Junior Planning
September
- Make certain you are enrolled in courses meeting Westmont's entry requirements:
- English - 4 years
- Science - 3 years (two years of laboratory science)
- Mathematics - 3 years (including at least second-year algebra)
*Algebra I taken in the 8th grade is acceptable
- Foreign language - 2 years of same language (3 years recommended)
- Social Science - 2 years (history, government, sociology, political science, economics, psychology, civilization, geography)
- Strong academic electives
- Do you have a poor grade that needs to be retaken?
- Attend College Planning / Financial Aid programs locally.
- Develop a filing system for college materials. A paper trail is important. Throw nothing away until you have decided on a college.
- Take Honors, AP or IB courses when possible. Challenge yourself!
- Gather college information and applications.
- Think about the qualities you feel best fit you, i.e. location, size, public, private, or Christian college. Do some soul-searching; compile lists and charts.
- Select a college search program on the Internet; CollegeSearch.com or CollegeBoard.com.
- Talk with valuable college resources at your school, such as your counselor, the College Resource Center, your teachers, coaches and recent graduates from your high school.
- Visit with college admission representatives who visit your campus. Read college catalogs, and viewbooks.
- Attend college nights, local college fairs, and Christian College Fairs.
October
- Visit and tour college campuses.
- Westmont College Preview Day #1, TBD. Register online!
- Develop a list of your interests, educational priorities, special talents and abilities, needs, preferences and personal qualities. Use these to match to colleges.
- Take PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholars Competition) or PLAN.
- Pay attention to what this year’s seniors are doing…especially the scholarships they are applying for.
November
- SAT’s (we recommend taking now and again in spring). Or, you might consider taking the ACT.
- Westmont College Preview Day #2, TBD. Register online!
December
- Carefully go over your PSAT/NMSQT scores and use the information in “Report of Student Answers” to interpret and understand your scores and to prepare for the SAT I and II.
- See your counselor if you have questions or concerns.
January/February
- Attend college planning classes when available.
- Consider using computer software to assist you with the SAT and ACT.
- Register for March SAT’s (or register for a spring ACT).
- Begin to make specific lists of colleges according to the research you have already concluded.
- Review applications for colleges in which you are interested. Know what they will require from you.
- Explore financial aid options. A helpful website is: www.finaid.org.
March
- Westmont College Preview Day #3, TBD. Register online!
- Meet with your counselor and parents to discuss the college selection process, classes, GPA, & class rank.
- You should take either the SAT or ACT at least once sometime in April, May or June. If possible, take the SAT or ACT twice.
- Register to take any SAT II tests necessary while course materials are still fresh in your mind.
- Students who submit a test score of 580 on the writing section of the SAT Critical Reasoning Test or a test score of 29 on the ACT English subscore are not required to take ENG 002 Composition and may fulfill the Writing for the Liberal Arts requirement by taking a writing-intensive course offered by any department.
- A few UC campuses recommend you take certain SAT II's (Subject Tests) for specific colleges or schools, and majors. Even if subject tests are not recommended, they do add merit to a student's application.
- Request viewbooks, catalogs, and application forms from the colleges you’ve selected on your list. These can also be accessed online.
- Start your plan for a financial aid package or how you will pay for college.
- Visit colleges, take tours, speak with admissions counselors, professors, departments of interest, housing, financial aid.
- Plan a strong senior year both semesters. A poor second semester in your senior year may be harmful!
- Last chance to register for ACT, SAT I & II's.
April/May
- Help your family with college expenses; get a summer job. Consider doing an internship in something that interests you. Colleges like this.
- If your ACT/SAT scores are low, summer is a good time to strengthen your skills.
- Consider attending a college preparatory summer program offered by many colleges. See your counselor for details.
- Continue to visit colleges.
- Practice essay writing, be creative, use your own words and style!
- Decide which application process you want: Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision (be sure you understand the responsibilities of each). Westmont has Early Action and Regular Decision only.
Summary
- This is your last summer before packing for college!
- Continue working to save for next year.
- Stay involved in extracurricular activities.
- Have frank discussions with your parents about college possibilities and limitations.
- What is the bottom line amount you can afford?
- Continue seeking God’s wisdom!