Maintaining your grades
during your junior year is especially important. You should be
doing at least 2 hours of homework each night and participating
in study groups. Using a computer can be a great tool for organizing
your activities and achieving the grades you want.
Talk to your guidance counselor
(or teachers, if you don't have access to a guidance counselor)
about the following:
• Availability of and enrollment in AP classes
• Schedules for the PSAT, SAT I and II, ACT, and AP exams
• Discuss why you should take these exams and how they could
benefit you.
• Determine which exams you will take. (You can always change
your mind.)
• Sign up and prepare for the exams you've decided to take.
• Ask for a preview of your academic record and profile,
determine what gaps or weaknesses there are, and get suggestions
on how to strengthen your candidacy for the schools in which you
are interested.
• Determine what it takes to gain admission to the college(s)
of your choice, in addition to GPA and test score requirements.
August:
Obtain schedules and forms for the SAT I, SAT II, ACT, and AP
exams.
September:
Register for the PSAT exam offered in October. Remember that when
you take the PSAT in your junior year, the scores will count towards
the National Achievement Program (and it is good practice for
the SAT I).
October:
Take the PSAT. Narrow your list of colleges to include a few colleges
with requirements at your current GPA, a few with requirements
above your current GPA, and at least one with requirements below
your GPA. Your list should contain approximately 8-12 schools
you are seriously considering. (Use the Choices Post-secondary
Schools database for more information on the schools in which
you're interested.) Start researching your financial aid options
as well.
Begin scheduling interviews
with admissions counselors. If possible, schedule tours of the
school grounds on the same days. You and your parent(s) may want
to visit the colleges and universities during spring break and
summer vacation, so that you do not have to miss school. Some
high schools consider a campus visit an excused absence, however,
so if need be, you may be able to schedule interviews and visits
during the school year, without incurring any penalties.
November:
Review your PSAT results with your counselor, in order to identify
your strengths and to determine the areas that you may need to
improve upon.
December:
You will receive your scores from the October PSAT. Depending
on the results, you may want to consider signing up for an SAT
preparatory course. Many high schools offer short-term preparatory
classes or seminars on the various exams, which tell the students
what to expect and can actually help to boost their scores.
January:
Tour campuses to further narrow your list of colleges to match
your personality, GPA, and test scores.
February:
Register for the March SAT and/or the April ACT tests. Find out
from each college the deadlines for applying for admission and
which tests to take. Make sure your test dates give colleges ample
time to receive test scores. It is a good idea to take the SAT
and/or ACT in the spring to allow you time to review your results
and retake the exams in the fall of your senior year, if necessary.
March:
Take the March SAT I exam.
If you are interested in taking any AP exam(s), you should sign
up for the exam(s) at this time. If your school does not offer
the AP exams, check with your guidance counselor to determine
schools in the area that do administer the exam(s), as well as
the dates and times that the exam(s) you are taking will be offered.
Scoring well on the AP exam can sometimes earn you college credit.
April:
Take the April ACT test.
May:
Take AP, SAT I, and SAT II exams.
Talk to teachers about writing letters of recommendation for you.
Think about what you would like included in these. |
