As sophomores, we see junior and senior year as a major step.
We are finally upperclassmen about to graduate and be on our own, but as juniors, do we really know all the things we have to do to before senior year?
In school we get the option to talk to a college counselor or our parents about the future, but sometimes they really don’t go in depth or they don’t understand exactly what we need.
There are multiple routes you can take during this process and it all starts with our junior year of high school.
One option if you’re thinking of college, is talking to the Judson High School College Career counselor Cynthia Cortez., Asking questions that have to do with scholarships, applying for college and how to be prepared for senior year, will help you understand before the time comes.
As a junior, if you’re wanting to further your education, either a university or community college, there are many different schools with degree programs ranging from two to four years depending on your pathway.
When applying for colleges they automatically look at our rank and GPA. Depending on how high or low the GPA determines which colleges will accept you. Grades in high school are a major factor in applying for colleges, as they show how well we have managed our work and time over the years.
Having a good score on the SAT will also help you with getting accepted into college. Not many know that you can retake the SAT up to three times to get the score you want or need to get into the college you desire.
College Board is the organization that provides a place where we are able to go and see our scores for tests like the PSAT, SAT, TSI or AP. Some students don’t really take it seriously thinking it’s just another test, but in fact it’s not and could actually help in the future with scholarships.
We can get a scholarship for almost anything. Early senior year is the time to start applying to help your chances better on achieving a good scholarship.
When applying for scholarships, it is better to apply in the middle or before the end date so they will not either skip over you or forget. Applying early does have some advantages, but you also risk not being seen.
You can go online and search the college or scholarship you want to apply for, or have in mind, and fill out an application there; some may have an application fee.
If you don’t plan on pursuing college, that’s okay. There are other options and ways to prepare yourself and your future after high school.
Trade school is another option that is available.
During the quarantine year, many kids of this generation had the chance to learn a lot of self taught skills. Trade school is a good option for going into a career where you don’t need a degree. Trade school is designed to teach students a specific job in a skilled trained career and help advance your skills that you’ve learned throughout your time of interest.
One good trade school here in San Antonio is Southern Careers institute (https://scitexas.edu/san-antonio-south/), they teach things such as medical, beauty, online, business, trades, and technology.
All you have to do is go to the website provided and go to the enroll section up above where you can fill out all your information that’s requested. Learning a skill throughout that time will impact your mindset, getting you ready to start working.
As many other options provided, the military is also a good option. It offers a chance to serve your country, gain valuable skills, and receive educational benefits.
You can develop discipline, leadership, and teamwork skills while also receiving specialized training in various fields. Plus, the military provides opportunities for personal growth and traveling. When joining the military for education the GI Bill can help cover the cost of college tuition, books and housing expenses.
Additionally, there are programs like the Tuition Assistance Program and the Service members Opportunity Colleges, that can provide further educational opportunities while you are serving. It’s a great way to pursue higher education while gaining real-world experience.
Working straight out of high school is also beneficial. Getting a job at such an early age helps improve your mindset, responsibility and your future. Working improves you as a person so much because it prepares you for that work habit, getting you used to doing, and going to, work on a daily basis. When working, you interact with other people helping you learn social skills and real-world lessons you’d look back to in the future.
Now you know a few tips before senior year on how to achieve a successful future, and yeah it’s a lot, but as much as you can get busy throughout the year focusing on school, you must remember to have fun and take care of yourself.
Your mental health is also important during this time and it is definitely okay to take a break and then keep going. Going out and having fun or involving yourself in school activities can do so much for you, or even staying at home on the weekends to have time to yourself.
Never give up, stay in class, get good grades and enjoy every moment you have. Graduation day is closer than we think.