You've Got a Junior!

Start talking with your student about their post-high school options and be willing to discuss all paths. These conversations can help clarify their goals and reduce anxiety about the future. 

Additional Tip:

Start by asking your student about their interests and aspirations. Discuss various options like four-year colleges, community colleges, trade schools, and gap years. 

Our partners at Collegewise are experts in guiding families through the college application process.  

With their "Empowering Choices” resource (PDF), they can help you assist your student in identifying what makes them light up when talking about their future major/career choice.

Prefer to watch a video instead? Check out the vlog link below!

Your student’s MyACT account is much more than just a registration portal, it’s their gateway to explore college majors and career paths with free, research backed tools.  

Additional Tools:

Free interest inventories: By taking a few quizzes, they’ll get in-depth information about how their interests align with major and career options. They can use these insights to help dial in their plans for the future.

View the year’s exam dates and discuss the benefits of testing at different times of the year.  

Make sure your student takes all of the activities that affect their schedule into account, including midterms, sports schedules, performances, etc.  

Additional Tip:

Three times a year your student can order their ACT My Answer Key (formerly TIR) — a copy of the test questions and the correct answers, along with your student’s answers — to help them identify areas of improvement and boost their test scores. More retesters improved their scores — and their gains were twice as high on average — after purchasing their ACT My Answer Key than retesters who did not it or other test prep. Learn more here. 

Start by creating a budget and researching scholarship opportunities. Early planning can alleviate financial stress and open more opportunities. 

Dual enrollment programs allow students to take college courses while still in high school. This is a great opportunity for your child to get college credit and valuable experience which will give them a head start now and a chance to save money later. Check with your student's high school counselor about dual enrollment options.    

My Journey is a series of FREE, live virtual events that are meant to guide students and families through college and career journeys. With information about admissions, finding scholarships, how to match interests to potential majors and/or careers, and more! Held 3-4 times a year, My Journey is a ticket to success!

Click the link below to register for an open event, or sign-up to be notified when registration opens for the next live event. 

Help your student start researching potential colleges and universities.  

Helpful Resources:

U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard to compare colleges based on factors like size, location, majors, and cost.

Plan for college applications with your student, including early decisions and identifying recommendation letters. A strategic approach can enhance their chances of admission. 

Discuss the pros and cons of early decision and early action applications. Start identifying teachers, counselors, or mentors who could write strong letters of recommendation. 

Focus on scholarship applications and deadlines with your student. Securing scholarships can significantly reduce the financial burden of college. Great news though; there are scholarships available for almost every interest and activity, not just high GPAs!  

Create a scholarship search plan, including a list of potential scholarships and their deadlines. Start working on applications early, and tailor each application to the specific scholarship criteria. 

Support your student in starting their ACT preparation to ensure readiness for upcoming tests. A solid test prep plan can significantly improve their scores and confidence. 

There are a wide variety of free and paid test prep options from practice tests to online courses to study guides.

Additional Resource:

On the road to college, timing is everything. By offering ACT My Answer Key (formerly TIR) three national test dates per year (and for up to six months after) your student can make a study plan that is as unique as they are. Whether your student registers for their first exam or a retest on a TIR eligible date, they’ll have the feedback, confidence, and time they need to set a pace for success.  

Set up a dedicated email account for your student's college communication and applications. This will help keep their college-related correspondence organized and professional. 

Choose a simple and professional email address. Use this email for all college-related communications, including applications, inquiries, and correspondence with admissions offices. 

Motivate your student to explore community service and volunteer opportunities outside of school for a stronger college application. Serving in a leadership role or taking the initiative to create their own opportunities can set them apart from other applicants. 

Participating in clubs (or creating one!), sports teams, or volunteer organizations can demonstrate initiative, responsibility, and teamwork skills to colleges.

Assist your student in creating a list of colleges to apply to and begin campus visits. A well-thought-out college list can streamline the application process. 

Helpful Tips:

1. Help your student categorize colleges into reach, match, and safety schools based on their academic profile.
2. Plan campus visits to a variety of schools to get a feel for different college environments. Schedule the visit through the colleges' admissions offices. Prepare a list of questions to ask during the visit and encourage your student to take notes and reflect on their experiences. Pay attention to how they're feeling/their mood after the tour.

Guide your student in starting a resume that highlights their work experience and achievements. A solid resume is a must for summer jobs or heading directly into the workforce and can also be an asset for college and scholarship applications. 

