Welcome Junior Parents & Students! 

Can you believe that you're just a year away from SENIOR YEAR and all the college planning?  The focus of the Guidance Department this year is to start prepping students for the college admissions process beginning in late fall with lunchtime and classroom presentations by our College and Career Advisor. College tours while on vacation or in nearby cities are important so that parents and students will start to develop plans for the next step in education.  Counselors are checking in and continuing on with individual meetings with each student. Below is a brief outline of discussion topics.

Juniors (Class of 2025):  

FALL/WINTER

• Preparing for the PSAT (Scores are returned and explained in late December/early January)
• College Admissions Representative visits (College representatives start to visit Clements during lunch in October, and our district also hosts a large college fair.  Juniors are highly encouraged to attend these visits so that they can take a look at the vast opportunities available to them, and speak to college representatives that are often a part of their admissions process.
• College Admissions Information
• College entrance exams such as ACT and SAT Timelines
• Beginning the college search
• Requirements for college and more...

SPRING

• College Research in our College and Career Readiness Center is located in the back of the library.
• Comparing colleges, Campus Visit preparation, College Interview preparation, College Essay ideas, SAT: Make sure students register for the April, May, or June administrations of the SAT
• College Admissions Process
• Teacher and Counselor Recommendations
• Schoolinks
  
  • Creating the High School Resume
  • Finalizing your College List
  • College visits (visits are encouraged during the summer prior to senior year.)

Your counselor will meet with you in the spring to review your transcript.  This junior conference is a time for students to review courses completed and those remaining that are required for graduation.  You may review your endorsement and discuss college planning options to start with as well during this time.  Walk-in visits to your counselor, or any available counselor is available during I-Lunch as well!  There are also several parent night events to update parents on next steps in supporting students through the college application process.    In addition to reviewing your graduation plan, this is a good time to discuss concerns with academic progress and/or course load as you look at signing up for courses in your senior year.  WOW...just like that...you're almost a senior!!!

FREE college planning resources available at www.mycollegeoptions.org
**Check "College Visits" regularly**

Below are more great resources!

https://hscw-collegeexplore.blogspot.com/2020/03/essay-optional-colleges.html

https://www.questbridge.org/high-school-students/college-prep-scholars

• Applying to College

  • Apply Texas
  • Common Application

• Financial Aid & Scholarships

  • CSS Profile
  • FAFSA
  • FinAid!
  • National Merit Scholarship Corporation
  • Money Management for College

• Standardized Testing

  • ACT Registration
  • AP Test Information
  • PSAT Information
  • SAT Registration
  • SAT Subject Test Registration
  • Test Optional Colleges (Fair Test)

• Researching College Options

  • https://hscw-collegeexplore.blogspot.com/2020/03/essay-optional-colleges.html
  • Business Week: Best Undergraduate B-Schools
  • College Navigator
  • College Results Online
  • College Sustainability Report Card
  • Colleges That Change Lives
  • Forbes: America's Top Colleges
  • Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities
  • National Survey of Student Engagement
  • The Princeton Review
  • Project on Student Debt
  • US News & World Report: Best Colleges
  • Washington Monthly: College Guide
  • Women's College Coalition

  HARN has created a YouTube Channel specifically for students!  These informative videos discuss the general college process to ensure students are receiving information about higher education.  The content of these videos will provide students with information they need to make the best decision about your academic future! 

Check out the College and Career Advising Center for more great summer opportunities!

Best tip for junior students...LEAD THE WAY!  With just about 100 clubs available for students to check out, you are likely to find your niche and are leading the way for underclassmen to follow!  Well done in seeking out your best fit activities, or maybe...just maybe there's still more to explore! Stay involved, learn more, share more, continue to meet new friends and find ways to LEAD THE WAY!  WAY TO GROW RANGERS! 

#OnceARangerAlwaysARanger