Mrs. Joanne Lewis
Director, College & Career Center
Phone: 310-378-8471 Ext. 43618
[email protected]

Mrs. Teresa Hoffman
Scholarship & Financial Aid Coordinator
Phone: 310-378-8471 Ext. 43347
[email protected]

JUNIOR YEAR 

• Focus on your grades!  Participate in class. Be the best YOU that you can be!
• Take advanced classes that interest you (AP,IB, Honors, etc.).
• Talk to your counselor about High School/College Dual Enrollment.
• Dual enrollment lets you enroll in college courses while still in high school.
• Connect with your counselor and begin exploring college options.
• Ask for help in drafting your list of colleges you are interested in.
• Continue getting involved, staying involved, and looking into leadership roles in your extracurricular activities.
• Continue collecting samples of your accomplishments / important papers / accolades
• Continue discussing college budget and weighing financing options with your parents.
• Continue looking at colleges. Attend college fairs, go to info sessions, and make college visits.
• Pay attention to your health! School can become especially stressful around junior year. Don’t be afraid to seek support from family, friends, teachers, mentors, and school counselors!

IN THE FALL

• Take the PSAT/NMSQT in October for possible National Merit Scholarship opportunities. Junior year is also the time to make some plans regarding testing. Check the link for College Admission Tests for detailed and extensive information and opportunities for practice tests.  
• Schools you apply to may require an ACT/SAT so take advantage of practice tests to determine which, if any, is a test you might prep for and eventually take this year. Please check college websites for testing requirements. Most colleges are currently Test Free or Test Optional in 2023-2024, but still uncertainty with some regarding the Class of 2025 and beyond.
• Attend College Night, college rep visits and all programming offered by the PVHSCCC 

IN THE WINTER

• Apply to summer programs. QuestBridge offers scholarships to summer college programs at schools including Emory, Notre Dame, UPenn, Stanford, UChicago, and Yale. Speak to your counselor or the PVHSCCC to inquire about Diversity Experiences that you must apply to in the winter/spring.
• Register to take the SAT or ACT in the Winter or Spring if you’ve decided to take an official test.
• Start visiting colleges, local or beyond, and begin thinking about what are important aspects you want for your college experience. Start your college search with self-reflection!
• Look for scholarships. The College Board has excellent scholarship resources. Look for scholarship opportunities on SchooLinks or speak with the PVHSCCC for information. Colleges also offer merit scholarships, which you can find on their websites.
• Set up appointments to visit your top hoped-for colleges over spring break or summer. Call the admissions office or use the college’s website to register for a campus tour and info session.

IN THE SPRING 

• Think about which teachers you’ll ask for recommendations (if needed).
• Set up a meeting to talk to teachers about letters of recommendation.
• Ask your counselor if you qualify for a testing fee waiver.
• If you have decided to test, take the SAT, ACT if you have not done so already, or retake the test if you are trying to improve your score.  Be sure to check college websites to determine test requirements.  The UC’s and Cal States ARE TEST BLIND AND WILL NOT CONSIDER AN ACT OR SAT TEST SCORE FOR ADMISSION.
• Take AP exams.
• Schedule a meeting with the PVHSCCC to discuss any college questions before summer break.

IN THE SUMMER  

• Get started on your Common App, Coalition App and/or UC applications when they open.
• Plan more visits to colleges you’re interested in.
• Draft college essays.
• Update your preliminary college list.
• Make a college payment plan or budget with your parents.