Attend College Fairs

College fairs, whether virtual or in-person, are another great way to find out more about colleges. You can also connect with admissions representatives and learn about the admissions process.

 

Start Thinking About Potential Careers

You may have no clue what you want your job to be after college, and that’s completely normal! But, it doesn’t hurt to start exploring potential careers. The job you want may influence where you decide to go to college and what you major in. If you have no career direction yet, meet with your school advisor. They can help you explore different options.

 

Shadow Workers

Shadow professionals in different fields during your junior year. This way, you can see firsthand what a job entails. For example, if you are thinking about a career in medicine, you may shadow a doctor to see if the work interests you.

 

Prepare for Standardized Tests

Start studying for standardized tests as soon as your junior year begins. To prepare for the test, you may choose to take a prep course or get a private tutor. Most students take the test in the spring of their junior year and in the fall of senior year. Registration for the tests is roughly one month before the test date.

 

Find a Summer Internship or Job

Getting an internship or job is a great way to gain experience and boost your resume. Plus, if it’s paid, you can start saving up for college.

 

Take the PSAT

Students usually take the PSAT in October of their junior year. Top scores on the test qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. Taking the PSAT is also a good way to prepare for the ACT or SAT.

 

Visit Colleges

Visiting colleges is one of the best ways to help you make a decision about a college. If you can, visit during the fall or spring semester so you can take advantage of the college being in session. This way, you’ll get a sense of the college’s culture and be able to talk to students about their experience. While you’re visiting colleges, try to talk to admissions staff and professors as well. It’s ideal if you can visit all the colleges on your list and tour the campuses. If you’re not able to visit the college, check if there’s an option to go on a virtual tour.

 

Keep Your Grades Up

Although you have three other years to make a good impression, junior year is as important as ever. It won’t look good to colleges if your grades start to slump. It’s possible to improve your grades quickly, but save yourself the stress. It’s much easier to work hard throughout the year and not rush to improve your grades later on. If your study methods have been working for you, keep up the good work! If not, try something new and seek help if you need it.

 

Get Involved

If you are not already involved in clubs, sports, or volunteer work, junior year is the time to do so. Colleges want to see well-rounded students. It can be tough to keep up your involvement when you have so many other things going on. Yet, it’s important to show that you have interests outside of academics. It’s also a great way for you to show leadership. You don’t need to be the head of a club. Even helping to plan an event demonstrates leadership qualities.

 

Talk to Your Family About Finances

If you haven’t done so already, sit down with your parents and talk about the cost of college. Understand what your family’s financial situation looks like. Learn how colleges figure out the cost of attendance and the types of financial aid available to you.

 

Look for Scholarships

Think you need to wait until your senior year to apply for scholarships? Think again! You can actually apply for scholarships throughout high school and year round. The earlier you start applying, the more chances you’ll have to receive as many scholarships as possible. Look for merit scholarships if you have good grades and need-based scholarships if you have a financial need. You can also look for identity and interest-based scholarships regardless of what your grades are. ScholarshipOwl is a great source for private external scholarships. Try it for free by signing up for a free 7-day trial.

 

Meet With Your Guidance Counselor

Meet with your guidance counselor throughout your junior year to make sure that you’re on track to graduate. They can also help you make sense of college admission requirements and provide you with a copy of your transcript. Ask them about scholarships you can apply for and find out when college reps will visit your school.

 

Plan Senior Year Class Schedule

In the winter of your junior year, you’ll need to prepare your senior year class schedule. It’s important that you choose challenging classes and not fall victim to senioritis. Colleges still care about your grades senior year. Your guidance counselor can help you choose a schedule that is right for you. If you have a specific major or career in mind, they can also help you choose appropriate classes.

 

Work on Your Resume

If you don’t have a resume yet, you should start putting one together. Include work experience, extracurricular involvement, academic accomplishments, awards, and any honors you’ve received. Make sure to update your resume throughout high school, college and beyond. If you aren’t sure where to start, our guide on writing a great resume can help you.

 

Get to Know Your Teachers

Once you start applying for colleges and scholarships, you’ll need to get letters of recommendation from teachers. There’s a good chance that you’ll be asking your junior year teachers for recommendations. Give your teachers a chance to get to know you and your work ethic. Make an effort in their class and work hard to keep up your grades. Ask them for recommendations before the school year ends so that they can work on your letter during summer. Here is how to ask for letters of recommendation.

 

Take AP Classes and Honors Classes

Taking challenging classes will look very impressive when you apply for college. If you are able to pass AP exams with a score of 3 or higher, you may be able to receive college credit from the university you’ll be attending. Some students are able to aggregate enough AP college credits that they are actually able to graduate college early, resulting in significant cost savings.

 

Put Together College Application Materials

The summer after your junior year is a good time to start getting your application documents together. This includes academic transcripts, personal statements, and letters of recommendation.

 

Retake the ACT or SAT

If you aren’t happy with how you scored on the test the first time, consider retaking the ACT or SAT again in the summer or fall. Spend time preparing and getting the help you need.

 

Register With the NCAA

If you are planning to play a sport in college, register with the NCAA Eligibility Center during your junior year.

 

Final Thoughts

Congrats for making it half way through high school! You still have two important years left of your high school career, and that means two years to make a good impression on colleges. Junior year is a busy year, but if you use this checklist, you should be able to stay on top of all your tasks and finish off strong.