Are you a junior? Have you thought about your college career already? Have you ever wondered what you have to do and when to do it? This is the place to look.

August of your Junior year
-Review your high school coursework and activity plans.
-Keep in mind that colleges look for: challenging coursework, a strong GPA, involvement in extracurricular activities, volunteer work.
-Obtain a Social Security Number if you don't already have one. You will need it to apply for colleges and financial aid.

September of your Junior year
-Identify sources of college and career information at your school. Start looking through guidance publications, college catalogs, and guidebooks.
-Put together a list of ten colleges that you would like to attend. Plan to apply to at least three to five schools.
-Talk to your parents and your high school counselor about where you want to go to school.
-Study and register for the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)
-Obtain dates and locations of college fairs and "parent nights" in your local area.

October of your Junior year
-Take the PSAT.
-Inquire about Advanced Placement or summer college courses that may be available to you.
-Attend college fairs and financial aid/parent nights.
-Continue learning about the colleges that you're considering. The Internet is a good resource.

November of your Junior year
-Call (800)4-FED-AID and ask for free copies of financial aid materials, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

December of your Junior year
-Look for your PSAT score report.
-Start planning to take the SAT I and/or SAT II exams, if necessary. You may also need to take the ACT. Check with colleges you are applying to and find out specific testing requirements. Ask your high school counselor about registration deadlines.

January of your Junior year
-Go through the catalogs of the three to five schools that interest you the most.
-During your college visits, make sure you meet with an admissions representative and a Financial Aid Officer to find out what types of aid are available.
-Attend financial aid nights if you have not already done so.

February of your Junior year
-Start seriously investigating private scholarships and other student aid programs. Ask your teachers and counselor if any local organizations offer free use of a scholarship program.
-Register and study for the SAT (I and II) and/or ACT exams.

March of your Junior year
-Continue investigating outside funding sources.
-Register and study for the SAT and/or ACT exams if you have not already done so.

April of your Junior year
-Begin scheduling visits to each of the schools that are on your final list.
-Consider taking AP exams while information is fresh in your mind.
-Take an SAT prep course to help prepare for the upcoming test.
-Begin preparing essays for college admissions and scholarship applications.

May of your Junior year
-Take the SAT/ACT exams.
-In early mid-May, take AP exams.
-Mark a calendar with test dates and registration deadlines for the remaining SAT exams. You might take them during your senior year.
-Continue compiling information to find out which organizations award scholarships to graduating seniors (you might have to begin applying the summer after your junior year.)

June of your Junior year
-Take the SAT and/or ACT exams if you did not take them last month.
-Read a variety of books and magazines and review your math skills over the summer. This will prepare you for SAT if you plan to take it in the fall.
-Obtain a summer job that might relate to your interest.
-If possible, save some money to pay for college costs.
-If you travel this summer, consider scheduling a college visit.