Preparing for College: Junior Checklist



Class of 2018 - What to Know, Do, When and How…

Needed to Graduate:

• 26 credits, completer program, meet HSA/PARCC requirements, 75 service learning hours

What’s My Completer?

• College

o World Language (2 credits of the same language)

o Advanced Technology (2 credits of advanced technology courses)

o University System of MD (Alg. 1, Geometry, Alg. 2 and a rigorous math course senior year)

• Career

o CAT-South program through Level 2

o Work Program – take Career Research, Career Development Preparation and work senior year

o Early Childhood (Child Development courses and internship senior year)

What to do after high school:

• Four year university – competitive application process

• Community college – application and placement test, prep for career or transfer to university

• Career/Training school – intern or apprentice in a career-related field, community college programs

• Military – enlist with a recruiter, plan to take the ASVAB test to determine readiness and placement

• Work – consider career completer - begin to learn job readiness skills and work part-time senior year

Grades/Transcript

• Your transcript includes all of your grades used to determine your cumulative GPA. Your final semester grades are the ones that count as final toward the cumulative GPA calculation.

• Junior year grades are extremely important in the college admission process, because they are a measure of how well you will do in college. Grades also are used to determine scholarships and grants for which you may be eligible, so put in the extra effort and keep those grades up! Colleges’ receive your transcript which includes all of your 9th, 10th and 11th grade classes and grades, as well as your senior year courses. Your Grade Point Average and Class Rank are updated every semester in Naviance/Family Connection under “my profile.” Have a goal for 2nd semester to raise your GPA.

Senior Year Level of Courses

• When selecting your senior courses, be sure to continue to challenge yourself academically. Many colleges expect to see a minimum of 4 academic subjects for senior year; English, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Some colleges are asking that students take at least 2 or 3 foreign language classes in high school as well. Avoid the Senior Slump and don’t slack off your senior year. Colleges see you senior schedule and may ask for 1st and 2nd marking period grades.

SAT or ACT Scores (required by most 4 year colleges for admission)

• ALL Juniors will take the ACT exam on April 19th free of charge!

• You should plan to take at least one of these tests in the spring and again next fall during your senior year. The SAT and ACT test calendars are listed on a link on Naviance/Family Connection. Dates below:

2017 Test Dates Test Registration Deadline

|Jan. 21, 2017 |SAT & Subject Tests |Dec. 21, 2016 |

|March 11, 2017 |SAT  Only |Feb. 10, 2017 |

|May 6, 2017 |SAT & Subject Tests |Apr. 7, 2017 |

|June 3, 2017 |SAT & Subject Tests |May 9, 2017 |

|February 11, 2017 | | |

|ACT | | |

|January 13, 2017 | | |

|January 14-20, 2017 | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

|April 8, 2017 | | |

|ACT | | |

|March 3, 2017 | | |

|March 4-17, 2017 | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

• Register for the SAT or ACT online using the link on Family Connection. The test is given on Saturday mornings at local high schools. There is a fee for the test and students with financial need can receive a fee waiver to cover the cost. See your counselor if you need one. Register before the deadline to ensure your first choice of test centers. Score results are available online in 3 weeks.

• When taking the SAT or ACT use the Broadneck school code 210011.

• If you will be applying to very selective colleges, SAT Subject Tests may be required or recommended. Go to the college’s admission website and click on their freshman/undergraduate admissions page to determine the college’s admissions qualifications.

Extra-curricular Activities

• If you haven’t participated in many activities outside of school, now is the time to do that. Consider clubs at schools, team sports, leadership roles, or involvement in your religious or civic community groups. Colleges also value students who work and have internships. Colleges are interested in well-rounded students who have a healthy, active life outside of the classroom. Your ability to manage a challenging course schedule in school with activities outside of school or maintaining a part-time job shows colleges that you will be successful doing so in college.

• Start developing a résumé – a record of your accomplishments, activities, and work experiences. This will be an important part of your college application. Think back to 9th and 10th grades and what you are doing now to develop a complete list of your high school activities. Go to “my resume” in Family Connection and “Build your Resume” to get started.

