Grade 11
10 Pro Tips
to ensure a stress-free start to your student’s junior year As you dive into this exciting and potentially intimidating season, let’s make sure you and your student are set for a fantastic junior year! Working with your student’s teachers and college counselor will help keep everything on track. Here are 10 key things to keep in mind as you start the year:
1
Academic Planning & Junior Year Coursework: Review your student’s course schedule to ensure they're on track for graduation and meeting college requirements. Transcripts are heavily weighted in the college admissions process, so focus on excelling in challenging courses that align with future college and career goals.
2
Standardized Testing: Your student will likely take the PSAT/NMSQT or ACT in October and receive scores in November. Use these scores to guide your test prep strategy for the ACT and/or SAT, especially if submitting scores on college applications. Keep track of test dates, registration deadlines, and prep accordingly. Here are the 2024/25 test dates:
SAT Test Date
Registration Deadline
Test Date
Registration Deadline
10/5/2024
9/20/2024
10/26/2024
9/20/2024
11/2/2024
10/18/2024
12/14/2024
11/8/2024
12/7/2024
11/22/2024
2/8/2025
1/3/2025
3/8/2025
2/21/2025
4/5/2025
2/28/2025
5/3/2025
4/18/2025
6/14/2025
5/9/2025
6/7/2025
5/22/2025
7/12/2025
6/6/2025
Register here
3
ACT
Register here
Career Exploration: Help them explore potential career interests through internships, job shadowing, or discussions with professionals in fields they are interested in. Roadtrip Nation is an excellent free resource to get started!
4
College Research: Begin exploring potential colleges and universities. This includes understanding different types of schools, programs of interest, and campus environments. Work hand-in-hand with your college counselor to build a college list that suits your wants and needs.
5
Financial Planning: Start discussing college costs and financial aid options. Work with your college counselor to learn about scholarships, grants, and savings plans available.