by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
The junior year of high school often doesn't get the respect it deserves. Call it the Jan
Brady Syndrome (or middle-child syndrome) -- the junior year is one of those middle
years lost between the fear and excitement of the first year of high school and the joy
and bravado of the senior year of high school. In the hierarchy of importance, however,
the junior year deserves a high ranking because of its pivotal nature.
If you are in or approaching your junior year in high school -- or know someone who is --
this is the article for you. In the junior year of high school you'll make critical decisions
that could have a major impact on the next five years of your life (and beyond) as you
start narrowing lists of colleges and career paths. The good news is that all these critical
activities high-school juniors must attempt to accomplish can be boiled down into five
major topics -- and that's what this article is about.
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What if You're Not Planning to Go to College?
If you know you will not be attending college after high school -- or at least
immediately after high school -- how is your junior year important?
It's important because you need to start looking at prospective employers
for after you graduate, and if you start looking in your junior year, you may
actually be able to start working for the company the summer between junior
and senior years. You may also want to look into some type of additional education
or training you may need after high school, especially if your career field requires
certifications. And if you're thinking of a military career, now is the time to
meet with military recruiters to learn more about your options.
You'll want to work on your career and job-search skills, such as building
your network on contacts, developing a resume, and mastering interviewing skills.
Our Job-Search 101 Tutorial
may be just the place to start. Follow this link to master the art of
completing job applications.
And to under stand more about certifications, read this article:
Certifiably
Empowering: Hot Fields in Which Certification May Boost Your Career.
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Here are the five critical issues that high-school juniors must deal with to increase their
chances of success in college and career.
1. Classes and Grades. The junior year selection of classes -- and the grades
you receive in them -- is very important because it is the last full year of grades that
admissions folks will review while deciding your fate. You'll want to stick to a tough
regimen of college-prep classes, including some advanced-placement or other honors
classes, if possible. Don't go crazy with the courses and overload yourself, but the
courses and grades you receive in your junior year are very important.
Some of the teachers you have for classes in your junior year may also play an important
role for you in your senior year -- when you ask them to write you a letter of recommendation
for college -- so plan on spending some of the time in your junior year getting to know at
least a few of your favorite teachers on a more personal level.
Learn more in: Four
Steps To Getting Perfect College Recommendations.
2. Standardized Tests. The junior year, from start to end, is filled with standardized tests.
Early in the year, you'll take the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship
Qualifying Test). This test, which measures critical reading, math problem-solving, and writing skills,
is important for three reasons. First, it's a good indicator and excellent preparation for the SAT
test that you will take at the end of your junior year. Second, your score may qualify you for
a select group of merit scholarships. Third, it's one of the first chances you have to begin
requesting information from colleges.
Many school systems also have a qualifying test that all high-school students need to pass
to graduate, and often these are scheduled in the junior year.
In May, if you have been taking advanced placement classes, you'll have the AP Placement
Tests. These tests are designed to test your knowledge of the subject at college level,
with the results recommending that you receive advanced placement or college credit for the
subject. More than 90 percent of the colleges and universities in the U.S. recognize these
exam grades.
Finally, in May or June, you should schedule the SAT and/or ACT -- the basic standardized
tests that many colleges use as part of their admission criteria. Some of the more highly
competitive colleges also require some of the five subject-specific SAT Subject exams -- so you
may need to schedule the SAT Subject Tests in the late spring, although you could wait until the very
beginning of your senior year.
Learn more here: Standardized
Testing Resources for Teens.
3. College Planning. The junior year is THE time to get organized for handling the
onslaught of college material that will be coming your way -- in the mail, in your email, and
from college fairs and visits to your high school. The whole college search can be a little
unnerving, a bit daunting, so just relax and take your time during this year and the summer
that follows to really focus on finding the right mix of colleges for you. Ideally, by the end of
your junior year you'll have a list of no more than 10 to 15 colleges.
Numerous print and online resources (including each college's Website) can help you learn
more about colleges, including important stuff like majors and minors, academic quality and
ranking, accreditation, job and graduate-school placement rates, costs, and financial aid. You'll
also want to attend a few college fairs and meet with college representatives when they visit
your high school. The junior year is also a good time to start investigating where the people
you respect and admire attended college.
Many students just get a big box and start dumping all the mailed materials they receive into
the box, but it probably makes sense to develop some sort of filing system so that the
information from the colleges on your short list is easy to find when you need it.
Find lots more resources in our College
Planning Resources for Teens, as well as this article:
Choosing a College that's
Right for You.
4. Career Research. Your career choice(s) may have a big impact on the list of
potential colleges you consider, so it's important to at least try narrowing down career possibilities.
How do you discover possible career paths? Conduct research, take some
career assessment
tests, talk with your family and other adult family friends, meet with your teachers and guidance
counselors, and evaluate your likes and dislikes.
If at the end of this self-reflection and research you are still unsure, that's okay too. In that
case, you may be looking at more comprehensive universities that offer a wide range of
majors and minors. And if you conclude this step with a concrete career concept, then you
can start narrowing down college possibilities.
Finally, remember that this research is purely preliminary. As you move to your senior year
and then into college, many more career options will arise that you'll probably at least consider.
Get a jump on your planning by reading: Choosing
a College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path.
5. Portfolio Development. It is never too soon to begin documenting your
education, experience, and accomplishments. Start by listing all your high-school accomplishments,
including your coursework, academic or athletic accomplishments, awards and honors, and
any other achievements. Next, review any and all of your work experiences, including part-time jobs
and volunteering or community service, and describe those experiences using action verbs.
Showcase any leadership positions you have held. If you have room, include hobbies and interests.
Developing a resume is a pretty easy task once you have brainstormed most of the key content.
The next step is simply designing (or borrowing) a nice layout and printing it out. If possible,
avoid using a template as the format for your resume.
The final step is developing a portfolio that demonstrates the kind of student you are. A portfolio
can include copies of your resume, awards and other certificates, letters of recommendation
and/or a references list, samples of your work, and any other tangible proof of your accomplishments.
Find other key resources on resumes
and career portfolios.
Final Thoughts
While this article provides a brief overview of the five key issues that high school juniors face,
we've also developed the High-School
Junior-Year Timetable so that you can plan your junior year month-by-month.
Finally, remember that the more you accomplish in your junior year, the more you can
relax and truly enjoy your senior year in high school.
Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search
terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms.
Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers,
one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well CEO of
EmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder of
MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and
EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of
Quintessential Careers Press,
including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter,
QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a
published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often
quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is
also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his
personal Website or
reach him by email at randall(at)quintcareers.com.
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