Action Plan: High School Juniors
It’s junior year, and the time has come for serious college planning. If you prepare
for standardized tests now, you can avoid the frenzy of senior year. Time spent
now will more than pay off next year. You will be able to keep up your grades and
enjoy your final high school months while scouring Scholarships.com for free money!
- Consider Possible Majors
It will be helpful to research potential majors this year. Identify your interests,
and use them to create a list of possible majors. If you are not ready to pin down
your career, and most high school students aren’t, consider taking a career assessment
test. Some websites provide free assessment tests that match your interests with
possible careers. You may also want to speak with your counselor to find out if
these tests are offered at your school.
- Continue Researching Colleges
Once you have an idea of what you would like to do, creating a list of prospective
colleges will become easier. Find schools which specialize in your areas of interest
and which offer the majors you are considering. Consider the size, location, and
educational reputation of schools when you are narrowing your search. Are you willing
to live in a rural area or do you love the bustle of city life? Do you like the
intimacy of a small school or would you prefer a large campus? These are things
to consider when you conduct your research. Once you have narrowed your choices,
make the time to visit these colleges. Plan a trip when school is in session to
get a feel for what a regular day looks like. Check out the area, speak with a professor,
and interview an admissions officer. Some schools may even allow you to sit in on
a class of interest.
- Begin Preparing for Standardized Tests
To compare your level of preparation with that of students nationwide, most colleges
require that you take the ACT or the SAT. You can usually choose which to send,
but some colleges only accept one of these. Check to see which your colleges of
interest require. Most students take these tests during their senior year, but if
you wish, you can take them a year in advance. If you decide to wait, at least familiarize
yourself with the test outline. Most libraries carry instructional books with practice
exams and test-taking tactics designed to improve your scores.