You have probably been told that your junior yaer in high school is the most
important year. I actually don't agree with that statement - but I
understand why people say it. I believe EVERY year in high school is
important. Afterall, the college admissions counselor, or employer reviewing
your application doesn't ask to see records from ONLY your junior year. They
see everything you have done throughout high school (for some of you that
even includes one to three high school courses you may have taken in the
eighth grade). I think the reason that people say that the junior year is
the most important is because it is the busiest - and it is when you take a
lot of the tests required for college admissions. You start your junior year
by taking the PSAT in October, you then take the SAT and or ACT in the spring
(usually in May or June), you may decide to take an AP exam in May (if you
are in the AP US History course), you continue with your college search
process - attending college open house tours, college fairs, etc. and
hopefully you are continuing to take challenging courses and maintaining good
grades.
The grade point average and rank that will initially appear on your college
applications includes all grades earned in high school through the end of
your junior year. I think this is another reason that people refer to the
junior year as the most important - it is the last opportunity you have to
get your grades up for that "initial" GPA and rank reported on your
applications. However, many of you are taking six or seven courses which
are being averaged with the twelve to fourteen you have already earned credit
for in ninth and tenth grade. So those grades from ninth and tenth grade do
matter!
Junior year is a crucial time to keep an open communication with your
counselor and your teachers. These are the people you are going to ask to
write letters of recommendation for you when the time comes. If you never
do your homework, come to class late, give the teacher a problem, and get
suspended from school all the time, what kind of letter of recommendation
can a person write??
Try to attend a number of college fairs and open house events sponsored by
colleges that interest you. The following are suggestions about effectively
using the college fair:
I. Before the fair:
* Find out which colleges and universities will be attending.
* Make a list of representatives you want to be sure to talk to.
* Prepare some questions to ask the representatives.
Some ideas:
What is the enrollment? How large is the campus? What is the
typical class size?
Is the school in an urban, suburban, or rural setting?
What majors are available? Can I enter undeclared? When do I have
to choose a major? (If you already have an idea of a major - you might want
to ask if there are certain admissions requirements for that particular
major?
Are there special scholarships available for people with that major?)
What are the admissions requirements? Do I need a foreign
Language?
What level of math is required for acceptance?
Do you require SAT's, SAT II's or other acheivement tests?
How much is tuition, room and board?
Is financial aid available? What types of scholarships are
available?
What percentage of students receive financial aid?
Do you require interviews? What type of visit programs are
available? (upcoming dates?) Can I stay overnight or attend classes?
II. At The Fair:
* Ask questions! Take advantage of having real-live people at
your disposal!
* Don't be intimidated by the representatives - they have come a
long way just to talk to you!
* Fill out a reply card if available. This gives you access to
more information, like videos, catalogs, or financial aid brochures. It
also helps the college get to know you better.
* Investigate a school you have never heard of before! This is
the perfect opportunity to explore options you may not be aware of.
III. After The Fair:
* Try to organize what you have collected. Use whatever works
for you, alphabetical, by state, by majors offered, religious/non-religious
affiliated, etc.
* List the representatives you spoke to and make some notes on
what you learned about the school.
* Try to note which schools or representatives you particularly
enjoyed talking to and send them a thank you note!
* Schedule visits for Open Houses, tours, or interviews at the
schools that seemed to be a potential match for you.
REMEMBER- At this point, YOU are in charge! You have control over where
this process takes you, so go the distance! Use your time at these fairs
wisely and take advantage of all of your resources!
(Compiled by the Regis College Admissions Staff)
Junior year can be somewhat stressful and overwhelming. I am here to help
you through it. Please feel free to stop in or call if you need any
assistance.
"A GUIDE TO THE NEW SAT" by The College Board
The new SAT: Reasoning Test will be administered for the first time in March
2005 for the class of 2006, with new content and item types in math, critical
reading, and writing. The new SAT will also include a student written essay.
The PSAT?NMSQT has always been an important resource for preparing students
to take the SAT by having them become familiar with the kinds of questions
and the exact directions that they will see on the SAT. In addition, the
PSAT/NMSQT score report has helped students identify their strengths and
weaknesses by providing personalized feedback on their academic skills. The
2004 PSAT/NMSQT will prepare students for the new SAT in much the same way.
It will have new content and item types that correlate to the multiple-choice
sections of the new SAT. Unlike the new SAT, however, the PSAT/NMSQT will
not include an essay.
