Juniors: Are you where you need to be?
FULL PACKET DETAILS BELOW

March: You should already have started researching colleges that you plan on applying to.

• Go to https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges and search the college of your choice for tips to researching your college
  • Presenters Sheet: PHSR Presenter presentation 1 Per form
• Plan college visits
• Take SAT/ACT: See links below for SAT/ACT dates. Juniors should take both before the end of this school year. See if SAT II Subject Areas tests are required for the university that you are thinking about applying to. If so, don’t forget to register for those tests.
  • SAT Registration & Details
  • ACT Registration & Details
• Start working on your resume, see why having a resume in High School is Important!

April/May: You should be starting to narrow down your list of colleges that you will apply to. It is recommended that you apply to 1-2 colleges that are a reach, 1-2 that you’re pretty sure you can get into, and 1-2 safety schools

• Continue with college visits
• Take SAT/ACT. Do you need SAT II Subject Area tests? Check the university website to find out.

June/July: College applications will start coming up on the university websites.

• Start looking at them, look at the essay topics and start working on them (see College Packet Below “What makes a good essay”)
• If you haven’t already done so, start using your organizational system to keep all required documentation together!
• Get your senior picture (yippee!!)

August: On the first day of school for SENIOR YEAR, you should know exactly what you have left to do to complete your college applications. For example, I need:

• Teacher recommendations
• Request transcripts
• Retake SAT/ACT one more time before November
• Have my English teacher proofread my essay, etc.

Honestly, if you’ve been diligent and organized, much of your college application work should already be completed by the time school starts.

Post High School Readiness Portfolio (Master File Template)
This assignment is for 11th Grade Classes!

Step 1: Create a Resume

• There are a LOT of Templates online, but you can also go the Resume Link Above

Step 2: Research Your Options!

• You should be going to the website of the
  college of your choice (or military branch) and researching things like:
  • Admissions Requirements
    • Look at the MATRIX OF FL SCHOOLS to see expectations:
    • SAT/ACT Scores
    • AP Course Preferences?
    • Minimum GPA
  • Does this college require an essay?
    • If Not go to Prompts & Resources and find prompts that work for you!
  • What is the Tuition Cost?
  • Application Deadlines
  • Campus Life and Programs that fit your career needs: 
    • Look at your College or School of Study at the University (EX: College of Business, School of Nursing)
    • Housing Styles/Cost
    • Can you take a car?
    • Do they have Meal Plans?

Create YOUR “My College Matrix”

Step 3: The College Essay

• This is the prompt that we worked on in class, remember to Format it Properly!: 
  • TYPED in MLA Format: College Essay MLA Template
  • 12 pt Times New Roman
  • Double Spaced
  • Include the school & Prompt at the Top (Where the Title would be)
  • Fit the Word Count for your Prompt (Note-Some schools require 2 prompts)
• Be Ready for editing!!! (This is a “Did You TRY” part of the assignment-Like the resume, you will be editing and resubmitting it with the final Packet)
• Tips for Writing a Good College Essay see link: Components of a Good College Essay
• Essay Rubric see link: College Essay Rubric

Step 4: RESULTS From the SAT or the ACT!

• Go to the ACT & SAT Websites (See my links above)
• Print out your scores or testing tickets.

Step 5: FAFSA, Scholarships & Bright Futures

• Complete your FAFSA form (Link above) to find out the Family Share of Cost
• Research Scholarships that you qualify for
• Review the Bright Futures links to see if you can get this great opportunity!

Step 6: This is the FINAL Compilation of ALL of the Items in the College Portfolio

• Neatly put in the folder that I gave you, per the stickers on the pockets, including:
  • The Letters of Recommendation that were requested from coaches or mentors. 
  • This is where you should have your FINAL COPY of the CORRECTED
    • Resume
    • College Essay
    • Scholarship Essay

This is where you make that
final good impression that will help you achieve your College/Military/Job
Success Goals. 
You CAN DO IT!!!

Final Wrap Up

Thank you Notes & Cover Letters:

• SEE LINKS to the Side!
  •  Thank you Notes
  • Cover Letter

Thank you,

Mrs. Reed

Updated 3/31/25