As a junior in high school, you should be preparing yourself for graduation and life after high school. Here’s a mini guide with tips from me and Ms. Resto so you can have a smooth and successful senior year!
Academic Progress
Throughout the school year, you should schedule at least two appointments with your guidance counselor to discuss if you’re on track for graduation. You should monitor your GPA, both unweighted and weighted, and see if it needs improvement. You can ask for strategies to help you improve it. This is the year you should be challenging yourself academically by taking multiple rigorous courses, such as AICE, AP, or dual enrollment. By taking those types of courses, you are demonstrating academic strength, which colleges are always looking for. They also help increase your GPA. During your junior year, you should start SAT/ACT prep early to ensure that you know all of the material featured on these tests. You should always strive to improve your scores.
College and Career Planning
This is the year you should be deciding on whether you want to go to a university, community college, or take a vocational path. Wherever you decide to go, you need to start researching the admission requirements for your top schools. Your GPA, test scores, and course prerequisites play a huge role in how you stand out against other students. If you’re interested in competitive schools, it’s good to build a strong extracurricular resume to help you stand out from other students, such as sports, community service, and/or clubs. You should start visiting colleges that you’re interested in to familiarize yourself with the classrooms and living environments that each college provides.
Scholarships and Money
This year, you should be taking the time to learn how FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) works and what the requirements are to get specific scholarships. There are scholarships and grants available, such as the Bright Futures, Academic Merit, or the Pell Grant. You should research the qualifications for any grants or scholarships you’re interested in. Incoming juniors should start seeking scholarship opportunities since they’re now open to all upperclassmen. Remember, there isn’t a limit to how many scholarships you can apply for.
