What Should A High School Junior Do To Prepare For College
There are many different answers to this question, depending on who you ask and what school you want to go to. Ultimately, to answer this question is that it depends on your specific situation. In this post, we will cover what you can do in your junior year of high school to get prepared for higher education.
Take Advantage Of Ap And Other Upper
No piece of your college application carries more weight than your academic record. If you can take AP courses in 11th grade, do so. If you can take a course at a local college, do so. If you can study a subject in greater depth than what’s required, do so. Your success in upper-level and college-level courses is a clear indicator that you have the skills to succeed in college.
Because junior year reveals the type of student you have become during high school, it will often carry more weight than freshman and sophomore years.
Visit College Campuses And Get Excited
Your junior year is a great time to explore college campuses and get an idea of what college life looks like. Safely explore both large and small college campuses to get a feel for the difference. Talk to people you run into during your tour and see what they like about their school.
Cant make it to a school you want to visit? Many universities have options for virtual tours so you can get a view of the campus from your sofa at home.
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Everything You Need To Know About How To Apply To College
The college application process is pretty standard at most schools. Typically, you take the required tests, write a personal statement, then submit your application. You should keep an eye on your email, in case a school requests additional information as they evaluate your materials.
Below, we’ll cover the process of applying to college in more depth. We’ll help you check all the right boxes and maximize your chances of getting into your dream school.
I’m Going Back To College After A Year Or More Off
If you’ve been out of high school for a while, then you’ll probably have to reconnect with your school for teacher and counselor recommendations and official documents, like your transcript. if you haven’t taken the SAT or ACT yet, then you may have to study and take one of those tests as well.
Your deadlines will be in November or December, as mentioned above, and you’ll mostly want to follow similar steps, like asking for recommendations at least a month before your deadlines and leaving yourself a couple of opportunities to prep for and take the SAT or ACT.
If you’ve been out of school for several years, then colleges might not require you to take the SAT or ACT. You’ll want to contact the colleges early to find out whether or not you need to prep for and take one of these exams.
It’d be advisable to leave yourself extra time so that you can meet with your recommenders and help them write you a letter. Since you’re not a current student, you’ll want to have extra time to set up appointments with faculty and gather all the documents you need.
Finally, when do students apply if they want to graduate high school earlier than senior year?
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Choose Challenging Classes For Senior Year
As you are selecting your classes, take challenging academic classes, even if you are not required to take them.
For example, many high schools only require three years of math. Instead of skipping out on math your final year, take that fourth year. College admissions officers want to see students challenge themselves in their academic choices, rather than taking the easy way out. This also means if honors or Advanced Placement courses are available, take them if you feel up to the challenge.
The rigor of your coursework is one of the key things that college admissions counselors will look at to judge how well you will fit in their institution. If they see youve pushed yourselfin many cases, even if it meant getting a B instead of getting an A in an easier courseit will be a good indication that youre willing to work hard.
Question: My Son Is About To Go To A Junior College In San Francisco He Will Do This Because He Has No Idea What He Wants To Major In If He Spends One Year At The Junior College Can He Transfer His Credits To Another College Or Will He Lose Them All If He Doesn’t Finish Two Years
Your son CAN transfer credits from a two-year college to a four-year college, even if he only completes one year .
Note, however, that–depending on which four-year school he attends and the major he chooses–some of his credits may not transfer. Those that almost always DO transfer are in “core” subjects such as English, history, math, science, and so on.
Other credits that probably won’t transfer are in remedial classes. For instance, if your son had to take a basic math course , a reading course, an English-as-a-second-language course, etc. then it’s possible that those credits from the two-year school will excluded by the four-year school.
Also, if he’s interested in University of California schools, he may have to wait until he is a junior to transfer in.
Bottom line: It’s likely that all or most of your son’s credits WILL transfer to a four-year college, even if he doesn’t graduate from the two-year college, but you do need to check this out on a school-by-school basis because you are likely to find inconsistencies.
