If you're a junior...
August
Review course selections with your counselor in light of your current career goals.
September
Attend the Sonoma County College & Career Ready Fair at Windsor High School
October
Take the (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)
Participate in extracurricular activities.
Create a filing/organization system that works for you. You will begin to receive a great deal of mail after you take the PSAT. Begin to put together your resume of activities, involvement and honors.
Take advantage of opportunities to meet with college representatives visiting the El Molino College & Career Center (check the Daily Bulletin and the College & Career Center website for a complete listing.)
November
Seriously investigate career areas that interest you. Learn to use college directories, catalogs, files, and computer software in the College & Career Center, and write to the colleges and organizations for information.
Keep your grades up! Your junior year grades are extremely important in the admissions process.
December
Your PSAT/NMSQT Score Report Plus should arrive. Schedule a meeting with your counselor to go over the results.
Use the PSAT score report as a practice too for the upcoming SAT reasoning test.
If you plan to take the ACT, register now for the February ACT.
Continue to gather college information from schools that interest you. Explore college websites.
Attend the Financial Aid Night presented by the counselors and learn as much as you can about financial aid.
January
Do some volunteer work, either for an organization you believe strongly in or for someone who works in the profession you are interested in entering.
Keep your grades up.
February
If qualified, register for AP exams in May
Register for the March SAT Reasoning Test if you have completed the level of math needed for the test. If not, plan on taking the SAT in May of June.
Select your senior courses carefully, be sure to continue to challenge yourself academically.
March
Plan on visiting colleges and universities you are interested in either over Spring break or during the summer. Call the admission office to arrange a tour or a class visit.
Study and register for the ACT and/or SAT test if you have not already done so.
Match your course selections to the entrance requirements of your college choices.
Plan your senior year classes.
April
Plan to attend the Annual North Bay College Fair at Sonoma State University in the spring.
Begin to compile a list of schools you are interested and continue to research them and narrow then down. When you start school in the fall you will begin applying very early in your senior year. Be prepared!
May
Take the SAT if you haven’t already done so.
Take the AP exams.
Finalize summer employment plans.