Hello Junior Year!

THE SUMMER BEFORE JUNIOR YEAR

• Junior year really starts Sophomore year as you establish academic credibility and find out what kind of student you can be.
• Make careful and thoughtful decisions when registering for Junior year.
  • Challenge yourself (within reason)
  • Consider AP classes if you are eligible
  • Consider College in High School Classes BMCHS Dual Enrollment Page
  • Remember that Junior year grades will be the grades universities receive with your college applications.
  • Know the difference between good rigorous courses and being in over your head.
    • Your GPA will be impacted by these classes!
• Make Connections between the classes you may want and possible majors/careers that may be on your radar
  • Good Place to Start: MAJOR/CAREER SEARCH 

• STEP UP - Junior year is a time to get involved, find leadership opportunities, take responsibility for your actions, and stand out from the crowd
• GROW UP - Junior year is also a time to get serious about your routines, study skills, organizational skills, and social circles!  
• SHUT UP....er..LISTEN UP - Learning how to listen -- to instructions, to good advice, friend's who need a caring ear, a parent's concerns, to constructive criticism, to people who have already been in your shoes -- is one of the most important skills you can learn.    

• TECH UP(GRADE) - Now is the time to make sure you have a mature digital footprint.  If necessary, Clean up your social media accounts and make sure your account names are respectable. 
• TECH UP(GRADE)#2 - You should get familiar with all technology, not just your social media. Learning how to learn online means knowing how to navigate your Google Classroom, Google Hangout Meet, and other online platforms will help you prepare for education of TODAY!
• Establish a quality Email account that you can use for your CollegeBoard accounts, job applications, and eventually college applications.
  • And then REMEMBER that EMAIL and PASSWORD!
• STILL NEED A COLLEGEBOARD ACCOUNT? Start HERE

• College Searches should start early - Picking a college now is not likely, but exploring colleges is an absolute.
• Cambria County College Fair is early September every year and McCort Guidance takes students every year.
  • Sign up with Guidance to attend (Usually Limited Spots)
• There is also the NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR in Pittsburgh
  • PITTSBURGH NATIONAL COLLEGE FAIR

• Juniors get 2 College Visits - USE THEM!  Visit at least one school in the fall just to get an idea and schedule a visit day in the spring as well

  • Make Sure that You Have a PLAN when you go! College Visit Checklist
• Colleges will also be COMING TO YOU!
  • During the Fall, Many College Admissions Counselors come to Bishop McCort to meet and speak with you.  You will often find them set up in the Cafe, anxiously waiting to talk to you!

• • TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR BEING RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!
    • It may not be the college of your dreams, but every time a representative from a college comes to McCort, YOU SHOULD take the time to ask them ANYTHING about their college and you may be surprised about what some schools have to offer!!
    • EVEN IF you don't want to give up your lunch time, you are always allowed to stay and meet with them after lunch is over.  Guidance will GLADLY write you a pass if you missing some of 6th period to discuss college!!
  • Virtual Visits! Did you know that you can visit a College without even leaving McCort.org?  Virtual College visits are available right here on the Crusher Guidance Page.  Visit the College Corner now!

• You will take the PSAT in OCTOBER - Know why it is an important test for you!
  • Jr year is when you could qualify for National Merit Scholarship recognition.
  • If nothing else, the PSAT is a great opportunity to get yourself ready for real SAT or ACT tests!
    • You should plan on taking AT LEAST 1 SAT or ACT your Jr year

• No, it's TRUE.  An Honors/AP level student should really consider getting 2 SAT and/or ACT tests in during Jr. year
  • A March/June or January/May time frame 
• This also means you should test prep - THIS MEANS YOU SHOULD STUDY AND BE PREPARED BEFORE YOU TAKE AN SAT/ACT!

• Test Prep means time, effort, and energy with practice tests, questions, and study guides.
• You should not take any test unprepared - especially a college entrance exam.  
• More info. on SAT and ACT testing - including FREE TEST PREP links - can be found here on the Crusher Guidance page:SAT/ACT TEST PAGE

AP CLASSROOM

• AP Students should be registering for their My AP Online Classroom.  Your teacher should have your JOIN CODE and you can sign up HERE
• There is an ABUNDANCE of resources for your AP Course here - make sure you use them!

FALL CLUB SIGN UPS

• Get involved with something - There is ALWAYS a good reason to being a part of some club, team, or school organization. Your involvement tells College Admissions and Employers that you are willing to be a part of something bigger than yourself!

JUNIOR INTERVIEWS

• All juniors are expected to complete a junior interview with their Counselor
  • It is a 40 minute opportunity to be one on one with your counselor to discuss YOU
  • In a job interview like setting (but much more relaxed), You should be prepared to discuss and answer questions on...
    • Possible Colleges and Majors (Match, Reach, & Safety Schools)
    • Personal Strengths and Weaknesses
    • Long and Short Term Goals
    • Financial Knowledge on College and Cost of Living
    • And multiple other possible topics found in the 50 Questions to Ask Before Your Senior Year worksheet.
  • Complete this Junior Interview Questionnaire to get started and be prepared for when you come and talk to your counselor.  OR be completely READY and complete this full ONLINE JUNIOR INTERVIEW

WINTER OF JUNIOR YEAR

• You should be working hard in the classroom to keep building a great junior year transcript.  
• You could also start to develop a College Ready folder to keep track of scholarships, college info., essay writing prompts/drafts, personal resume', and college open house schedules

SCHOLARSHIP HUNTING

• It's never too early to start a scholarship search - In fact, many micro-scholarships are designed to start early
  • RAISE ME - Micro-Scholarships
  • CollegeBoard Opportunity Scholarships
• Scholarship Connections - Try FASTWEB or GOING MERRY 
• Check out the Colleges of Distinction websites MEGA LIST of scholarship

IT's CHRISTMAS TIME!

PSAT Review

• PSAT score reports should be in sometime in December.
• USE YOUR REPORT to see if you qualified for National Merit Scholarships!
• USE YOUR REPORT to link to FREE & INDIVIDUALIZED SAT practice and prep!
  • KHAN ACADEMY

Start Researching Top Colleges 

• Find time over Christmas Break to research top colleges:

• You should start to THINK ABOUT what you are looking for in a college:
  • Academics, Retention & Placement Rates, Financial, Campus Types, Facilities, Student Life, Class Size, Location - There are many things to consider Check out these 33 Factors to consider when choosing a school.  
•  

START OFF THE NEW YEAR RIGHT!

• Nope, Junior year is the most important year of your High School!  These will be the grades colleges initially look at and have the greatest impact on your GPA!  FINISH STRONG!

STUDY FOR MIDTERMS!

SPRING OF JUNIOR YEAR

• Next year's Class Registration should be happening soon! Make sure you get registered and double check your historic grades.  You need to meet graduation requirements.  

• • • • Yep, it's SAT/ACT time.  You have been prepping since the fall. Spring is now the time to start looking at a standardize testing date.  Any junior who is in Algebra II or higher math class should consider a March, May, or June SAT/ACT
      • Check our SAT/ACT page for test dates, log-in info., and prep links.  
      • There are many FREE TEST PREP sites out there (HERE's another one).  Start here before you pay for anything!

KNOW MORE ABOUT POSSIBLE COLLEGES NOW!