College Searches

• In Family Connection click on the colleges tab then click either Super Match or college search. Do a couple of searches changing your criteria to get a good list of colleges based on the things that are most important for you.

• Begin to make a preliminary list of colleges you would like to investigate further. Add all colleges that you are interested in under “My Colleges” as “Colleges that I am considering” in Family Connection. Info about scholarships and college visits will be automatically emailed to you if you have the college listed in your college profile so keep it updated.

• Review your preliminary list of colleges and discuss whether your initial list of colleges meets your needs and interests (academic program, size, location, cost, etc.) and whether you are considering colleges where you are likely to be admitted. The scattergrams and college match on Family Connections can help you to create a list of schools that include safety and reach schools. While GPA, level of courses and test scores are important factors in determining admission, your extra-curricular activities, essay, and recommendations help too.

• Look into summer jobs or apply for special summer academic or enrichment programs. Click college then enrichment programs. Colleges love to see students using their knowledge and developing their skills and interests during the summer.

• If you are interested in getting a head start on college classes, sign up for the AACC Early College Access program (formerly Jump Start). Many seniors who take classes at AACC during fall and spring semesters of their senior year, graduate with a full semester or more of college credits that they use to continue at AACC or to transfer to a four-year college! Sign up on Naviance College Visits to register for the AACC Advisor Visit on Tuesday March 22nd.

…..Visiting College Campuses

• Get on the road to visit colleges. Seeing the college in person, taking a tour and talking to students can be very helpful in deciding whether or not a school is right for you. Although it is ideal to visit colleges during the academic year, going in the summer will be valuable. Admission offices offer tours and Open Houses to register for.

• Continue to refine your list of potential colleges and universities by looking at the pros and cons of each college and review the list to narrow your choices to colleges to which you plan to apply.

• Visit the colleges’ website to access the application online and to see what is required. The Common Application is a great service that many colleges use to simplify the process. Go to Family Connection under “links” to access this site. Begin preparing for the actual application process: draft application essays; collect writing samples; and assemble portfolios or audition tapes.

...Athletes… If you are an athlete and plan on playing in college, contact the coaches at the schools to which you are applying. They are the best resource for your connection to the college. Register and complete the NCAA Initial-Eligibility form online. Go to NCAA Eligibility on Family Connection under “links” to access this site. You may also request your transcript from this website: from “My Planner” go to:

“My Task List” – Click on “Official Transcript Needed” and request a transcript from Broadneck High School. You will be able to check the status of your NCAA transcript on your Naviance account.

College Admissions Representative Visits to Broadneck

• Sign up to meet with a college admissions representative. Over 100 colleges and universities have admissions representatives visit Broadneck during the school day in the fall to meet with students who are interested in learning more about their college. During senior year, sign up by going to Family Connection under “About College” and click on “visit schedule.” Find the college whose presentation you want to attend, and click on “sign up.” Please print out the next page with the date, time and admissions rep’s name and use it as your pass to come to the presentation.

Naviance/Family Connection:

o Complete the survey for 1st semester seniors thoughtfully and completely

o Keep your email address and other information current – check your email every day for updates and information from the Counseling Department as well as Senior information

o Keep a list all colleges that you are interested in

o Use to sign up for college admissions representative visits

o Use to research colleges and scholarship opportunities

o Use to request transcripts and teacher recommendations (please do not move to application list or requests transcripts until you have applied to the college)

o REMEMBER YOUR: Username and password (it should be your SIF number for both)

|December 12-22 |Talk to your teachers about recommendations for senior year. Begin thinking about electives to take next |

| |year. |

|January 13th |Students receive registration materials in homeroom |

| |~Broadneck Website will have resources to help with course selections |

| |~Registration forms will be due back to English teachers prior to meet with counselors in February. |

|February 2-March 3rd |Students meet with their counselor to review course requests |

|March 22nd |AACC Junior Presentation |

| |~sign up in Naviance under college visits |

|April |Students receive hard copy of Course Request Verification |

|April |Individual Counseling Conferences with all Juniors |

Junior Year Planning Calendar

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download