What are some things you should know about your junior year of HS in terms of scholarship opportunities, standardized testing, ECT?
I want to make the most out of my time and have a good chance at being able to afford college.
Thanks!
Junior year is really your chance to stand out to colleges. You want to do well in harder classes, show leadership, and get your college list together.
-
Hopefully you have some AP classes in your schedule (if your class has them). Work hard and get extra tutoring if necessary to do well.
-
You should look for leadership opportunities in your extra curriculars. Maybe it is a formal title (President) or maybe it is role you take on …“Suggested and organized food drive for local charity. Collected over 200 hundred pounds of food.” Maybe it is in a sport or maybe it is at your house of worship. Maybe you get a promotion at work (lead cashier).
-
Don’t take the SAT/ACT too late Junior year…you want chances to take it again. But study for it! Use Khan Academy for free studying. Your SAT scores will determine scholarships. Take it at the latest in January.
Be prepared to take it again…but look when your junior prom is and when the SAT is and plan accordingly
-
Visit some local colleges…like your State flagship, a smaller private school…see what you like and don’t like about them.
-
Come up with a list of what you want in a college…major, location, urban/rural, size, etc etc
-
Based on that, use Naviance, Supermatch (here on CC), Fiske Guide, etc to come up with a list of colleges
-
Find out from your parents how much they can spend on college each year
-
Run the Net Price Calculator on those colleges to see if they are affordable
-
If not, look at colleges that give automatic scholarships and see if they are good for you
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/financial-aid-scholarships/1348012-automatic-full-tuition-full-ride-scholarships.html#latest -
Try to visit some of those colleges over spring break or summer if necessary
PSATs for national merit is also something you should look out for junior year.
@bopper Thanks for the info! Questions though… I don’t have any offical titles of leadership. Does working on a project in collaboration with professionals count? (I am working on a real world project that includes learning about and attending conferences on a certain type of disability.) Although there is a strong chance this engineering project won’t be implemented in real life, it has brought attention to accessibility for people with this disability. Through this project, I have been in collaboration with many city professionals. Would that be something considered leadership?
Also, another question… what’s the difference between the PSAT, SAT, and SAT subject tests? For scores and colleges, I’m most likely going to take the ACT, because that’s the most common in my state.
My family doesn’t make much so I don’t except much aid, so I am hoping for a full tuition or full ride.
@traaash Can you give me some more advice about the PSAT? I would like to study for it this summer if it provides opportunity for scholarships.
Your real world project sounds like an excellent EC! Is it leadership? The question is…do you lead anyone? Have you taken initiative on your own in any capacity? Have you recruited others to work or taught people with what you have learned?
You say your family doesn’t make much…don’t take that as a stumbling block. You may get need based financial aid. Work with your parents to fill out the Net Price Calculator information on colleges of interest to see what you will be eligible for. Check in the "Fiancial Aid " subforum for colleges that give a great deal of aid based on SAT/ACT scores.
The PSAT is taken sophomore and junior year. It gives you an idea how you will do on the SAT …but also when you take it junior year it is used as a qualificaiton for National Merit Scholarships. If you do well on the PSAT, you need to take the SAT as well to “qualify” your score.
SAT is much like the ACT in that you take it Junior/Senior year as a standardized aptitude test used for college admissions.
Some colleges want a SAT subject tests in Math, Sciences, English, etc. Many colleges don’t require it so check if your colleges of interest do.
@bopper It’s a science fair project, I competed at the local, district, state, and the Intel International Science Fair. (I only won some scholarship money from the Intel ISEF…is that worth mentioning I won it there, considering that’s the most prestigious science fair for high schoolers?) But I got a superior at local, district, and state level. I went out in the community and tested my project, and talked to lots of professionals along the way. I have been invited to a conference this summer because of it. But is this still big, even if it doesn’t end up being implemented in real life?