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Prepare For Standardized Tests
Take the PSAT to prep for the SAT or ACT. Be sure to take it before November to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. Note the tests you need to take for your chosen schools, such as SAT, ACT or SAT Subject Tests. You can take them in the winter or spring of your junior year, which gives you an opportunity to retest in your senior year if you want to improve your score.
In The Spring Take The Sat And/or Act
Keep track of SAT registration deadlines and test dates . While not essential, it’s a good idea to take the SAT or ACT in your junior year. If you don’t get good scores, you can spend some time in the summer building your skills before retaking the exam in the fall. Colleges consider only your highest scores.
Even if you are applying to one of the many test-optional colleges, doing well on the SAT can prove valuable for scholarships and class placement.
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How Can You Build The Most Versatile College Application
Looking at college admissions websites and requirements can be overwhelming. Many colleges have slightly different standardized test and letter of recommendation requirements. Furthermore, some colleges require just one personal statement, while others require multiple essays and short answer responses. It can be a lot to keep track of!
So how do you go about preparing your college applications, when colleges seem like they all want slightly different application materials? And how do you make sure you are competitive everywhere you apply? We will explain how to make the most versatile college application.
By versatile we mean an application that will allow you to apply competitively to the broadest range of colleges.
This guide is suitable for students aiming for the most competitive colleges, but you can also tailor it to your needs if you’re applying to local state schools.
Dont: Put Off College Research
College research can be fun, but it also takes a lot of time, so start early. Look at some college websites, ask people you know about the colleges they attend or attended, and do some virtual tours. If you think you know what you want to major in, find out which schools have the top programs in your major. And, if you can, visit some colleges near you to get an idea of the college qualities that appeal to you. In the spring, youll want to get more focused on your college research and visit more campuses, if possible.
You can start exploring colleges today with CollegeDatas College Search and find out your odds of getting in with College Chances.
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Where Can I Look To Be Sure My Ap Calculus Scores Have Been Sent Here
Check your AP Student Grade Report. If the College Code 4836 is listed, then your scores have been sent to the UC San Diego Admissions Office.
Since your AP calculus scores may not be received and posted before the online enrollment period, you should also send a copy of your AP Student Grade Reports showing your AP Calculus score to the Math Testing and Placement Office as early as possible.
Include your PID, your desired math placement, and your contact information on the fax or email. Once the Math Testing and Placement Office has received your AP Student Grade Report, they will pre-authorize you to enroll in your desired math course subject to the prerequisite you met and the timely receipt of your fax or email.
Research Colleges And Make A School List
This is a great time to start researching and making a school list. Taking the plunge and starting this process often triggers, but now is the time!
Your list should include a balance of safety, target, and reach schools. Some things to consider when making the list are options for majors, class size, location, cost, financial assistance, scholarships, extracurricular options, student research opportunities, curriculum, prestige, faculty, and entrance requirements. There are quite literally hundreds of possibilities! Fight and get excited about the future ahead of you.
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Fall Semester: Grades Upper Division Classes And Choosing Your Major
Dont let your grades fall behind
Though you may be in the full swing of things, your junior year will be tough. Keep your grades up by making sure you schedule enough time in your week to study. This goes for small quizzes, papers, and exams alike. Your classes will continue to ask more and more of you as you get closer to graduation.
Take another practice graduate school exam
Now is the perfect time to take a practice graduate school entrance exam. No matter what test you have to take, e.g. MCAT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, or something else, youll want to be as prepared as you can so that you know what to expect and get the best score possible. Taking practice tests will help show you your strengths and weaknesses and what you need to focus on when you do study.
Choose the right classes
Since you are taking upper division classes, youll want to be sure you are taking classes that not only interest you, but will also help you get into the graduate program you want to get into. This means that if you have to take classes you dont want to take but you know they are needed for graduate school, do it.
Pick the right major
If you havent picked a major by now, do it. Choose something that you love to do and that can be applied to the career field you want to get into just in case you change your mind about a specific career. For example, just because you end up deciding not to be a doctor, doesnt mean your biology major wont get you a job in the medical field.
