Your Path to Post-Secondary Success
Your Junior year is an important year for many reasons. Enjoy your high school experience to the fullest, but also keep the following in mind as you prepare for a path that helps ensure you have the tools you need to meet your goals for life after high school.
- Form excellent study habits- Your junior year grades are the last year of grades most students applying to 4 year college will have included on their transcript. Your transcript is a communication tool. Practice great study habits to make sure your transcript is communicating what you want it to.
- Evaluate how you are spending your time- Are you spending your time or investing it. Anticipate milestones, timelines, and opportunities to plan accordingly. What choices are you making to invest your time after school, on weekends, over breaks, and during the summer?
- Develop strong relationships with school teachers and staff- These are the people who can support you when you need help, provide you valuable advice and insight, and vouch for you on your next steps (college letters of recommendation, scholarships, job reference, etc.)
Stay in the Know! Sign up for Remind to be notified of your career/college opportunities.
(Visits, field trips, speakers, fairs, and more)
Text 81010 to join Remind:
- @fljr1 - if your last name starts with A-G
- @fljr2 - if your last name starts with H - L
- @fljr3 - if your last name starts with M-R
- @fljr4 - if your last name starts with S - Z
October is College Knowledge Month! Manufacturing Month!
What can you do over the coming weeks to create and prepare for your plans after graduation?
- Career & College Fair for FLAHS Families- Save the date! FLAHS is hosting this event for all students and their families on Tuesday, October 5 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
- College Visits- colleges visit FLAHS to share information about their school with you. Visits are typically 30 minutes long. Contact Mrs. Bonnett (mbonnett@flaschools) to receive a pass excusing you from class (with teacher permission).
- Field Trips- attend a career focused field trip to better understand the career and working environment. These opportunities are offered throughout the year.
Job Shadow/Career Conversation
Each Junior is required to complete a job shadow or career conversation experience as part of their Ranger Connect class.
- This is a prime time to better understand careers that interest you.
- Understand the environment and lifestyle associated with that career.
- Plan for your future using backwards design. What do you want to do? What training/education do you need? How do you get that training/education? What program of study/major do you choose?
- Not sure where to start? Talk to your friends and family to find someone with a career that interests you. Still stuck? Click on the button below.
Taking Advantage of Opportunities
There are so many amazing opportunities available to you. Whether you're interested in navigating the college application process with more support, learning about a career field, or developing new important skills, there is something for you!
Success is about taking advantage of opportunity.- Mike Ditka
Apply for College Links by September 30, 2021.
At Forest Lake Area High School, you have a variety of opportunities to gain career-related exposure and experience. These options range from Career Exploration Day information sessions to internships through our Career Launch courses and/or outside opportunities, such as Northern Star Explorer Posts. Check out some of the amazing opportunities below. Many begin in September.
What is Test Optional?
For some, test optional is a great opportunity to ensure colleges focus on their GPA, class rank, and courses taken, without the high pressure of doing well on an entrance exam.
- Currently, nearly every 4-year college in the country has remained test optional. That means applicants can apply without submitting an ACT or SAT test score.
- Many of those schools have committed to maintaining their test optional status indefinitely.
- MN private colleges will likely stay test optional, the U of MN- Twin Cities has not yet decided what it will do for 2023 graduates, UMD is permanently test optional, and the U of WI- Madison is test optional through 2023.
- Not submitting a test score does not harm your application.
- It is important to understand the trade-offs of submitting or not submitting a test score. No test score may impact merit scholarship eligibility and course placement. Also, more schools are considering superscores.
- Submitting a test score can enhance your application.
Testing Your Junior Year (ACT/SAT/PSAT/ASVAB)
- Every college will accept either the ACT or SAT. Understand which test will serve you best.
- The PSAT gives students an understanding of what the SAT is like. It is also the test used to identify potential National Merit Scholars.
- The ASVAB is an interest inventory and aptitude test. The test can be taken by anyone in grades 10-12. The ASVAB is a required test for those entering the military.
Resources for the College Bound Student
The MN Virtual College Fair is October 5-7. Click below for great panel information access, college visits, and more.
A variety of college ranking lists including the U.S. News & World Report rankings.
Do you want to know what your achievements, extracurriculars, honors, etc. are worth to colleges? Start a RaiseMe account. RaiseMe scholarships are accepted by a variety of schools such as UMD, UMN, Gustavus, Mankato, and more.
Understand the cost of college with the U.S. Department of Education's Net Price Calculator Tool.
Step by step guidebook/workbook for students interested in UW System Schools.
Do you have career and college related questions? Contact our Career & College Coordinator, Molly Bonnett at mbonnett@flaschools.org.
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