Things to Think About as You Start Junior Year (+ Junior Year To-Dos)
This article was written by our partner, Scoir, the College & Career Network. Learn more about our partnership here.
Congrats! You’re officially a high school upperclassman! 🎉
The new school year can be stressful, even if you’re used to this whole high school thing. Plus, with college, or whatever path comes after high school, looming over you 😬, it’s totally normal to feel uneasy or overwhelmed by what’s to come.
To help, we’ve outlined key things to do during your junior year so you can be prepared for senior year and beyond!
Plus, we’ve included some things for parents/guardians to consider when their student is a junior.
P.S. Please take the following timeline with a grain of salt. 🧂 Your counselor may have a different timeline, so check in with them at the start of your junior year to ensure you’re following what they recommend.
To-Dos for the Fall of Junior Year
Once you’re a couple of weeks into the new school year and settled in, it’s time to start thinking about your ✨post-secondary plans✨. AKA: attending college or a tech/trade school, going straight into the workforce, taking a gap year, etc.
You’ve got options. Now’s the time to learn about them!
Research Post-Secondary Options
At this point in your high school journey, you’ve likely done a lot of self-reflection.
What have you learned about yourself? What do you love? What brings you joy and fulfillment? What do you like to learn about?
As you reflect on your interests, start exploring your post-secondary options. Going to a 4-year college is not the only option.
Try seeking out folks who went to tech and trade school, attended community college, took a gap year, jumped straight into the workforce, or started their own businesses. Keeping your mind open can help you find the best path for you.
Create a Budget and Talk About Finances
Junior year is the year to have a frank discussion with your parent or guardian about money matters related to college. Here are some things to think through together:
- What is our budget for college? (What can we afford?)
- How much financial aid can we expect to receive?
Even if you’re not planning on attending college, it’s important to think through your personal budget as you spread your wings and leave the nest.
This blog post on the college financial aid process can help start the conversation.
Build Your College List
Now that you understand the different post-secondary options and have a budget, now’s a great time to build your college list.
Start broad and aim to have a refined list by the end of your junior year, or no later than the fall of your senior year.
Even if your top post-secondary option is to go straight into the workforce or take a gap year, building a college list is still a good idea (just in case!).
Scoir can help you build your college list for free.
Sign Up to Take the PSAT/NMSQT®
This test is given in October. You’ll want to learn all about the PSAT before taking it. If you need accommodations, make sure to ask for them early!
Schedule (and Prepare for) the Spring Standardized Tests
The spring of junior year is a great time to take your standardized tests (the ACT and SAT). Give yourself plenty of time to study and the opportunity to retake these tests, if you choose.
In addition to completing your classwork and reading frequently, you can prepare for the ACT or SAT with Test Innovator’s practice tests. Test Innovators recommends a four-step process for test prep:
- Take a full-length practice test
- Review your results
- Do targeted practice
- Repeat!
Taking the ACT or SAT is important, regardless of the path you want to take after high school. Here’s why:
- Taking the ACT or SAT while all this knowledge is at the forefront of your mind will benefit you if you decide to go to college later down the road
- Submitting your test scores to test-optional colleges can give you a leg up in the college admissions process
Schedule Spring Visits
If you can, visit colleges in person during the spring of your junior year (which means scheduling those visits now). There are also tons of virtual tour opportunities out there to explore!
Visiting college campuses can help you envision yourself at the college, and determine which colleges are your top choices.
To-Dos for the Spring of Junior Year
Once you’ve enjoyed your winter break, it’ll be time to jump into these spring to-dos for junior year.
If you’re looking for even more info on spring to-dos, check out this webinar Scoir and Test Innovators ran last school year: The Junior’s Step-by-Step Guide to Spring.
Request Letters of Recommendation
Asking your teachers, counselor, mentor, or coach for letters of rec in the spring of your junior year will ensure you’re giving them lots of time to write them before you start applying to colleges or jobs in the fall. How ✨demure, mindful, and considerate✨ of you!
Make sure whoever you ask for a letter of recommendation knows you well!
Choose Your Senior Year Courses
Ensure you sync with your counselor on which classes you should take during senior year to set you up for post-secondary success.
And yes, colleges may still watch your senior year grades and performance when you’re a senior!
Plan Your Summer
This blog post on planning your summer is a great place to start brainstorming! Think of ways to build leadership skills, get involved in the community, begin writing your college essays, earn some extra cash, and (of course) have fun.
What Parents/Guardians Should Do When Their Student is in Their Junior Year of High School
Students, start the college and career conversation with your parent/guardian by sharing this article with them!
Odds are, you’re feeling some mixed emotions. Your student is super close to spreading their wings and launching to their next step. 🥲
Here are a few things parents/guardians can do now to support their student.
Research Financial Aid Options and Create a Budget
Sit down and think through your college budget and financial aid options that are available to your family.
This can help inform your student’s college list and help narrow down the options.
Remember to take into account the cost of applying to colleges!
Research Different Post-Secondary Options
Keeping your mind open about post-secondary options can help your student find the best path for them, whether that means a 4-year college, community college, tech and trade school, going straight to work, or other options.
Showing your student that there are paths other than a 4-year degree will give them the knowledge they need to choose the best option for their goals, personality, and needs.
Work With Your Student to Identify Standardized Test Prep Resource Needs
Test Innovators has your back! The Test Innovators practice platform has everything your student needs to reach their target scores, including:
- Full-length practice tests
- Targeted practice exercises
- Detailed diagnostics
Bookmark our post on things to keep in mind when you start senior year so you have it when the time comes!
Looking for a tool to help you and your student keep your college planning organized? We think Scoir is a great place to start! 😉 Scoir will help you and your student discover colleges, find best-fit schools, and even apply, when it’s time. We recently held a Scoir Back to School webinar for parents/guardians that you can watch for free if you’re interested in learning more.
