College Admissions Process

Junior Year

This is the last complete year of schooling before students begin to apply for college; it is also the year when students sit for the ACT and SAT tests. This is the last chance to raise a GPA before reporting it to colleges, and one more opportunity for students to get involved in club, athletic, and leadership opportunities to enhance their resumes.

Work-study during Interim and summer jobs should provide some experience in possible career areas. The resume and tentative college essays are written during this year to give students a “head start” on college admissions. Students begin applying to colleges on June 1st, after the junior year is completed. This is their last chance to visit colleges and to gather as much information as they can to help them in knowing where to apply.

This school year is a last opportunity to improve grades. Parents can plan college visits, help students organize college materials, and talk to them seriously about this entire process. Students and parents need to be realistic about college choices, noting academic as well as personal and financial considerations. This summer before the junior year is a very important and busy time filled with paperwork and travel.

Plan of Action for Junior Year

September

Meet with the College Counselor to prepare to meet with college representatives.
Attend six college meetings; and try not to miss the same classes each time.
Prepare a list of colleges to consider.

October

Meet with the College Counselor and sign up for ACT and SAT testing. The College Counselors will help you with the registration for this first ACT and SAT. After this first round of testing, students are expected to register independently.

November

Come to the College Night program.
Begin work on student resumes.
Sign up to re-take the ACT and SAT.
Take the last round of PSAT. Colleges will see this score and use it for National Merit competition.

January

Take the first round of SAT.
Begin assembling a list of colleges. Students should be moderately well informed about fifteen to twenty schools of interest.

February

Take the first round of ACT.
Sign-up for a second round of ACT and SAT testing.
Start meeting with the College Counselor about the whole process of college admissions.
Begin the application process if ROTC or admission to a Service Academy is being considered. Initiate requests for nominations.

March

Consider making college visits during Spring Break.
Sign-up for test prep classes.

April

Take the second round of ACT.
Plan and sign-up for SAT II tests if required.
Attend the city-wide College Fair.
Complete a high school resume and write a first college essay.

May

Take another round of SAT.
Take AP exams, if scheduled.
By the end of school, have a college list narrowed down to less than ten.

Summer

Schedule an interview with the College Counselor.
Take another round of ACT and SAT.
Start college applications, especially those to large public universities.
Plan college visits for the summer, if possible.

Back: What to do in 9th & 10th Next: What to do Senior Year