Talk with your counselor / advisor to confirm that your courses will put you on the right track for college admission.
Make sure you know your HOPE GPA! Look at scholarships for HOPE/PELL/ZELL. Will you qualify?HOPE GPA to see eligibility for the HOPE Scholarship.
Stay on track with your classes and grades. Maintaining your grades during your junior year is important! Colleges will consider the difficulty of your classes and place emphasis on your performance.
Ask about test dates for the PSAT, ACT, and SAT. You’ll need to register up to six weeks ahead of time.
Start developing a résumé / brag sheet—a record of your accomplishments, service, activities, and work experience. This will be an important part of your college application.
How are you setting yourself apart? Consider clubs at school, team sports, leadership roles, or involvement in a religious or civic community group.
Maybe take the PSAT again. Taking the test as a junior will qualify you for some scholarship consideration and identify you to colleges as a potential applicant.
Begin to prepare for the ACT or SAT. Plan to take at least one of these tests in the spring. Ask your counselor if you qualify for a fee waiver.
EARLY SPRING
Work with your counselor to set your senior schedule. Enroll in the most challenging courses.
Register for a spring SAT and/or ACT. Ask your counselor whether you should also take an SAT Subject Test.
Explore summer opportunities on college campuses—a great way to find out if that campus suits you.
Start researching colleges and universities. Go to college fairs and open houses. Learn as much as you can about colleges online.
Begin planning college visits. Try to visit colleges near you over spring break. Include a large, medium size, and small campus.
Develop a preliminary list of colleges that interest you. Go online to request additional information.
Look at some college applications. Note all the pieces of information you will need. Make a list of teachers, counselors, employers, and other adults who could write letters of recommendation.
Consider lining up a summer job, volunteering or internship.
SUMMER before senior year
Continue researching colleges and try to narrow down the list.
Schedule campus visits at the schools that you interest you.
Begin thinking about your applications. Generally, colleges will have their applications online by the beginning of August.
Start brainstorming your college essay
Research and begin scholarship applications! See if your parents’/guardians’ employers offer any financial aid benefits for children.
Check your final HOPE GPA in June to see if you are tracking to be eligible for the HOPE Scholarship.
If you took AP exams your junior year, your scores should arrive in July.
Request applications and financial aid information from colleges of interest and continue with your college visits. Call ahead for appointments with financial aid, admissions and academic advisors. If you go on college interviews or visits, don't forget to send thank-you notes or emails afterward.
As you continue your college search, include one or two “backup” schools.
Take necessary admissions test(s) (AP, ACCUPLACER, SAT I and SAT Subject Test) if you did not take them in May or desire a higher score.
Create a calendar of upcoming deadlines: college admission applications, financial aid applications and scholarship applications.
Keep your parents or trusted adults in the loop! Share your future goals with them, ask for advice. *Parts taken from GAFutures.org *Student is responsible for any and all items/information! **Neither IEC or Hall County Schools is liable for information on this page.