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Do: Have A Money Talk With Your Parents
Before you start your college search, its a good idea to talk with your parents or guardians about college and how much your family can contribute financially to your college education. Understanding this will save you from applying to schools that are out of reach financially, and help give you an idea of how much financial aid you may need. Even if your family can pay for all of your college expenses, they may have expectations about where you apply, what type of degree you pursue, and other conditions.
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Do’s And Don’ts For High School Juniors
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Welcome to your junior year of high school, often cited as the most important year when it comes to college admissions. Why? Because its the last full year of high school that colleges will see when reviewing your applications. Here are some dos and donts to remember throughout junior year to help you stay on track for college.
In October Take The Psat
Colleges won’t see your PSAT scores, but a good score on the exam can translate into thousands of dollars. Also, the exam will give you a good sense of your preparedness for the SAT. Take a look at some college profiles and see if your PSAT scores are in line with the SAT ranges listed for the schools you like. If not, you still have plenty of time to improve your test-taking skills. Be sure to read more about why the PSAT matters. Even students who don’t plan on taking the SAT should take the PSAT because of the scholarship opportunities it creates.
You will also find that soon after you take the PSAT, colleges will start sending you recruitment materials via mail and email. This is because colleges rely on the College Board to identify students who might be a good match for them. Schools buy contact information from the College Board based on factors such as PSAT scores, academic interests, and geographic location.
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How And When To Apply For College
| Step | ||
|---|---|---|
| Compare colleges on factors like tuition, financial aid, reputation, and location. | Sophomore and junior year | |
| Complete and Gather Materials | Ask for letters of recommendation, take SAT and/or ACT tests, take AP exams, and write personal statements. | |
| Apply for College | Apply to your chosen colleges. | Check the deadlines. Most land around the middle of senior year, though things like early decision can affect this. |
Your Junior Year In High School
It should go without saying that your senior year in high school is going to be busy. Finalizing your college search plan during your junior year will alleviate some of that stress and allow you to focus more on your senior year. In previous years, your focus may have been on planning for college your junior year is when you start putting that plan into action.
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Start Brainstorming Your Personal Statement
Nearly every school requires a personal statement . This is your chance to add some personality to your application and show admission officers what makes you a unique fit for their school. It might sound easy on paper, but this is the section where students struggle, as they are used to writing 5 paragraph essays in school. Writing about yourself is difficult!
Finding the right topic, message, and tone can take awhile you might start over multiple times, change topics, or need a break from working on it. This is not an essay you can write overnight. Brainstorming early, doing practice prompts in your junior year, and writing the essay early will help you write the best essay you can and alleviate .
How To Apply To College As A Junior In High School
If youve considered all of the above and are still interested in applying to college as a junior, there are several steps youll need to take, the earlier the better.
Research the colleges on your list
As mentioned above, it is critical to know exactly what the colleges youre interested in require of juniors who wish to apply. Take the time to thoroughly research each of the schools youre interested in as early as possible so you know what you will need to do by what dates for which schools. An important note here: this information is not always readily available on schools websites after all, the vast majority of college applicants are in their senior year of high school! Youll likely need to call the admissions office of each school and speak directly to a representative.
Make a detailed plan
Once you know what you need and when you need it by, make a timeline to accomplish each of the necessary tasks by their respective deadlines. This often means working with your school to figure out how to meet graduation requirements and receive your diploma by the end of your junior year. Youll also need to plan for taking your SAT or ACT, writing your admissions essays, getting your letters of recommendation, putting together your applications, and anything else specifically required by your chosen schools.
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During your freshman and sophomore years of high school, you may have felt as though everything was still a practice round. You were working to perfect your extracurricular involvement and fine-tune your approach to academics, but if you slipped up there was still time to make it right again. You were building relationships and a college list, but you didnt need to settle on any single ones yet. Everything you did was in preparation for the future.
Come junior year, though, that future has arrived. Now is the time to shine, academically and personally. Junior year is the most important year of your high school career in terms of its weight on your college application. This is the year to amp up your academics, focus on standardized tests, take extracurriculars to the next level, and hone in on goals for the future. To learn more about getting ready to apply to college as a junior in high school, keep reading.