High School Junior Timeline and Checklist

When you apply to college, you will need to submit test scores, your high school transcript and letters of recommendation. During your junior year, you can make sure all three are in order. Get started with the checklist below.

Fall (September-November)

___ Start your junior year off by registering for and taking the PSAT/NMSQT test.

___ Feeling overwhelmed about applications next year? Meet with your counselor to organize your testing strategies and college plan.

___ Explore colleges. Take a deeper look at schools by regions, sizes and academic specialties.

___ Research college costs and tuition at different types of schools.

___ Narrow your college list to 10 to 20 schools that interest you.

___ Keep your stress level low by creating an organization system for all your college documents.

___ It’s not too late to get involved. Pick a new extracurricular activity (or two) and jump right in!

Winter (December-February)

___ Junior year grades will say a lot about your academic performance. Study hard!

___ Scared you’ll bomb the SAT or ACT? Make a test prep plan immediately to avoid such a disaster.

___ Take your extracurricular activities to the next level.

___ Millions of dollars in scholarships goes unclaimed every year. Get scholarships for college by starting your search.

___ Refine your choices of colleges by comparing and contrasting schools and attending college fairs.

Spring (March-May)

___ Take (and dominate) the SAT or ACT.

___ Beat the letter of recommendation rush by asking your teachers before everyone else does.

___ Get educated about admissions requirements.

___ Contact prospective colleges to schedule interviews and visits.

___ Construct a strong senior schedule and a stellar student portfolio.

___ It’ll be a big summer for college prep. Get involved and prepare for your college essay.

___ Capitalize on some last minute tips to help you ace your AP tests in May.

Summer (June-August)

___ Get that pesky AP summer reading out of the way and sign up for summer classes.

___ Grab a summer job to expand your experiences and to earn money for college.

___ Practice makes perfect: Begin working on your college application essay.

___ Standardized testing season is coming again. Are you fully prepared?

___ Develop a financial aid plan before the deadline stress rears its ugly head.

___ Be your own campus explorer. Schedule your first round of college visits.