This document provides tips and advice for high school juniors to help prepare for college. It outlines an action plan for juniors to take standardized tests, explore colleges, consider majors, and prepare for senior year applications. Specific goals are given for each semester, including taking the PSAT, starting the college search, visiting schools, and applying to colleges in the fall and winter of senior year. Common excuses for not attending college are addressed, along with tips for a successful career path after high school.

1. Crossroads:Pathways to Success, Inc.October 8, 2011High School Tips: Preparation for College

2. Junior YearIt's junior year, and the time has come for serious college planning. If you prepare for standardized tests now, you can avoid the frenzy of senior year. Time spent now will more than pay off next year. You will be able to keep up your grades and enjoy your final high school months while scouring Scholarships.com or other sites for free scholarship money.

3. Junior Action PlanGoals for the Fall SemesterTake the PSAT/NMSQTSign up to take these tests in October.Always sign up for student search service so that you will hear from colleges and scholarship programs.Start Your College SearchMake a list of your personal preferences and qualities. List programs and majors you may be interested in.Begin thinking about Financial Aid.

4. Junior Action Plan WinterGet Ready for the SATStart studying with friends and being serious about it.Get some SAT prep books.Attend the SAT program at Providence.Schedule your spring testingYou can take either the SAT® or up to three SAT Subject Tests™ on one test day. Plan your testing schedule carefully if you want to take both, and register for two separate test dates.

5. Junior Action Plan Continued Explore CollegesBegin to visit potential schools you are interested in.Prepare well for AP ExamsDo well on AP exams and receive credit, advanced placements tests can do a lot for you.Plan Ahead for the Summer & Senior YearReview your senior year class schedule with your counselor. Challenge yourself with honors and AP classes. Plan summer activities early. Enrich yourself by volunteering, getting an interesting job or internship or even a summer camp of your interests.

6. Junior Action Plan Goals for the spring semesterExplore CollegesStart visiting local colleges: large, small, public and private. Get a feel for which campus works for you. Create a list of 15-20 potential colleges that you wish to attendStart Considering possible MajorsIf you are not ready to pin down your career, and most high school students aren't, consider taking a career assessment test. Some websites provide free assessment tests that match your interests with possible careers. You may also want to speak with your guidance counselor to find out if these tests are offered at your school.

7. Junior Year Tips & TacticsKeep up your list of your awards and extracurricular activities, along with the dates you participated and the names and contact information of people who you might want to ask to write a letter of recommendation for you. Keeping track of all of this information now will make it easier for you to remember during the college admissions process.

8. Junior Year Tips & TacticsKeep a master calendar of all of your deadlines and test dates. As you decide which schools you want to apply to, add the dates for their deadlines for admissions and financial aid.You can take the college admissions tests as many times as you want, and colleges will look at your highest score. So it does not hurt your admission chances to take them in the spring or summer of your junior year to find out what your testing strengths and weaknesses are.

9. Junior Year Tips & TacticsMake sure you’re taking all the required courses you need for college. Many top four-year colleges prefer your high school education to include classes in English, math, science, social studies and foreign language all four years.Evaluate your extra-curricular activities, keeping in mind that quality is more important than quantity. In addition to your transcript, schools look at how you spend your free time to see that you’ve made a meaningful contribution and a long-term commitment to an organization, cause or hobby.

10. Senior Action PlanFallNarrow your list of colleges to approximately five to eight. Get all financial aid info from each and try to visit if possible.Ask for recommendations.Get your teachers, family members, peers to review your application essay. LET CROSSROADS REVIEW IT.Make a master calendar with the following:Test dates, fees and deadlinesCollege application due datesRequired financial documentsRecommendations, transcripts and other material due datesHigh school deadlines for application requests. Decide whether or not you want to apply for early admission.November 1 in the early admission deadline.

11. Senior Action Plan cont.WinterReview Application DetailsMost applications are due between January 1 and February 15.Have your high school send your transcript to colleges.Contact colleges to make sure they have received your application materials.SIT BACK AND ENJOY READING ACCEPTANCE LETTERS

12. University of North Carolina at Chapel HillLocation: Chapel Hill, FALL 2011 ENROLLED FIRST-YEAR CLASS -- ACADEMICS1st in high-school class 7.0% (of those whose schools reported rank)2nd in high-school class 5.0% Top 10% of high-school class 80%Average GPA 4.5 (of 91% whose schools reported 4.0 GPAs)High-school GPA of 4.0+ 90.0%25th-75th percentiles—SAT Critical Reading 590-700—SAT Math 610-710—SAT Writing 610-690—ACT Composite 28-32

13. University of North Carolina at Charlotte-UNCCLocation: Charlotte, NCHigh School Grade Point Average – 4.0 Scale 3.4 to 4.0Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) – 1480-1730ACT – Middle 50% Range 21-26Total Enrollment25,300

14. North Carolina A&T State UniversityLocation: Greensboro, NCEstablished in 1891Profile of Freshmen Admitted Fall of 2011A combined Mathematics and Critical Reading Scholastic Assessment Test Score (SAT) of 750 or higher A composite American College Test Score (ACT) of 16 or higherA Final High School GPA – 2.25 or higher.

