COLLEGE READINESS TIMELINE
Grade 11 - Fall / Winter
Take the PSAT
If you haven’t done so yet, take the PSAT. Not only is it great practice for the SAT it is also a potential scholarship opportunity. (Note that the Pre ACT is offered only prior to junior year.) Those who score the highest have the possibility for regional scholarships or to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program, National Hispanic Scholars Awards Program, and the National Achievement Scholarship Program for Outstanding Black Students. One other benefit: you will begin to hear from a variety of colleges after you take the PSAT. This is a great way to learn about many kinds of schools.
College Fairs, Events, and Campus Visits
Junior year is the perfect time to start to research specific colleges and universities. Take what you’ve learned about the range of educational options, and about yourself, and start exploring. First, do it online. College websites are full of information about how to apply and finance your education. But even more than that, you’ll find the student newspaper, articles about faculty, information about activities and the school environment, and lots of stories about students...this is an easy way to start to get a feel for a place.
Attend a college fair in your community. College fairs bring together representatives from lots of schools all in one place. This is one of the most efficient ways to connect with and learn about colleges. We like this article from Cappex about preparing for a college fair.
Another super easy way to learn about colleges is to attend high school visits. High schools visits are made by college admission representatives to your high school! Your guidance office will have a list of the colleges visiting your school.
And hopefully you’ll be able to visit some of the colleges you are interested in. Junior and senior year is a good time to do this. And guess what? Most colleges have special visit opportunities so students can really get to know the school. Many schools even provide transportation and accommodations to make these visits possible.
These events are mostly helpful so that you can talk to current students about their experiences as well as admission counselors to understand what type of prospective students they’re looking to admit.
College Greenlight is an organization that specifically supports underrepresented, first-generation, and low-income students through the college search process. Their list of diversity programs is a great resource for you--sign up for an account today!
Think About Your Major
What do you think you want to major in? While you don’t need to know this right now, this is perhaps the most important thing! Some schools specialize in things that are important to the career field you are going into. If you truly have no idea, just think about the general areas you are interested in:
- Are you looking for a school that specializes in the Arts?
- Do you eventually want to go to Med School? Law School? Business School? Achieve a Masters in a specific field?
Again, this is nothing you need to figure out now (and it commonly changes once you arrive at college), but it's good to make sure the schools you are considering have the options you are considering!
Focus on Finances
Junior year is a good time to have frank conversations with your family about financing your college education. Many resources are available to help you pay for college. It’s also likely that you will be expected to contribute some resources as well. This can come from your own summer employment and possibly from your parents or guardians. The price tag of a college degree can be daunting but that doesn’t mean you should shy away from the conversation!
Where to start? Use these College Board resources to learn about applying for financial aid and how to understand the real cost to you. See this comprehensive glossary of financial aid terms from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. And consider these questions for each of the colleges you are considering:
- Is your college need blind? Colleges that are need blind admit students without any regard for their financial need or ability to pay. The opposite of this is “need aware.” Need aware colleges are not necessarily a bad choice, in fact, many colleges do consider your need level and still will meet your financial need.
- Does your college “gap” students with financial aid? “Gapping” refers to a financial aid award that doesn’t fully meet a student’s need. In other words, there is a gap between the total cost and the sum of your contribution + financial aid.
- Does your college have a no-loans policy for some students? Some colleges have been able to make a no-loan commitment to students whose family’s income falls below a certain threshold. The good news is this list of colleges keeps growing!
Your junior year is the right time to take the initiative to learn about financial aid and to ask the questions that will help you manage a list of colleges that works for you on all counts: you like the environment and culture, the curricular offerings match your interests and aspirations, and the financial aid approach works with your family’s expectations and resources.
Your high school may offer a financial aid night. Take advantage of this! And definitely bring a parent or guardian.
Continue to Take College Courses
Make sure that you continue to pursue college credit during your junior year. College-level courses allow you to get a feel for more challenging coursework, but they can also give you the opportunity to decrease your undergraduate tuition costs by gaining some credit for courses you have taken. If you are able to place out of introductory classes, you may be able to finish your college courses in less time. This may save you money!
Grade 11 - Spring
Continue Your Research
Campus visits, college fairs, virtual tours...these are all available opportunities for high school juniors. Your guidance counselor will make you aware of special events, and your College Now advisor will be a great resource. If you haven’t created a dedicated email address for your college activities, now is the time.
Begin to Apply for Scholarships and Outside Grants
During this time, several scholarships and grants allow you to begin applying for scholarships and grants while you’re in your junior year. Applying for scholarships at this time will also help to give you a leg up on other applicants and applications. There are many more rounds of scholarships and college applications to come, so be sure to learn as you go through the process!
Also, be sure to visit our Scholarships page to see key scholarships available to Breakthrough alumni. This is your resource! Make sure you use it!
Begin to Focus Your School List
This is a great time to start to craft your college list. Think about the reasons you’re interested in these schools. Know that your list will evolve as you learn more about specific institutions and yourself.
Begin to Understand Admission Requirements
Start to understand the different items required for the colleges on your list.
Does the school you’re interested in require audition materials? Portfolios? Writing samples? Even if you are not required to submit supplements, some schools allow you to submit this material for you to demonstrate a talent that you have.
Start to think about what you might submit in any of those categories. Don't be afraid to ask for help!
If you are interested in joining a military academy, know that this process is different and has separate procedures. Make sure you speak to your counselor about the process.
Begin to Prepare a Resume
Don’t stress about this too much. Just list your achievements thus far, experiences (even if it’s working a small job), your attributes (such as words that describe you in a complimentary light), and your skills. Check out these great free College Resume Templates from Canva, which are fully customizable and will be a good starting or reference point.
Take the SAT or ACT
You will take the SAT and/or ACT in the spring of your junior year. While you may not have had a lot of practice with these exams yet, you should take the exam(s) now, and plan to do so again in the fall of your senior year.
A number of colleges are test-optional, meaning they give students the option of applying without submitting standardized test scores. This list continues to grow, so you’ll want to do your research here--everything from searching for a list of test-optional colleges to reviewing the websites of schools you are considering. Colleges that are test-optional affirm the belief that the best predictor of college success is performance in high school, particularly considered in the context of the courses you have taken.
Grade 11 - Summer Before 12th Grade
Take an SAT or ACT Prep Course
Consider taking an SAT or ACT test prep course over the summer. We have a collection of test prep resources available on our portal here, with additional links to courses and more. Some high schools also offer free test prep courses, so check with your college counselor if you have one to see what might be available.
Start Saving Money
You might want to consider getting a job to pay for the different types of college expenses. This may be difficult, but save most of your money so that you can use it while at school. (You’ll thank us later.) You‘ll be able to contribute to expenses, such as tuition, room and meals, books, and your spending money.
Start the Application Process: Request Admission and Financial Aid Materials from Your Schools
You will need to start to look into, in great detail, what is required for your school applications. By this time, deadlines will be fast approaching and you should begin the application process in order to apply for your chosen schools starting in the fall. Keep a spreadsheet of requirements by school so you can stay organized and not miss any deadlines.
Refocus Your Goals
This is a good time to do a little more self reflection. Remember those questions you asked yourself? Take a look at what you wrote. Has anything changed? Here’s a reminder on those questions: What do you like? What are you good at? What do you want to do with your life? Let your aspirations and abilities lead this process!