Junior Year Timeline
Fall: Junior Year
Get off to a good start!
Not only are grades important, but a positive attitude in the classroom will enable you to have a positive relationship with your junior-year teachers. You may need to ask one or two of these teachers to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf as part of your college applications.
BHS College Evening Program
Watch the recorded presentation for juniors and parents and then attend the live virtual Q & A session for a detailed presentation of the college search and admission process.
Junior Advisory and Meeting with your Counselor
Attend the Junior Advisory in the fall, followed by small group sessions with your counselor to help formulate your post-secondary plans and learn more about Naviance. Watch school announcements and your BSD email for your scheduled time.
College List
Develop an initial list of colleges to consider by using Naviance and other resources.
College Rep Visits
Add potential college names to your “Colleges I’m Thinking About” section of Naviance so that you will receive email notifications of college rep visits. These visits take place both in person and virtually. Click here for a list of college rep visits.
NCAA & College Bound Student Athletes
Student athletes interested in pursuing athletic opportunities in college must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center. Complete details are available at www.eligibilitycenter.org.
College Campus Visits
Visit college campuses throughout your junior year. To make an official visit, students should contact the admissions office online to schedule an appointment or can access a virtual tour on the college’s website.
Winter/Spring: Junior Year
College Entrance Exams
Registration and Preparation Register online at www.actstudent.org or www.collegeboard.org for spring ACT and/or SAT exams. If you would like to enroll in a BHS test prep class, refer to our SAT/ACT Test Preparation page.
Post-Secondary Planning Meeting
Make an appointment to meet with one of the post-secondary counselors starting in January to discuss your college/career options in light of your interests and academic profile. While your plans may be indefinite, it is helpful to be able to describe your general strengths and preferences. Students must complete the Post-Secondary Planning Worksheet which is available in Naviance under the ‘About Me’ tab, prior to scheduling an appointment. Once the worksheet is completed, email Kimberly Priola at kpriola@barrington220.org.
Junior Advisory and Meeting with your Counselor
Attend the Junior Advisory followed by small group sessions with your counselor to help formulate your post-secondary plans and learn more about Naviance. Watch school announcements and your BSD email for your scheduled time. (February)
Ask the Experts-A College Admissions Panel
Attend the panel discussion featuring college admissions professionals who will answer your questions and provide valuable insight into the college admissions process. (March)
BHS College Fair
Attend BHS College Fair to meet representatives from over 200 colleges and universities from around the country. (April)
Academic Performance
Be aware that college applications require you to submit a transcript and/or report your academic record through six semesters. It is important to finish your junior year with grades as strong or stronger than your first two years of high school.
Extracurricular and Volunteer Activities
Colleges evaluate students for well-rounded life experiences. Involvement with your school and community are expected by many colleges. Begin compiling your list of extracurricular and volunteer experiences. See sample resume.
College Campus Visits
Prepare now for college visits you would like to make in the summer and on days when school is not in session. Students should make reservations online with college admissions offices or access a virtual tour through the college’s website.
Summer Enrichment Opportunities
These programs are a great opportunity to explore your interests while gaining hands-on experience. An application may be required. You can find a list of these opportunities on the Post-Secondary Counseling page and by visiting individual college websites.
Summer: Junior Year
Organize Information & College Visits
Continue to gather and evaluate college information as well as visit schools virtually or in-person that interest you. Organize a file of college information with application requirements and due dates clearly marked. Use this Application Organization Chart.
Resume & Parent Survey
Some colleges require a letter of recommendation from your counselor. In order to write a meaningful letter, your counselor would like some more information about you. Summer is the time to prepare your resume and parent recommendation survey. A copy of each of these documents should be submitted directly to your counselor at the start of the school year.
Essay Outlines
Because your senior year application season can get busy, it is helpful to outline or draft responses to college essay questions by reviewing applications online in advance.
Begin College Applications
Many applications will be available online as of August 1st. You don’t have to complete your applications, but it will be helpful for you to get the ones started that you can. It will give you a better sense of how much work each application will take. This will help you to better manage your time in the summer as well as fall of your senior year.