Junior Year - September to November

Take the PSAT — Take the PSAT as a junior to practice for the SAT and qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program. If necessary, take a prep course to hone your testing skills.

Prepare for the SAT and/or ACT — Begin preparing for the SAT and/or ACT at the start of junior year. It is a good idea to take a full-length practice test of each, and use the results to help you decide which test is best for you. Many students take their test of choice two or three times, with the final test in early fall of their senior year. Check out test prep resources we have for you on the FinnEd Portal or invest in a college entrance exam prep course.

Take a Skills and Learning Inventory Assessment – take one of the personality, intelligence, skills or learning assessments on the FinnEd Portal. Better understand your strengths and weaknesses to narrow down your choices and lead you towards the best school for you.

Research Colleges — Use online search tools, attend college fairs, reference materials, speak with college reps, and ask friends already in college for their thoughts on different colleges to begin formulating an opinion of where you want to go. Continue this process throughout junior and senior year. The FinnEd Portal has many resources available in this process. Make visits to college campuses—Take time in the fall of your junior year to visit local colleges. Even if these aren’t schools you want to attend, this will provide you with an initial sense of what college is like. College Board provides a helpful campus visit guide at BigFuture.