11th-Grade Checklist

This list will help you make sure your high school junior is meeting all college-entrance requirements.

Fall

• Ask your junior to talk with the school counselor to find out if he or she is on-track for college.
• Have your teen start a folder of information about specific colleges.
• Schedule a visit to a college or two.
• Encourage your teen to take the PSAT to get a feel for the SAT college entrance exam and to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program.
• If your child didn't pass one of the sections of the Ohio Graduation Test, be sure he or she participates in remediation programs provided by your school.
• Attend college nights or college fairs at your high school or local community center with your teen.
• Find out the "real scoop" on colleges from friends and relatives who come home from college for winter break. Ask if your family may visit them some weekend.

Spring

• Make sure your junior talks with the school counselor about taking the SAT and ACT college entrance exams. Find out how and when to register and write down the date, time, and location.
• Check out summer programs for your high school student in sports, the arts, or academic areas. Many colleges and universities offer high school students the chance to attend summer classes and live on campus.
• Plan for the senior year with your teen. Stay with Ohio Core courses and sign up for the most challenging classes available, including Advanced Placement courses. Check into the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options or the Ohio College Tech Prep programs.
• Encourage your teen to write a resume to apply for a summer job and think about how the experiences and activities should look on a college application.
• National Collegiate Athletic Association
  If your child is an athlete and wants to play a sport in college, ask the high school coach for help in meeting college coaches. Register for initial-eligibility with the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
• Have your teen work with the guidance counselor to update current career and education plans.
• Visit your child's guidance counselor's office for announcements about college scholarships for which high school juniors can apply.

Summer

• Plan family visits to college campuses. Make appointments with admissions counselors to talk about what your teen should do in the senior year to maximize chances of being accepted by the colleges of his or her choice.
• Encourage your child to go the extra mile at work. Suggest asking the work or volunteer supervisor for a recommendation at the end of the summer; make sure it's on the organization's official letterhead.