Junior Year Action Plan
Take the PSAT/NMSQT®
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The PSAT will be administered during the school day at Columbia High School in October
2011. All 11th graders are expected to take the test.
Junior year is a busy time. GET ORGANIZED from the very first day of school. Use
your agenda or another calendar to keep track of your homework and other assignments.
Teachers’ and counselors’ expectations are growing, so keep on track and ask for help if
feel yourself slipping.
Officially Begin your College Search
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Don’t let it overwhelm you. Start with making some lists of your likes, abilities, strengths,
preferences and areas of interest. Consider what you may want to study in college and
explore your options through a “major search” on Naviance.
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Attend the Junior Parent Night Program in October 2011 to gather information and get
some direction. Counselors are on hand to answer questions and provide details.
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Begin thinking about Financial Aid and plan to attend the Annual Financial Aid Seminar in
December 2011. You may visit www.fafsa.org to familiarize yourself with the electronic
application for financial aid which you will file in January of the senior year.
Springtime is a BUSY time
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In March you will make your course selections for the senior year. Maintain your
momentum and choose courses that challenge you. Senior year is no time to slow down,
so charge ahead and take an extra year of math, science, social studies, etc.
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You will meet with your counselor in February/March for your Junior Meeting. When
you receive the gold pass, mark the appointment in your calendar/agenda, and come to the
meeting with questions and a preliminary list of colleges.
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The High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) will take place in March. Students
must pass this test in order to earn a high school diploma. Get some rest, have a good
breakfast, and relax. The test is administered to all 11th graders during 3 school days in the
first week of March.
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Plan to attend the CHS College and Career Night Program in March. More than
130 colleges, universities and technical schools are represented. Students and parents have
an opportunity to meet with representatives, ask questions, and obtain pre-admission
information to assist with the college search process.
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Register for the SAT or ACT in the spring of your Junior Year. You can take the SAT or
up to 3 SAT Subject Tests on one test day. If you would like to take both, make sure you
register for two separate test dates. You can find all the registration information for SAT at
www.collegeboard.com, and for the ACT at www.act.org. Speak with your counselor for
more information.
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Get out there and visit a variety of college campuses: large, small, rural, urban, public or
private. Get a feel for what works for you and start to narrow down that initial list of
colleges. You should begin with a list of 18-20 schools, and ultimately narrow it down to
6-8. Campus visits while schools are in session provide the best perspective on what the
college culture is all about, so plan to use your Winter and Spring recesses to target some
schools of interest.
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If you are taking Advanced Placement classes, plan to register for the AP examinations that
are administered in May. Mrs. Hernandez (Guidance Secretary at ext. 1030) can provide
you with registration details and information beginning in late February.
Wrapping Things Up Before SENIOR YEAR
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Review your senior class schedule with your counselor and confirm your elective choices,
if necessary.
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Return your completed BRAG SHEET to your counselor before you leave for the summer.
Some counselors write college recommendations over the summer and this it is a
tremendous help to have the BRAG SHEET as a current reference.
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Plan summer activities early. Continue to challenge yourself by seeking out volunteer
opportunities, continuing with previous summer job or internship, or signing up for an
enrichment program.
VISIT, VISIT, VISIT! Take campus tours, schedule interviews, if possible, and get serious
about narrowing down your list. You may want to request applications from
colleges/universities to which you are planning to apply. Speak with local alumni and
consider which teachers you would most like to ask for a recommendation.
Recommendation forms are available in the Counseling Center.
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Have a great summer. Rest and prepare yourself for the excitement of being a SENIOR!