Calling All Students and Counselors
Junior's
College Preparation Checklist
A Guide for college-bound students
on what to do and when to do it - and simplify the entire process!
Or Try the Online Checklist
Junior Year: September through October
Talk with your counselor about the year ahead and align on a plan for college preparation.
Confirm that you are in the right courses; scheduled to finish on time and on track for college admission.
Review the available resources and support services provided by your school counseling office.
- Confirm that PSAT/NMSQT is offered on these dates:
- CollegeBoard PSAT/NMSQT Dates and Deadlines
- Primary test day: Wednesday, October 12, 2022
- Saturday test day: October 15, 2022
- Alternate test day: Tuesday, October 25, 2022
- If possible, try to Take the PSAT earlier within the cycle of available test dates
- You’ll need to register for the PSAT up to six weeks ahead of time.
- CollegeBoard PSAT/NMSQT Dates and Deadlines
- Study and Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT
- Needs based application fee waivers are available for these exams.
- Ask your counselor for help.
- CollegeBoard PSAT/NMSQT FeeWaiver
Junior Year: November through December
- CollegeBoard SAT Dates and Deadlines
- ACT.org Dates & Deadlines
- Take classes and courses as needed to polish your scores and gain testing experience.
- Free resources, practice tests, tutorial videos and more.. A little practice can go a long way.
- Needs-based application fee waivers are available for these exams.
- Ask your counselor for help.
- CollegeBoard SAT Fee Waiver
- ACT.org ACT Exam Fee Waiver
- A resume is a professionally focused record of your accomplishments, activities, and work experience.
- This will be an important part of your future college applications
Junior Year: January through February
- Time is of the essence! Research, planning and taking action will provide you with a competitive advantage.
- Put in the work! Scholarships and grants are awarded to those that seek them out and take the effort to apply.
- General information on scholarships & grants:
- CollegeBoard Scholarship Search Tool:
- US News & World Report Guide to Finding Scholarships & Grants:
- Fastweb.com Free Scholarship Search Platform
- Note any available merit scholarship availability & requirements for your prospective colleges.
- Ensure that you are on track to graduate and are meeting entrance requirements for the schools and programs on your short list.
- Colleges tend to favor well-rounded students that participate in a variety of activities beyond school, especially if a student displays consistent involvement or takes on a leadership role.
- If your extracurricular activities or volunteer service hours are low, now is the time to add them to your schedule. Whether it’s groups, clubs, sports or civic activities, now’s the time to get involved!
Junior Year: March through May
- Evaluate education options: vocational-technical school, career college, or two-year or four-year college, military college. Discuss careers and which majors can lead there.
- Notes on the different types of colleges and schools: NACAC College Types
- Considerations for Comparing Schools: NACAC Determining the Right Fit
- Start to actively learn more about the schools you are interested in.
- Look online. Go to college fairs. Speak to college representatives that visit your school.
- If possible, attend local college fairs in your area: NACAC College Fairs Schedule & Info
- You can meet with hundreds of schools virtually: NACAC Guide & Schedule of Virtual College Fairs
Parchment Prep Tip: Use the College Tools on Parchment.com to research schools and options
Our college predictions, ranking, and recommendations software is powered by more than 765K college applications – the largest application database online. With data from hundreds of thousands of students like you, we create statistical predictions to give you a meaningful estimate of your chances of admission to any college in our database.
Parchment College Tools - Available at no cost for Parchment Learners.
College Search: Search on a specific school for a quick overview of that school’s profile.
College Rankings: View a list of schools ranked using a complex algorithm based on student preferences.
College Matches: Get a display on chances of admission for similar schools outside of your region.
College Match Up: See which schools are chosen most often and compare analytics side by side.
- Compare schools: US Dept. of Education and Transparency Center: US Dept of Education College Scorecard
- Information, statistics and data on 7K colleges and universities: NCES College Navigator
- Review nationally ranked programs, schools and Universities: US News & World Report Best Colleges
- Notes on college rankings: NACAC College Rankings – What Do They Really Mean?
- Take practice exams, to polish your scores and gain testing experience
- You are going to need recommendation letters when you apply to schools in the fall.
- Why not beat the rush by contacting those writers (teachers, coaches, mentors) you want to ask now.
- This courtesy provides your writers with ample time to prepare and produce your letter of recommendation, often resulting
in a stronger and more comprehensive letter. - Preparing for this requirement now will leave you with one less thing to do in the fall of next year.
- Consider finding a summer job or internship, preferably one aligned to your potential future field of study.
- Check on summer opportunities at local college campuses.
- A summer job or internship on campus will help you get a feel for college-life while expanding your network.
Senior Year: February through May
- Ensure that you are on track to graduate and are meeting entrance requirements for the schools and programs on your short list.
- What additional resources are available through your school counselor?
- Get their perspective, opinions, tips and notes, particularly if they attend a school you are considering.
- Ask them about their experiences with the application process and first few semesters as a college student.
- Note the documents, transcripts and additional pieces of information that will be needed to apply.
- Begin compiling information and available documents proactively to best position yourself for application season.
- A Free Parchment Learner Account can be used to store and submit your records, documents and transcripts to most
College-Bound Preparation Checklist
for Junior Year High-School Students
Consolidated Resources Section
We reviewed and referenced several reliable resources, publications and organizations in order to create this guide including the Department of Education, StudentAid.org, the National Center for Education Statistics, National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC), College Board and others.
When possible and available, direct links to relevant resources have been provided and embedded within the checklist alongside with the related preparation item. We hope this consolidated resources page further aids you in your college preparations. You can do this!
US Department of Education Resources and Links
US Department of Education:
US Department of Education - Federal Student Aid Information Center:
U.S. Department of Education - College Affordability and Transparency Center:
U.S. Department of Education - Alternative Pathways for Careers and Training:
National Center for Education Statistics: nces.ed.gov
Scholarship, Grant, Funding Resources
FastWeb.com Database for Scholarships, and Grants with Free Access for Students:
Scholarships.com Database & Resource for Scholarships and Grants with Free Access for Students
Standardized Testing Resources
CollegeBoard.org - Free SAT Resources and Practice Tests
PSAT and the National Merit Scholarship Program - CollegeBoard.org
Khan Academy - Free SAT Preparation Resources & Tests
Student and College Counseling Organizations and Associations
CollegeBoard.org - Free College Prep Resources
American Counseling Association( ACA)
American School Counselor Association( ASCA)
MyFUTURE.com Free College Planning & Preparation Resources
National Association for College Admissions Counselors (NACAC)
- NACAC How to Use Your School Counselor
- NACAC College Fairs Schedule & Info
- NACAC Guide for the College Visit
- NACAC Determining the Right Fit
- NACAC College Types
- NACAC College Rankings – What Do They Really Mean
- NACAC: Parts of a College Application Guide
- NACAC Request for Admission Application Fee Waiver
- NACAC Request for Enrollment Deposit Fee Waiver Form
- NACAC Fee Waiver Eligibility & FAQS
- NACAC Guide & Schedule of Virtual College Fairs
- NACAC Top 10 Tips for Writing A College Essay
- NACAC Plan B: What if I’m Not Accepted
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)
- NASFAA.org
- NASFAA FAFSA Tips & Common Mistakes to Avoid
- NASFAA Financial Aid in Your State
- NASFAA State Financial Aid Programs
- NASFAA State & Regional Tuition Exchanges to Waive Out of State Tuition
- NASFAA Tips to Help Students in Unique Situations
- NASFAA Tips, Programs, and Resources to Cut College Costs
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