A Guide to Your Junior Year

While it might seem far into the future, your college days will be here before you know it! Junior year is a great time to launch your college search and begin making the most of your last two years of high school. Here’s what we recommend for getting started:

Decide what you want from your college experience.

Are you interested in attending a large, public university or a small, private college? Do you want to attend a Christian college where there will be more opportunities for spiritual growth and development? Are you looking for a school with strong athletic or performing arts programs? Make a list of things that are important to you so you know how well your college options measure up.

Begin your online search.

Check out college websites and learn more about their academic programs, extracurricular activities, campus life, student activities, and mission and values as an institution. College-search resources like Niche can provide a helpful overview of the schools you’re most interested in.

Visit your high school counselor.

Ask your school counselor about upcoming college fairs or visits by college admissions reps. These are both excellent opportunities to talk to someone about the colleges you’re interested in, or even just to learn more about the admissions process. Your counselor might also have additional resources to share that could help you in your college search.

Get involved in high school activities.

Even while you’re thinking about the next stage in your education journey, don’t forget to enjoy high school! Participate in sports, esports, music, drama or any other school activity you think sounds fun. You may even have opportunity to pursue leadership roles such as president of the student council or editor of the school newspaper. Leadership experience looks GREAT on a college resume and might help you qualify for scholarships.

Northwestern College offers scholarships to standout students involved in athletics, esports, music, theatre, worship arts, mission and more. Visit our scholarships page >>  

Estimate your financial need.

Many colleges offer a net price calculator that estimates how much federal, state and institutional financial aid you could receive. This can help you prepare for any out-of-pocket expenses that will need to be covered with private loans, outside scholarships or savings. Also, be sure to research scholarship opportunities offered through your school, church or other service organizations in your community—and make a note in your calendar of when you should apply as a senior.

100% of Northwestern College students receive financial aid, including at least $15,000 per year in Northwestern scholarships and grants.

Take the ACT or SAT.

Many colleges are now test-optional, so taking the ACT or SAT may not be an admissions requirement. Northwestern College is test-optional, but we still encourage students to take the ACT/SAT and offer a scholarship bonus of up to $1,500, depending on your score. And if you qualify to apply for our Honors Program, you could receive an additional $1,500 that’s renewable each year that you remain in the program.

Start earning college credit.

Get a jumpstart on your college course schedule by taking dual-credit courses that give you both high school and college credit. These courses often meet general education requirements, enabling you to start taking courses in your college major sooner. And if you’re a strong student, consider taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses in your best subjects. A high score on an AP exam might help you “test out” of certain college requirements.

Go on college visits.

The best way to get a sense of what a college has to offer is to visit campus and check things out for yourself! Many colleges have visit days that are tailored specifically to high school juniors, so ask your top college choices if they have that visit option. And be sure to check out our list of questions to ask your college tour guide!

Attend one of Northwestern’s Junior Raider Days next spring! You’ll get to tour campus; attend chapel; eat in our cafeteria; learn about financial aid; and meet students, professors and coaches.