JUNIORS

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 "TO DO" LIST FOR JUNIOR YEAR

Fall

  Meet with your counselor to:

Review your transcript and the MSHS graduation requirements.

Review the admissions requirements for the post-secondary education or training you plan to obtain.

Consider taking the PSAT/NMSQT. This is the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarships.  

Research careers by taking career interest/inventories.  

Research and list your post-secondary education opportunities. ie. colleges, training programs, military, etc.  

Attend the College Fair in September that takes place at NMU. Many colleges, universities, and other groups are there.

Speak to college and other representatives that visit MSHS. Listen to announcements for dates and times. Sign up in the guidance office. 

Consider taking the A.S.V.A.B. test for free at MSHS.

Winter

   Collect information about the post-secondary application process, entrance requirements, tuition and fees, room and board costs, etc. The Internet is an excellent way to “virtually” visit colleges and obtain this information.

Narrow down your post-secondary choices. Find out what test(s) you need for admission.  

Register for the ACT if you are taking it on your own (will be part of March Michigan Merit Exam for free).  Register for the SAT if you decide you need to take it.

Discuss your post-high school plans with your parents. Examine your financial resources with them. Gather financial aid information.

Spring 

Meet with your counselor to review senior year course opportunities and MSHS graduation requirements.  

Discuss your ACT/SAT scores with your counselor.  

Register to retake the ACT and/or SAT if plan to improve your score.  

Discuss any required admission essays with your counselor or English teacher. (Some college applications require one or more essays.)  

Stay involved with volunteer work and extra-curricular activities.  

Prepare a formal resume.  

Consider who you will ask for letters of recommendation if needed for college admissions or scholarships. 

Set up visits to post-secondary institutions.  

Request applications from colleges or go on-line to register there or print applications. 

Summer 

Visit the top three to five post-secondary institutions that best meet your career goals.  

Send follow-up thank you notes to those institutions you visit.  

Talk to people you know about their careers and the training they needed.  

VOLUNTEER in your community.  

Compose rough drafts of your college essays.  

Develop a financial aid plan, including a list of aid sources, requirements and deadlines for each application.

Other Junior Year Information

Financial Aid Night – Takes place in early January at 7:00 p.m. in the MSHS Little Theatre. Check the school calendar for exact date. This is for parents of juniors or seniors who would like information about paying for college. It is presented by a financial aid expert from NMU, and the information pertains to any university.

GIRLS STATE/BOYS STATE: A live-in experience of government in action on Michigan State University's campus in Lansing. FREE! One full week in June. Pick-up the application in the Guidance Office.

SUMMER COLLEGE EXPERIENCE:  A chance to spend two weeks studying on a college campus, check in the guidance office for information on specific programs. NMU’s program offers 50% of the tuition free. Pick up application in Guidance office or check on-line at almost any university.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE PROGRAMS: Rotary and other exchange programs offer overseas experience for juniors and seniors. See your guidance counselor for more information.

DUAL ENROLLMENT:  Dual Enrolment is the process of taking classes at Northern Michigan University while also being enrolled at MSHS. There are specific requirements set by the state of Michigan, NMU, and MSHS. Information can be found in the Guidance Office.

 

Important Tests for the Junior Year

MICHIGAN MERIT EXAM

            Michigan Merit Examination (MME) - The Michigan Merit Examination is the state assessment administered to all students enrolled in Grade 11 in       March of each year. The MME consists of three major components: the ACT college entrance examination, the WorkKeys job skills assessments in             reading and mathematics, and Michigan assessments in mathematics, science, social studies, and persuasive writing. The combined MME assessment       measures student learning in the Michigan high school standards, benchmarks, and core content expectations. This one way to qualify for the Michigan         Promise Scholarship. More information: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-22709_35150---,00.html

PSAT/NMSQT

• The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifier Test (PSAT/NMSQT) measures critical reading, verbal reasoning, math problem-solving, and writing skills.

There are at least five reasons to take the PSAT/NMSQT. 1. Enter the National Merit Scholarship competition. 2. Compare yourself with other college-bound students around the country. 3. Find out what the SAT is like. (The PSAT/NMSQT includes actual SAT questions.) 4. Forecast your SAT scores. 5. Participate in the Student Search Service to get mail from colleges.

The PSAT/NMSQT is administered in the fall at MSHS. Check the school calendar for the specific date. The date for sign up will be announced to students.

ACT

• The ACT measures English, mathematics, reading and science reasoning achievement. The ACT is the college entrance test which most colleges in the Midwest use for admission. It will be given for free as part of the Michigan Merit Exam in March, and therefore is one of the tests that qualifies a student for the Michigan Promise Scholarship. The sum of the subtest scores are used to determine eligibility for the Michigan Competitive Scholarship. Scores are also used by many universities for awarding aid (check the university financial aid website). This test can be taken more than once. Only the test with the highest composite score is used for admission to college. Test dates, practice tests and registration materials can be picked up in guidance or register on-line at http://www.act.org .

SAT

• The SAT 1 scores predict how well you are likely to do in the first year of college. It provides a verbal score and math score. The verbal score is weighted twice that of the math score. The verbal section tests your ability to understand and analyze what you read, recognize sentences that make logical sense and see relationships between pairs of words. The mathematics part tests your ability to solve problems involving arithmetic, algebra and geometry. The SAT 1 has traditionally been preferred for admission at colleges on the east and west coasts. The SAT 1 is also used as a qualifier for National Merit Semifinalists. This test can be taken more than once. Only the test with the highest composite score is used for admission to college. Practice tests and registration materials can be picked up in guidance or register on-line at http://www.collegeboard.org/sat/html/satform.html.

ASVAB

• The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is a vocational test consisting of ten short tests covering a variety of subject areas. The tests provide you with academic and occupational composite scores. From these scores, several careers are highlighted that you might wish to explore further. The test is administered by army personnel and is free to high school students. You do not have to join an armed service if you take this test. All Juniors and Seniors should consider taking this test. Administration and cost are covered by the United States Armed Forces. Test date will be on the school calendar and announced to students.