During junior and senior year, students should have a good understanding of what they want to do when they grow up, and where they want to go to college. If students don’t have a clear idea of what career they want to pursue, there are some things that they need to look into, and some things that they need to think of before they choose what college they would like to attend. There are a few things that they need to be on the lookout for, and some deadlines that need to be met before applying for certain colleges.

When applying for a college, students should have taken some standardized tests, such as the ACT or the SAT. The ACT is a national college admissions tests that consists of English, math, science, and reading. This test is crucial in determining what college you can get into. For example, if some students are contemplating about attending Missouri State University, they will need an ACT score of at least 24 or above for a good chance of being accepted. If they are thinking about going to MSSU (Missouri Southern State University), those students will need an ACT score of 21 or higher. If their Grade Point Average is 3.5 or higher, some colleges will not look at their individual tests scores. This is a valid reason why GPAs are important.

In high school, students are given a 4.0 their freshman year. The purpose of a GPA is to show how students are performing in school. If you are a student and are doing well in school, then your GPA is probably close to a 4.0. If you take dual credit classes or advanced placement classes in high school, and do well in them, then there is a good chance that your GPA will increase. Dual credit classes are important because they not only help students later on in college, but these classes also benefit them now because college credit can be earned while still in high school. Mason Kesterson (12), says, “Dual credit classes have prepared me mentally for college. Learning how to write papers and answer questions completely has helped me dramatically.”

There are great opportunities for financial aid if students cannot fully afford to pay for college by themselves. Students can apply for various types of scholarships, for different schools.  Tonya Peck, Fair Grove’s counselor, explains the importance of doing well in school,”One big tip I have for students is to take their classes in high school serious.  The grades you make now can mean the difference in getting a scholarship or not.  Also, I highly suggest students to take the ACT as many times as possible.  Making just one point higher on the ACT can be the difference in thousands of dollars in scholarships!” There are many unusual scholarships, such as being left handed. If a student is involved in sports, he or she can receive a scholarship to play collegiately, or even a full-ride scholarship, meaning that individual will not have to pay for college at all. Students may also receive scholarships for having a high GPA, and ACT scores.

There are deadlines that have to be met before applying for certain colleges and scholarships. When applying for a college, the student will need to get information about that individual school and when to apply before the deadline. Most colleges have a website where various information about their school is shared. Fair Grove juniors are also given one excused absence for a college visit per year, while seniors are given two. When going on a college visit, high school students have the opportunity to get a basic understanding of where buildings are located and whether or not that college is the best fit for them as they view the campus and dorms, ask questions, and get a firsthand experience what that college is like as its students continue their everyday routines.

Students, your junior and senior years are very essential for how you are going to do in the future, so remember to do well in school, and apply before the deadlines.