Welcome to junior year! You’re halfway through high school, and beginning your most important academic year. Put college in your plans (you can do it!). VSAC’s mapped out what you need to do, and when, as you think about your future.

Request a copy of the 2009-2010 college planning calendar for juniors and seniors (e-mail publications@vsac.org). The calendar includes registration and test dates for the SAT and ACT, plus open house dates for Vermont colleges.

Connect with your school counselor. As a junior, your college prep kicks into high gear this year. Are you taking the challenging classes required for college admissions? Make sure you’re on track for graduation and beyond.

Get familiar with the PSAT. Most juniors take the PSAT in October to prepare for the SAT in the spring. (Scores are also used for the National Merit Scholarship Program.) Prep with free practice tests (use VSAC account ID 10254) and resources.

Plan to attend a Paying for College presentation this fall at a nearby high school to learn about financial aid. Discuss college costs with your parents, and consult VSAC for more information.

Come to a workshop at the VSAC Resource Center in downtown Winooski this month: “Finding a College That’s Right for You” (Sept. 23), “Preparing for the SAT” (Sept. 26), “Understanding the College Application Process” (Sept. 30).

Go to open houses and college fairs to explore different campus options. Two-year or four-year? Rural or urban? Use Vermont Guidance Central’s School Finder to start looking for schools that might fit (PDF) your needs.

Pursue your dreams! Your skills, interests, and what you like to do today say a lot about what you might like to do later on. Start where you are to go where you want.

You’ve got mail! Manage the paperwork that will continue to arrive from colleges. Use multipocket folders for organizing college application info, test scores, and financial aid forms so you (and your parents) can find them easily.

Be proactive. Need help with study strategies, test-taking skills, or organization? Talk to your teachers and school counselors now, so you won’t fall behind. Sign up for more college planning reminders and tips to help you stay on top of it all.

Take the PSAT this month, even if you took it previously (junior-year PSAT scores are used for the National Merit Scholarship competition). Check with your school counselor about the date, registration, and fees. Prep with practice tests (using VSAC account ID 10254).

Learn about financial aid. Go to a free Paying for College presentation at a nearby high school during early October to mid-December with your parents. Can't make the date? View the online presentation.

Attend open houses and college fairs to learn about college offerings. Check with your school counselor or on college Web sites for additional dates and specific times when college reps will be visiting your school or area.

Ponder your priorities. Make a “wish list” of what’s important to you as you begin to think about colleges. Then use Vermont Guidance Central’s School Finder to search for schools that fit (PDF) those criteria.

Surf the Web. Use VSAC Web tools and pathfinders to discover how you can translate your passions (PDF) into a career you love. Visit the Web sites of colleges and universities that interest you, view college blogs (PDF), and take virtual tours!

Go on a road trip. October 22-25 (when VT schools are off) is a great time do initial, low stress college visits. Sign up for a campus tour and information session, munch lunch in the eatery, and check out a class. (It’s fun, really!)

Organize for what’s ahead. This is the beginning of dates and deadlines that really count. Request your copy of the 2009-2010 college planning calendar for juniors and seniors by e-mailing publications@vsac.org.

How’s it going? Junior year is the last complete academic year that colleges see as they make admissions decisions, so your grades need to show that you can handle college work. Are you motivated? What isn’t working? Seek help if needed from teachers now!

Sign up for more college planning reminders and tips from VSAC to help you on your college search. And while you’re at it, get the SAT Question of the Day.

Think about life after high school. As hard as it is to believe now, high school will soon be over. Then what? Discover how college can pay off (PDF). Even if you’re not yet certain about college, plan to apply as a senior.

Attend open houses and visit days at nearby VT colleges and universities to get a feel for different campus settings. Check with your school counselor or on college Web sites for times when college reps will be visiting in your area.

Learn about careers. Go to the “Finding a Career That’s Right for You” workshop at the VSAC Resource Center in downtown Winooski on November 18 (from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.), or research careers online.

Discuss college with friends or siblings who are home at Thanksgiving break. What’s different (PDF) from high school? What do they wish they had known sooner? Check out how one student was the first in her family to go (PDF)!

Find out about financial aid. There’s still time to go to a free Paying for College presentation, held at a VT high schools through mid-December. Can’t make the date? View the online presentation.

Keep those grades up! Colleges want to see how you handle challenging coursework, so they’ll be looking hard at your academics this year. Remember: What you do now really matters! Seek help from teachers if needed.

Consider the SAT and the ACT. These two very different standardized tests (PDF) are accepted by colleges throughout the United States. One test may showcase your strengths better than the other. Use your PSAT and PLAN test scores to help you decide which to take.

Request your copy of the 2009-2010 college planning calendar, which includes registration and test dates for the SAT and ACT plus VT college open house dates, by e-mailing publications@vsac.org. Sign up for e-mail reminders from VSAC to stay on track.