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For Incoming or Current Juniors

Junior year is where things start getting heavy. Keep your grades up and increase involvement in your extracurriculars. 

 

If you feel alone in paving your path to college, know that you are not and there are programs and different communities that are here to support you.

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Important Reminders: 

  • Register for all tests in advance and be sure to give yourself time to prepare appropriately! If you have difficulty paying a registration fee, see your school counselor about getting the fee waived.

  • Register early for free/reduced lunch and fee waivers. Some colleges determine eligibility for application fee waivers based on if you were granted waivers for your standardized tests.

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Resources for 11th Grade Students and Parents: 

 

Student's Checklist: 

Parent's Checklist: 

  1. Take a look at your financial situation, and be sure you’re on the right track to pay for college. See our page on affording college.

  2. Get in-depth information on the federal student aid programs.

  3. Create your own FSA ID if you don’t have one yet.

  4. Talk to your child about the schools they are considering. Ask why those schools appeal to your child, and help them clarify goals and priorities.

  5. Attend college fairs with your child, but don’t take over the conversation with the college representatives. Just listen, and let your child do the talking.

  6. Take your child to visit college campuses, preferably when classes are in session.

  7. Make sure your child is looking into scholarships.

  8. Ask your employer whether scholarships are available for employees’ children.

  9. Learn about student and parent loans in Federal Student Loans: Basics for Students and Federal Student Loans: Direct PLUS Loan Basics for Parents.

  1. Schedule a meeting with your counselor at the beginning of the school year. Evaluate your past two years and plan for what is ahead. Discuss your progress and ask for suggestions on potential future plans.

  2. Make sure you are meeting the “a–g” course requirements for UC/CSU.

  3. Visit College & Career Center to check resources and sign up for their upcoming college visits. Attend college fairs and talk with admission representatives.

  4.  Attend the East Bay Consortium’s college fair at UC Berkeley 's  campus in October.

  5. Put together a list of 15 colleges you may go to: safety, match, and reach.

  6. Register for the SAT + ACT—registration deadlines (SAT and ACT) vary year to year. Common advice is to plan on taking a test at least once spring of junior year (though often earlier for recruited athletes) and then again in the fall of senior year.            *Note that some schools no longer require or accept standardized test scores. For details, see our section on standardized testing.

  7. Apply for the Questbridge College Prep Scholars Program in February for one-on-one college preparation and more. See if you are eligible. 

  8. Continue adding activities on your“brag sheet” or resume to help with filling out college applications next year.

  9. Ask for letters of recommendation (ideally, speak with teachers before the end of junior year).

  10. Schedule (virtual or in-person) school tours (if planning on in-person, highly recommended to do virtual first, unless the school is very close to home).

Information collected for these checklists based on ChangeMakers' experiences and information from the U.S. department of education, Questbridge, Piedmont High School, and College Essay Guy. 

Reach out on Instagram @WCCUSD_CHANGEMAKERS
Or through Email: ec.changemakers@gmail.com.

Do you have anything to add to our lists? 

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