Meet with Your Counselor
Meet with your high school counselor, again, to ensure that your course schedule is challenging enough to prepare you for college.
- Check into any prerequisites for advanced-level junior and senior-year courses.
- Select purposeful electives that may lead to a career path. Obtain industry certifications. Learn about dual credit classes and how they transfer.
Explore Summer Opportunities
Look for a job, internship, or volunteer position that will help you learn about a field of interest. Check out our “Get Involved & Summer Internships” page to get some ideas of where to start.
Volunteer & Get Involved
Either through work or volunteering, get involved in community-based activities that interest you or allow you to explore career interests. Remember- it’s quality not quantity that counts.
Add to your list (resume) of these activities and any leadership roles. Colleges/universities and jobs like to see how you have used your time and what skill you have developed.
Tour College Campuses
If possible, take advantage of vacation or other family travel time to visit colleges and see what they’re like. Even if you have no interest in attending the college you are visiting, it will help you learn what to look for in a college.
Learn about choosing a college and find a link to our free college search tool.
Take ACT or SAT Prep Class
Consider taking an ACT or SAT prep class.
Prepare for Junior Year
Now is the perfect time to start getting ready for the challenges of junior year. Focus on keeping your grades strong, exploring extracurricular activities, and building good study habits. Begin researching colleges and career paths, and consider taking practice ACT tests to prepare for taking the real test next year. If you’re interested in AP or honors courses, talk to your counselor about your options. The more you plan now, the smoother your transition into junior year will be!
