Junior

It’s time to get down to business. There are so many things to accomplish this year! Your Junior year grades are very important to colleges because they are a measure of how well you do in advanced, upper-level classes. Grades are also used to determine some scholarships and grants for which you may be eligible. BE SMART. Here are a few tips:

More Math and More Science – Challenge yourself

Remember to save your best work for your Portfolio

College costs money – consider all of your options – How much is in your College Savings Fund? Start looking at Financial Aid options. Call the Student Aid Hotline at the U.S. Department of Education (1-800-4FED-AID) for a student guide to Federal Financial Aid. For additional financial resources, check out HOTT’s Show Me The Money

Investigate scholarship opportunities provided by organizations such as corporations, professional associations, religious organizations and credit unions

Register to take the SAT, the ACT, SAT Subject Tests, or any other exams required for college admission ACT: http://www.actstudent.org/index.html SAT: http://www.collegeboard.com/testing

Continue your college search – make a list of colleges of interest and plan for a summer trip to each to determine which may be the best fit for you. Choosing the right college is a tough decision! Consider taking a friend or family member that knows you best to help you with this process http://www.actstudent.org/college/visit.html http://www.actstudent.org/pdf/planning/comparison.pdf

Get a summer job – colleges love to see students using their knowledge and developing their skills and interests

Make sure you have your Social Security Number – required by colleges