Junior Conference Timeline
Junior Conference: Timeline for College/Career Research and Applications
Junior Year:
Fall/Winter - Research college/schools for majors/careers, location, cost, academic offerings, admissions policies, and the method of applying and application deadline that you want to use
Winter/Spring - Register for SAT/ACT exams or investigate Test-Optional Policies
Winter/Spring - Create a target colleges list in Naviance under "Colleges I'm Thinking About"
Winter/Spring - Research the requirements of each school you are considering applying to. What is needed to apply and when is it due (essays, letters of recommendation, resume, etc.)?
Winter/Spring - Complete the Letter of Recommendation Survey
End of Junior Year/Summer before Senior Year:
Spring/Summer - Identify two teachers for letters of recommendation (if needed). Be sure to ask in person and then invite them through Naviance.
Spring/Summer - Begin college visits, in-person or online events/tours/information sessions
Spring/Summer - Draft your college essay (if needed)
Summer - Apply between August 1st and Thanksgiving (Do not create accounts or start apps until Aug 1)
Summer/August - Attend “Kick off to College” at BPHS to review college application procedures and Naviance!
End of Summer/Senior Year:
Summer/Early Fall—Finalize your college application list, including the correction submission method and deadline you will use for each school. Your list MUST be created and accurate in Naviance under "Colleges I'm Applying To."
Fall - Request transcripts at LEAST ten business days before deadlines
Winter/Spring - Search for scholarships in Naviance (scholarship list) and other websites such as:
Pittsburgh Foundation https://pittsburghfoundation.org/
Big Futures https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/
Scholarship 360 https://scholarships360.org/
Niche https://www.niche.com/
Going Merry https://www.goingmerry.com/
Fastweb https://www.fastweb.com/
FAFSA:
Complete the Free Application Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) beginning October 1st of your Senior Year (you can apply for your/your parents' FAS ID before Oct. 1. FAFSA completion night held annually January)
Federal Student Aid: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
SAT and ACT Information:
SAT: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat
ACT: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/registration.html
Other important websites and resources for post-secondary planning:
Naviance: Log in Via Clever; Super College Match, college match, college search, explore self-discovery tab
The Common Application: https://www.commonapp.org/
Applying 101: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying
US News and World Report: https://www.usnews.com/education
Big Future: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/