College Planning Calendar – Junior Year
Last updated: Mar 09, 2026, 3:09 p.m.
College Planning Calendar - Junior Year
Fall Semester
- Continue taking challenging academic courses, i.e. AA and AP courses. Maintain or strengthen, if necessary, your GPA. Update your academic goals and four-year plan
- Focus on becoming a leader in a few extra-curricular activities. Run for an office, lead a team or club, start your own business or service project
- Continue to compete in matches, contests, and competitions and add any awards to your résumé
- Use Naviance to expand your list of colleges, including “reach” and “likely” schools. Think about what you seek in a college: location/size/specific major/competitiveness
- Attend College Planning Night program for parents and students for an overview of the entire application process (December) schedule a meeting in February or March with your parent(s) and counselor to discuss your individual application process
- Attend free “ACT/SAT” review sessions during lunch & study hall
- Take the PSAT, the test that determines National Merit Scholarship qualifiers, at Walnut if you think you may qualify
- Get to know your teachers and start thinking about whom you might ask to write college and scholarship recommendations
- If you intend to seek an athletic scholarship, register at the NCAA Eligibility Center at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. Send out letters of interest to coaches at the schools that most interest you
- Preview how much financial aid for which you may be eligible by completing the FAFSA4caster at www.fafsa.ed.gov
- Attend college fairs and meet college representatives when they visit school during Jr./Sr. lunch. Ask questions!
- Visit colleges. Students are permitted three (3) excused absences during both junior and senior year for college visits
- Complete any available surveys and assessments not previously completed in Naviance
- Register for and take the December ACT. Order the test booklet(s) for review. No college requires submission of scores from both ACT and SAT and no college specifies which test it prefers
Spring Semester
- Register for the March SAT if scores on the PSAT suggest that test as well. No college requires submission of scores from both tests and no college specifies which test it prefers
- Preview the Common Application and review copies of the supplements from colleges that interest you
- Prepare for and take the district provided ACT
- Visit colleges. Students are permitted three (3) excused absences during both junior and senior year for college visits
- Write a response to the Common Application essay. Submit to an English teacher, the Writing Center, or the CIC for feedback
- Ask 2-3 teachers to commit to writing recommendation letters. Prepare documentation that will help teachers write effective letters. Keep in mind teachers cannot write unlimited recommendations (May)
- Continue to prepare for follow-up ACT and/or SAT tests
- Take AP Exams after completing relevant coursework only if schools under consideration require or suggest taking those tests
- Register for an August Common Application Boot Camp & Essay Writing Workshop
Summer
- Find a summer job, do volunteer work, attend a summer program, or shadow a professional in the career that interests you
- Continue to research and visit colleges and note any early action or early decision deadlines at colleges of choice
- Read for pleasure to build your vocabulary
