11th Grade Information

Junior Year

 
 
It's never too early to plan for the future!!
 
 
 
August:
 
Junior year grades are very important because they are a measure of how well you do in advanced, upper level courses. Keep your grades up!!
 
Keep in mind that colleges look for the following:
  • Strong GPA
  • Involvement in CLUBS or INTRAMURALS (sports, volunteer work, etc.)
  • Obtain a Social Security number. You will need it to apply for college and financial aid.
 
 
September:
 
  • Identify the sources of college and career information at your school. (Meet with your guidance counselor, visit the College and Career Center, look through guidance publications, college catalogues and guidebooks).
  • Check your program of courses and make sure they will lead you to where you want to go.
  • Register for a PSAT and/or PSAT Review Class.
  • Talk to your parents and guidance counselor about plans for after graduation
  • Obtain dates and locations for college fairs and "parent nights" in your local area.
 
 
October:
 
  • Take the PSAT, which is also the National Merit Scholarship Program. (Eligibility for these scholarships will be announced during fall of your senior year.)
  • Inquire about Advanced Placement (AP) or summer college courses.
  • Attend college fairs and financial aid/parent nights.
 
 
November:
 
  • Start researching for scholarships, but keep in mind 95% of scholarship money comes from the college you will be attending.
  • Start looking into eligibility requirements for federal and private student loans.
 
 
December:
  • Your PSAT/NMSQT score report should arrive. Use their enclosed guide to interpret and understand your score.
  • Start planning to take the SAT I, ACT and/or SAT II exams, if necessary. Check with colleges you are applying to and find out specific testing requirements.
 
 
January:
 
  • Select a program for senior year that is as strong as possible.
  • Listen for announcements of college representatives who are visiting.
  • Examine report card. You still have one semester to improve grades.
  • Begin to make a preliminary list of colleges you would like to investigate further.
 
 
March:
 
 
 
April:
 
  • Register and study for the SAT and ACT exams, if you haven't already done so.
  • Take a SAT prep course to help prepare for the upcoming test.
  • Visit schools during the vacation.
  • Continue to evaluate and modify your list of colleges.
  • Begin preparing essays and activity resumes for college admissions.
  • Attend college night program at Walt Whitman and/or Huntington.
 
 
May:
 
  • Take the SAT and/or ACT exams.
  • From early to mid-May, AP exams are given in high schools nationally.
  • Ask for letters of recommendation from two teachers.
  • Attend a college fair.
  • Plan a productive summer - apply for an internship, volunteer, consider summer courses, special academic or enrichment programs at local colleges, work and try to save money for college.
 
 
June:
 
  • Take the SAT and/or ACT exams, if you did not take them last month.
 
 
July-August:
 
  • Plan some college visits during the summer vacation - take a tour.
  • If you are very interested in a particular school - set up and interview.
  • Do something productive over the summer.
  • Continue to refine your college list.
  • Research college websites or send for college applications, catalogues, and financial information as much as possible.
  • Continue to prepare for the college application process - draft essays, develop an activity sheet, athletic resumes, and assemble portfolios or audition tapes, if necessary.
 
 
 
What Can Parents Do:
  • Continue to monitor academic progress.
  • Assist your child with selecting courses for the following school year.
  • Make sure that your child takes the PSAT. An exam will be ordered for every junior.
  • Begin talking seriously about college options. Early in the process, determine what is important to you and your child.
  • Make sure your child registers for the SAT and/or ACT in the spring.
  • Consider starting to make college visits in the spring.
  • Carefully review the course selection for senior year.
  • Start checking into scholarships. (95% of scholarship money comes from the colleges).
  • With your child, begin to identify teachers, administrators, and other adults who will write recommendations.
  • Contact colleges for catalogues, view books, and brochures.
  • Look into summer programs that many colleges offer to juniors.
  • During the summer, assist your child with collecting applications, refining their college list, and preparing the different components of their application.