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College Action Plan
for High School Juniors

College Action Plan for H.S. Juniors

Junior year is a hectic time. You are officially an upperclassman now and you have a ton of new
responsibilities. While you will certainly be busy, you need to keep in mind your college goals and
what you can be doing now to make them a reality. Follow this monthly college action plan to make
your junior year a success!

September

1. Take time to sit down with your family to finalize your college “game plan.”
a. Who’s paying for what?
b. Do you have a college fund?
c. Are your parents willing to take on any loans?

2. Meet with your high school guidance counselor to discuss your class schedule. If you do
not attend a college-prep high school, make sure these classes are in alignment with standard
college requirements that were outlined in H.S. Freshman College Action Plan.

3. Make a list of all the remaining college-related questions that you have. Put a plan together
to get them answered by your school guidance counselor, teachers, mentors, or college
representatives.

4. Sign-up to take the PSAT. This will help get you prepared for the SAT. Contact your guidance
counselor or principal to find out about registration, fees, date, time, and location.

5. Make a “college folder,” so that you can keep everything organized. You’ll be getting a lot of
mail from colleges and universities.

6. Get a planner so that you can keep track of important college dates and deadlines (i.e.
college fairs, ACT and SAT registration dates, college application deadlines, scholarship
deadlines, etc.)
7.
October – November

1. Attend more college fairs. You can find a college fair near you by visiting the National
Association for College Admissions Counseling website.

2. Take the PSAT. This test is typically given in mid-October.

3. Start searching for scholarships and other ways to pay for your education. Check out
these posts to get started:
College Scholarship Applications
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College Action Plan
for High School Juniors

4. Start to understand your student loan options. Check out these posts to get started:
What Are My College Loan Options?
Private Student Loans

5. Schedule campus visits. Check out these posts to get started:

Why Campus Tours Are Important
Questions To Ask During Campus Tours

6. Review descriptions for different types of schools. Check out these posts to get started:
Public vs. Private: What’s the Difference?
Which College Is For Me?

December

1. Review your PSAT exam scores with your guidance counselors and parents.

2. Take the ACT at least once. Testing dates are in the following 6 months: Dec., Feb., Apr., June,
Sept., and Oct. Talk to your guidance counselor about registration, fees, dates, and times. Check
out this post to get started:
What Is A Good ACT Score

3. Take the SAT at least once. Testing dates are in the following 4 months: Jan., Mar., May, and
June. Talk you your guidance counselor about registration, fees, dates, and times. Check out this
post to get started:
SAT Tips

January

1. Narrow down the characteristics that you want in a college. Here are some things to
consider…

a. Public vs. Private;

b. Community College vs. 4-Year University
c. Large vs. Small
d. Rural vs. Urban
e. Class Size
f. Close or Far Away from home
g. Tuition and Fees
h. Student / Teacher Ratio
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College Action Plan
for High School Juniors

i. Sports
j. Fraternities and Sororities
k. Ethnic Diversity
l. Academic Curriculum
m. Reputation
n. Housing Options

2. Spend some time learning about the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Form. Check out these posts to get started:
FAFSA Form
Fill Out FAFSA

February

1. Continue searching for scholarships. Check out this post to get started:
College Scholarship Money

2. Register and study for the SAT and/or ACT (if you haven’t done so already).

March

1. Narrow your list of colleges down to 5-7 schools. These should be the schools that you plan
to submit an application to.

2. Determine how much you are willing to spend on a college education. Determine how
much each school on your list will cost.

3. Contact each school’s financial aid office to discuss payment options. Do they offer
payment plans?

4. Keep up the college discussions with your family and guidance counselor. This will help
ensure that everyone stays on the same page.

5. Get any remaining college-related questions answered. Take a look at the list you made
back in September and make sure you have addressed everything.

April – May

1. Meet with your high school guidance counselor to discuss your senior year class
schedule. Again, check to make sure these classes meet necessary college requirements.

2. Register and study for the SAT and/or ACT (if you haven’t done so already).
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College Action Plan
for High School Juniors

3. Take Advanced Placement (AP) Exams, if applicable. Check out this post for more
information:
o What Are AP Exams?

4. Start looking for a summer job. This will allow you to save extra money for college.

June - August (Summer after Junior Year)

1. Continue searching for ways to pay for college. Check out these posts to get started:
o College Tuition Costs
o How To Get Into College For Free

2. Talk to your parents about visiting campus visits over summer break.

3. Start working on your college application essays. Check out these posts to get started:
o College Admissions Essay
o College Entrance Essays

4. Start thinking about potential college majors. Check out this post to get started:
o College Major Quiz

5. Decide who you’ll ask to write your letters of recommendation. Check out this post to get
started:
o How To Get Great Letters of Recommendation

6. Work to improve your reading, writing, and vocabulary skills. These skills will come in
handy throughout your college career.

Junior year is a very important year in the college admissions process, but if you follow these steps,
study hard, and stay pro-active, you’ll be on your way to making your college goals a reality!