Junior year is often called the most important year of high school—and for good reason. Colleges, scholarships, and future plans are all shaped by what happens this year. As a parent, you play a key role in helping your teen stay focused, confident, and prepared.

1. Build a College-Ready Mindset
Junior year is crunch time! Help your teen think beyond grades by focusing on study discipline, time management, and test-taking stamina. Encourage them to challenge themselves with AP or concurrent enrollment classes when possible and strategic. 

2. Make the ACT a Priority
For students, the ACT is often key to scholarships and college admissions. Encourage your teen to take the ACT multiple times this year, starting early. Preparation for these tests is key. A great prep program will teach students strategies in taking this unique testing format and help students review concepts they haven’t seen since middle school. Speed reading strategies and time management drills can significantly improve performance. Our ACT Prep class is 8 weeks long and is offered each semester. Our process works when students work our process.  

3. Explore Careers and Majors
Now is the time to connect career and career interests with prospective colleges and universities. By now, your student should be well-educated on the diversity of options in higher education. As a junior, it is essential to connect their major and career interests with prospective colleges. Not only should they identify if their potential major is offered, but what other programs and services does the college offer to prepare them for their future?  

4. Deepen Community Service and Leadership
Encourage consistent volunteering or leadership roles in school clubs, church programs, or local nonprofits. Colleges love to see commitment and initiative. As a 9th and 10th grader, your student has been involved in a variety of activities and hopefully found their passion. Now is the time to deepen their engagement with those passions by serving as a leader.  

5. Tour College Campuses
If your student has yet to tour college campuses, now is the time. It is easy to look locally at OU, OSU, UCO, or smaller Oklahoma schools. However, don’t assume that since you have been on campus for an athletic or other event, you know the campus. Go on an official college tour. These visits spark motivation and clarify what your teen wants in a college.

Download our college planning checklist here.