• Junior Advice

    Advice for your Junior year of High School To Do: All Year

    · Keep your grades up! Maintain a high GPA and visit with your counselors often to ensure you are on track for graduation. Ask about college fairs and internship opportunities.

    · Go to college fairs and college-preparation presentations hosted by college representatives.

    · Apply for scholarships and internships. There are many scholarships available, start by taking a look at our scholarship page here. Use a free scholarship search to find scholarships for which you might want to apply. Prepare now to submit applications before the deadlines. · Start narrowing down your college list. Learn about choosing a college and use the link to our free college search tool. · Think about your career. Explore careers and their earning potential with the Occupational Outlook Handbook search tool. Or, for a fun interactive tool, try this career search.

    Fall · Prepare for and take the PSAT/NMSQT. You must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for scholarships and programs associated with the National Merit Scholarship Program. Participate in our SAT School Day and prepare for the exam in advance. You can find practice materials here.

    Spring · Prepare for and take the SAT. Participate in our SAT School Day in March and prepare for the exam in advance. You can find practice materials here.

    · Prepare for and take the ACT. Starting in February, register for and prepare to take the exam; you can find practice materials here. Check with your College Readiness Coordinator/Teacher or Counselor to see if you qualify for a fee waiver.

    · Attend College and Scholarship presentations. Your College Readiness Coordinator and Counselors coordinate various presentations from colleges and scholarship opportunities on campus. Sign up to attend!

    Summer Before 12th Grade

    · Have a productive summer. Remember colleges look at more than your grades. They want to know that you are a well rounded student and that you will make a contribution to their campus. Stay involved and be productive- participate in an internship, attend a summer program, volunteer. · Start exploring Financial Aid. Learn about FAFSA and the differences between grants, loans, work-study, and scholarships. · Create a username and password called an FSA ID that you’ll use to confirm your identity when accessing your government financial aid information and electronically signing your federal student aid documents. Help your parents create their FSA ID too.

    · Narrow down the list of colleges you are considering attending. If you can, visit the schools that interest you.

    · Contact colleges to request information and applications for admission. Ask about financial aid, admission requirements, and deadlines. · Use the FAFSA4caster financial aid estimator, and compare the results to the actual costs at the colleges to which you will apply. To supplement any aid FAFSA4caster estimates you might receive, be sure to apply for scholarships. Your goal is to minimize the amount of loan funds you borrow so you have less to pay back later. · Learn how to avoid scholarship scams and identity theft as you look for financial aid and then attend college.

    Parents ·

    Create your own FSA ID if you don’t have one yet. (The FSA ID is a username and password that you’ll use for such purposes as signing your child’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid.)

    · Talk to your child about the schools he or she is considering. Ask why those schools appeal to your child, and help him or her clarify goals and priorities.

    · Attend college fairs with your child, but try not to take over the conversation with the college representatives. Listen and let your child do the talking.

    · Take your child to visit college campuses, preferably when classes are in session.

    · Make sure your child is looking into or already has applied for scholarships.

    · Ask your employer whether scholarships are available for employees’ children.