Plan For Action
Junior year of high school is the key year in your college planning process. This is the year for testing, learning about financial aid and scholarship opportunities, evaluating education options and narrowing your college list, all while keeping up with your grades and staying involved in high school activities.
Maintaining good grades is especially important since it will be your grade point average from ninth through 11th grades that college admissions officials will be reviewing.
Testing
PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10
The PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 focus on your skills and knowledge of what your learned in high school and what you need to succeed in college. Cramming the night before will not prepare you for the test. The best way to prepare for the test is to:
- Take challenging courses
- Do your homework
- Prepare for tests and quizzes
- Ask and answer lots of questions
The test includes a reading test, a math test and a writing and language test. The PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10 focus on the knowledge, skills, and understandings that research has identified as most important for college and career readiness and success. An emphasis on the meaning of words in extended contexts and on how word choice shapes meaning, tone, and impact.
Practice Tests
Tests
Resources
College Tours
Visiting colleges is the best way to find out if a college is going to be a good fit. After narrowing down your list to three to five colleges, plan to visit the campus before the start of your senior year. Colleges & universities will usually have open houses and visitation days for high school students and their parents. You can contact the admissions office and let them know when you would like to visit (Hint: Try to visit when classes are in session).
- Take a group tour
- The admissions office can then arrange for a campus tour. A group tour is an excellent way to learn about the college while seeing the campus.
- Take Notes
- While visiting a college take notes of anything you want to remember. Write down your impression of the school as well as positive and negative aspects.
- Talk to an admissions officer
- Discuss admission requirements and ask questions. Showing genuine interest may improve your chance of acceptance.
- Questions to ask
- What makes this college special or unique?
- What are your strongest majors?
- Are there specific requirements for my major?
- What percent of first-year students return?
- Do most students stay or leave on the weekends?
- Which admission criteria do you consider most important (GPA, ACT/SAT scores, class rank)?