Your junior year in high school is a great time to make sure you are on pace to graduate from high school and go to college.
College offers more than a degree; it brings a lifetime of benefits. In Washington, it is estimated employers will create 373,000 new jobs in Washington by 2026, and 70 percent of these jobs are expected to require or be filled by workers with a postsecondary credential. Together, Washington colleges and universities are here to help students become the next author, biologist, chef, influencer, YouTuber, nurse, or video game designer. Universities and colleges come in all shapes, sizes and locations.
Here is a suggested list of steps to guide you through your junior year in high school and prepare you for your senior year and the potential for guaranteed admission to college.
Starting now
· Experience and explore activities, community service, interests, classes and work that you like. Make sure you’re working towards a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
· Talk with friends, family, teachers, counselors, community members and admissions counselors about what’s next for you.
· Visit colleges and reach out with questions.
· Begin exploring resources and support to help pay for college. Public colleges and universities in Washington state are committed to providing affordable college. Costs to attend a Washington public, four year college are some of the lowest in the United States.
· Plan to graduate. Meet with your high school counselor to make sure you are on pace to graduate from high school.
· Prepare for college. Meet with your high school counselor to check if you are on pace to meet the coursework for guaranteed admissions to a Washington, public, four-year college or university. If not on pace, identify what changes you can make now to be on pace by the end of high school.
· Explore dual credit. Meet with your high school counselor, or if applicable a college advisor, to determine if coursework you have completed in high school may count for college credit or what options for dual credit coursework you may enroll in. Dual credit is a good way to explore and experience college early on.
· Keep involved. Continue to participate or try out extracurricular, sports, clubs, or community service activities.
· Research college athletics (if applicable). If you want to play Division I or II sports in college, start the certification process. Work with your high school counselor to check if your courses meet the NCAA curriculum requirements.
Winter 2024
· Stay on track. Check-in with your high school counselor to make sure you’re on pace for high school graduation and will meet college admissions standards.
· Keep involved. Continue to participate or try out extracurricular, sports, clubs, or community service activities.
· Discover colleges and explore majors and careers. Take time to visit college websites. Talk with friends, family, teachers, community members and high school counselors about college. Begin to get a sense of what matters to you in a college.
Spring 2024
· Plan for the fall. Check-in with your high school counselor to make sure you’re on pace for high school graduation and will meet college admissions standards. Identify courses for your senior year.
· Keep involved. Continue to participate or try out extracurricular, sports, clubs, or community service activities.
· Create a list of colleges. The list should be a long list of colleges you can shorten as you learn more.
· Monitor athletic recruiting (if applicable).
· Begin your scholarship research. Look at scholarships in your community through service organizations and businesses. (Review Renton School District’s scholarship webpage.) Work with your high school counselor to identify other scholarships. If applicable, begin applying for scholarships.
Summer 2024
Guaranteed admission into one of six Washington state colleges or universities
Another great option is to be guaranteed admission into one of six Washington state colleges or universities through the Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program. Participating four-year college or universities include Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, The Evergreen State College, University of Washington Tacoma, Washington State University and Western Washington University.
Students who meet the criteria or are on track to meet the criteria by fall 2024, are guaranteed admission to all six participating institutions. To be eligible, high school students simply need to:
· Earn and maintain a 3.0 GPA
· Meet these College Academic Distribution Requirement courses (CADRs), which are required courses students must take in high school to be eligible to be admitted to college
· Students are encouraged to engage in challenging high school coursework and maintain their high school GPA during their senior year to meet the guaranteed admission criteria.
Even with guaranteed admission, students and families will be required to supply additional data, including completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, to the college/university as part of the admissions application.
Check with your high school counselor about the Washington Guaranteed Admissions Program.