15. University of North Carolina at Greensboro-UNCGUNCG seeks men and women with ability, character, motivation, and the intellectual potential to meet UNCG standards of performance. Application Procedures for Freshmen Complete the UNCG application forms, including essay. A $55 application fee must accompany the application. This fee covers the cost of processing the application and is subject to change; it is not refundable and is not applicable toward tuition or other costs. *The application deadline for freshman admission is March 1. Applications received after that date will be considered on a space available basis.

16. UNCGUNCG seeks men and women with ability, character, motivation, and the intellectual potential to meet UNCG standards of performance. UNCG’s admission decision is based upon an evaluation of the applicant’s secondary school record and/or college record, including the overall grade point average, essay, and SAT or ACT scores. These factors are used to determine the applicant’s probability of success at UNCG.

17. Seven Excuses Not to Go to College......And Why They're Lame1. I can't go to college—nobody in my family has ever gone. In every family, someone has to be first. Why not you? True, being first can be hard. For instance, you may have to explain to the family why college is important to you. On the other hand, being first is likely to be a source of pride, for you and for your family.2. I've been in school for 12 years. That's enough! I just want a good job. Give college a chance. It's not like high school or junior high. For one thing, in college you pick a major—a subject area that you want to learn about. As for that good job—the best jobs and the best salaries go to college grads.3. I can't go to college because I can't afford it. Most students get financial aid to help pay for college, and most aid is based on need. This means that the less money you have, the more aid you might get.4. I can't go because I don't know how to apply or where I want to go. Tell your high school counselors you want to go to college fairs, where colleges introduce themselves to students. Ask them how to write to schools for information. Try to visit colleges that interest you. Keep at it. After a while, you'll get a feel for differences among colleges, and start to know what you want.

18. Seven Excuses Not to Go to College......And Why They're Lame5. I can't go to college—I don't know what I want to do with my life. Join the crowd. Thousands of college freshmen haven't decided on a major or on a career. That's how college helps. It exposes you to all sorts of subjects you've never heard of before. College is a great place to learn more about careers you'll love for life.6. I can't go to college, because I just won't fit in.Not so. Most colleges have students from many backgrounds. Homesick? Need a hand? Look for people with your interests or your background in the African-American club, on the soccer field, or in a Korean study group. Remember, college is a great place to meet new kinds of people with different lifestyles. And the more people you understand and feel comfortable with, the better prepared you'll be for the world after college.7. College is too hard for me.In high school, don't just study—learn how to study. Most good students have strategies for studying. Once you learn how to study, chances are you'll do fine. Still need help? Professors are really helpful, and so are tutors

19. 10 Tips To Help You Get Launched Onto A Successful Career Path2. Be the person you truly are. Go after what you want. Sometimes what others want for us is not what we want for ourselves. Be honest with yourself.

20. 10 Tips To Help You Get Launched Onto A Successful Career Path3. Live for today, but plan for tomorrow. Planning for what could be right around the corner is never a bad thing. It’s always good to have a Plan B. Certainly enjoy every waking moment of your life, but keep a back up action plan for your future goals as well

21. 10 Tips To Help You Get Launched Onto A Successful Career Path4. Be your own visionary. Have your own personal vision for your life and make it real by writing it down and placing it somewhere you will see it every day. Keep your plan alive by keeping it in your thoughts.

22. 10 Tips To Help You Get Launched Onto A Successful Career Path5. Be ambitious. Think ACTION and always be looking out for new opportunities that come your way to better-up yourself and what you are doing. Ideas and opportunities sometimes come off the cuff; leave yourself open to see them when they appear.

23. 10 Tips To Help You Get Launched Onto A Successful Career Path6. Learn to adapt. Change is the only thing that remains constant. Change can be your friend so don’t run from it—embrace it. Fear is not an option as you move forward.

24. 10 Tips To Help You Get Launched Onto A Successful Career Path7. Think Big. Everything you do should be on a grand scale and never settle for less than your personal best. What is yourpersonal best? Only you know, but one thing is for certain… when you haven’t done it a voice in your head and heart is the first to let you know.

25. 10 Tips To Help You Get Launched Onto A Successful Career Path8. Live outside the box. Think about what you could be doing that others are not doing. Don’t be afraid to break free from the pack and run wild with your creative edge. This is where imagination, ingenuity and driving force come into play. What is it you have to offer that no one else has? Don’t stop pursing the idea until you have an answer

26. 10 Tips To Help You Get Launched Onto A Successful Career Path9. Develop the right mind set. This is your key to success as your mind set controls your thoughts, feelings and actions. Stay actively positive as you move in and out of your day. Not everything you do will be liked or accepted, but if you push hard enough one day it might. Quitters never have the chance to win!

27. 10 Tips To Help You Get Launched Onto A Successful Career Path10. Build genuine relationships with others. No one is an island. You need help no matter what you do. Networking is key to success. Appreciation is never underrated. Doors will open that you never thought possible.