11th grade
Half way to graduation. Time to get focused on your future. This is the last opportunity to move and improve your GPA!
Overall items you should be concerned with during your junior year. Please refer to the drop down menu for specific items.
Maintain your GPA and get help if you are struggling in any core classes. Core classes are more closely appraised by potential colleges when applying.
This is the most important academic year of high school. You will use the grades earned this year when applying to colleges.
Continue to develop and enhance your time management and organizational skills. We recommend that every student utilize some sort of dedicated planner/notebook/calendar (paper) to help them succeed in this task.
Save samples of essays and projects as you may be able to use them later.
Continue to engage in on-campus clubs, increasing involvement and seek leadership opportunities.
Attend a college fair and/or virtual or in-person college tour if you have not done so already.
IMPORTANT TIPS:
Use the College Map Mentor's Academic Organizer to keep track of your classes, grades, awards, certifications, accolades, community service, clubs, sports, work, etc. Collect all of the information you need to complete your applications in one place.
Check your school email daily. If you cannot check it daily, please check it weekly.
Do NOT send emails from your school email to any company or person outside of Palm Beach County Schools....you will NOT receive a reply as the emails will bounce.
Use the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) website to take practice exams for B.E.S.T., EOC's, FAST, and Florida Civic Literacy Exam.
FALL
Evaluate your course load and find out how much you know about college planning
Choose a challenging & rigorous class schedule
Increase commitment with club/team. Look into taking a leadership position.
Perform community service
Start creating a list of scholarships for which you may be qualified
Attend college fairs
If you want to qualify for National Merit Scholarship, register and take PSAT (on-campus and usually in October)
Explore colleges (virtual/in-person visits) and build a balanced college list
Begin the College Board Opportunity Scholarship (December)
Prep for SAT and/or take SAT
SPRING
Update your College Map Mentor's Academic Organizer with your 1st semester grades, community service, team/club involvement.
Update your Raise.me account by keeping track of your accomplishments
Update your high school resume
Choose challenging classes for 12th grade
Plan for summer community service or internships
Take school-wide SAT (usually March/April)
Take BESTs, FASTs and EOCs (if applicable)
Consider which teachers to ask for a letter of recommendation
Think about visiting a few colleges over spring break or over the summer.
SUMMER
Update your College Map Mentor's Academic Organizer with your 2nd semester grades
Update your Raise.me account by keeping track of your accomplishments
Update your high school resume
Schedule and/or take your senior photos
Common App and Coalition App opens (8/1)! Work on your essays
Look into and/or take SAT/ACT prep classes
Take SAT again to increase scores
Create resume for college applications and scholarships
Start applying for scholarships
Perform any summer reading or homework required
Visit colleges
Perform Community Service
Take an career assessment to figure out what you want to do in the future.