Include academic achievements, extracurricular activities, work experience, and any awards or honors. Once completed, be sure to review the content periodically to ensure it’s up to date and have them always keep a main resume they can pull things from. 

Help your student gather letters of recommendation from teachers and mentors. Strong recommendations can significantly boost their applications. 

Advise your student to choose recommenders who know them well and can speak to their strengths. Provide recommenders with a resume or list of accomplishments to help them write a detailed letter and give them as much time as possible. 

ACT Recruit Me (formerly EOS) is a free service that connects your student to colleges and scholarship agencies for recruitment. 

Why ACT Recruit Me Matters:

1. Opting-in to ACT Recruit Me allows colleges to contact your student based on their interests and scores. 
2. Over 95% of ACT Recruit Me participants in a recent graduating class had their names selected by at least one college. 
3. A typical senior that opts in to ACT Recruit Me receives communication from an average of 20 colleges and/or scholarship programs that identify them as a good match. 

My Journey is a series of FREE, live virtual events that are meant to guide students and families through college and career journeys. 

With spring events having prime topics to prepare your junior for their final year of high school and what comes next, My Journey is a ticket to success!

Click the link below to register for an open event, or sign-up to be notified when registration opens for the next live event. 

Assist your student in identifying summer programs, internships, or volunteering opportunities. These experiences can enhance their college applications and personal growth. 

Look for opportunities that offer hands-on experience or academic enrichment. 

Spring of your student’s junior year is the perfect time to get started with the ACT exam. Taking the test in spring allows time for retesting to improve scores for better scholarship and admissions opportunities. 

Check test dates and register well in advance. Make sure your student has enough time to prepare and consider testing in a month that offers the ACT My Answer Key (formerly TIR). Receiving their question and answer key after they test can help them spot patterns, discover if particular types of questions give them trouble, and identify any weak content areas to beef-up before they bring their A-game to another test and improve their ACT Superscore. 

Prioritizing the schools on your student’s list will make the application process more manageable. 

Review the list of colleges with your student and discuss the pros and cons of each. Consider factors like location, size, academic programs, and campus culture. 

Helpful Tip:
A list of 10-15 colleges is ideal when it comes time to start applying. 

Work with your student to gather all necessary documents and information for college applications. Being organized will reduce stress and improve the quality of their applications. 

Create a checklist of required materials for each college application, including transcripts, test scores, essays, and recommendation letters. Keep everything organized in a dedicated folder or digital file. 

Well-crafted essays can significantly impact their chances of admission. 

Helpful Essay Tips:

1. Have your student brainstorm on their passions and interests. It's their personality colleges want to see, not a rehashing of their achievements.
2. See if the colleges on your student’s list have posted their essay prompts. If your student is using the Common App, check to see if the essay prompts are available. 
3. Help your student brainstorm essay content that both meets the requirements of the prompts and showcases their unique qualities and experiences. 
4. Encourage them to write multiple drafts and seek feedback from teachers or mentors. 

Continue visiting college campuses with your student to finalize their college choices. These tours can solidify their preferences and confirm their decisions. 

Plan visits to the final colleges on your student's list. Use these tours to ask specific questions and gather information that will help make the final decision. 

Job shadowing is a great way for your student to start building their professional network. These experiences can provide valuable insights and connections for their future career. 

Help your student identify professionals in their field of interest and explore job shadowing opportunities. Also be sure that once they make the connection, they stay in touch!

Plan for another ACT test with your student if needed for improved scores or additional college requirements. This can enhance their college application and open up more opportunities for scholarships. 

Review your student's test scores and decide if retaking the ACT could improve their chances of admission or scholarship eligibility. Register for a summer or early fall test date. 

Help your student finalize their list of colleges for applications. A final list will guide their application efforts and ensure they apply to the best-fit schools. 

Review the college list together and make any necessary adjustments based on campus visits, research, and your student's preferences/feelings about that university. 

Assist your student in starting the Common Application or other application processes. Early preparation can lead to a smoother application season. 

Help your student create an account on the Common Application website and start filling out the basic information. Make a plan to tackle the application sections and essays over the summer. 

Helpful Tip:

The Common App opens in August every year. 

Our partners at Collegewise are experts in guiding families through the college application process.  With their "How to Help Your Teenager Craft a Meaningful Summer Experience” resource (PDF) they can help you assist your student in planning summer experiences best aligned with their interests, passions, and goals. 

Prefer to watch a video? Check out the vlog link below!