Programs and Opportunities
Juniors
For Juniors:
Junior Calendar and Checklist
PSAT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) -- All Juniors will have the opportunity to take the Preliminary SAT on Saturday October 19th, 2019. This test is good practice for timed, standardized testing, especially the SAT and is also used for those who take it in 11th grade to determine National Merit Scholarship qualification.
Test fees are $17.
Free PSAT prep is available through the College Board website or download our PSAT prep presentation (above).
September
- Check on credits and explore options to retrieve credits if necessary.
- Make sure your courses will meet college/post secondary requirements.
- Monitor your progress toward earning the Millennium Scholarship and NCAA requirements and understand what is needed to remain qualified.
- Maintain college prep curriculum, including advanced Math and English.
- Maintain excellent attendance at school.
- Volunteer for community or school service.
- Maintain or improve your cumulative grade point average--good grades will give you the most opportunities following high school.
- Check out the DHS website and newsletter for updated testing, college, and postsecondary options and information on parent/student informational meetings.
October
- Take the PSAT to enter the National Merit Scholarship Competition if it was indicated in your sophomore year to take the test again and to prepare for college admission tests (SAT, ACT).
- We suggest you sign up for the “question of the day” on the SAT / College Board web site to start to prepare for your ACT or SAT in the spring.
- Sign-up for the ASVAB, which will be given in November—TBA. The ASVAB Career Exploration Program can help you take steps toward finding a career that is right for you. The test and activities help you match your interests with your Verbal Skills, Math Skills, Science and Technical Skills. The test is given and interpreted by the military.
November
- Make sure you know your social security number which is required on many college and financial aid applications.
- Attend college/career representative presentations at school.
- Make sure you attend school on the day the Writing section of the Proficiency Exam is administered.
- Review your transcript to make sure you are on-target to graduate next year.
- Work hard to get the best grades possible! This will provide the most college options.
- Monitor your progress toward earning the Millennium Scholarship and understand what is needed to remain qualified.
- Look at SAT and ACT registration dates on our web site so you are aware of deadlines.
December
- Keep updated on college news on the web.
- Get involved in a holiday community service activities.
- Attend Financial Aid Workshops offered at DHS and local community colleges.
- Research potential colleges (especially UC and private schools) to see if any of them require SAT Subject tests which you will need to take in the late spring when you are most prepared to do well.
February
- If you will be taking SAT Subject tests in June after the AP course preparation, and you want to take the SAT in addition to the ACT, you should register to take the SAT exam earlier in the Spring so you won’t have a conflict taking the SAT and the SAT Subject tests on the same date. If you won’t be taking any SAT Subject tests, you can take both the SAT and the ACT in May or early June as they are offered on alternate weekends. With a few exceptions, colleges only require one of these tests. The ACT is given here at DHS whereas you must go out of town for the SAT.
- Meet with your counselor to discuss post-secondary choices.
- Sign up for the ACT/SAT test-taking workshops.
- Attend the parent/student informational night regarding scholarships, college applications, and testing.
- Review your transcript and test scores to determine how competitive the range of college choices should be.
- Consider people to ask for recommendations - teachers, counselors, employers, etc.
- Talk with your counselor about taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses during your senior year.
- Pay for exams for any current AP courses.
March
- Apply for Girls’ and Boys’ State sponsored by American Legion.
- Develop a list of potential colleges or tech/trade schools to attend and search for information about them using the Nevada Career Information System (NCIS)
- Start scheduling college campus visits. Arrange a college visit during spring break.
- Meet with your counselor at registration, review your educational plan and select courses for your senior year.
April
- Consider applying for military ROTC scholarships.
- If you are interested, apply for military academy admissions: contact senators and /or congressional representative regarding a nomination.
- Research federal, state, private, and university-based scholarships.
- Keep updated on college news on the web.
- Register for to take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the ACT, and/or SAT Subject Tests, or any other exams required for admission to colleges you might want to attend. If you have difficulty paying the registration fee, see your guidance counselor about getting a fee waiver.
- All Juniors will take the ACT Exam on 4/28/2015 at DHS. No registration is required.
May
- Make an appointment with your counselor for your senior audit-- "Application for Graduation".
- Prepare to take Advance Placement exams.
- Make summer plans: college summer programs, travel, volunteer work, or a job.
- Confirm college visits and schedule an appointment with a financial aid officer on campus.
- Ask academic teachers, counselors, employers for letters of recommendation (provide them with a resume or completed letter of recommendation form).
- If you are interested, learn more about AmeriCorps.
- Make sure your senior courses will meet college/post secondary requirements.
- Study for finals--access free tutoring at school!
- Consider obtaining a summer job or internship that is related to your career interests.
- Consider a summer career “discovery” workshop at a college you are considering.
- Write a draft of the college essay/scholarship autobiographical statement
- Get your letters of recommendation for your scholarship file.
- Save money for senior year and college expenses!
- Student athletes--register on-line with NCAA Clearinghouse.
