JUNIOR YEAR
AUGUST
Discussion Topic: Set 11th Grade Goals
Reconnect by recapping summer experiences. Reestablish expectations of each other for the new year. Mentees should set goals for junior year with an emphasis on the college process. Revisit the goals they set in 10th grade and check in on their next steps in the college process. Review the importance of doing well in school, good study habits and time management. Emphasize that junior year is their last chance to improve their GPA, as they will apply to college before their first semester grades of senior year are posted.
Discussion Topic: Set 11th Grade Goals
Reconnect by recapping summer experiences. Reestablish expectations of each other for the new year. Mentees should set goals for junior year with an emphasis on the college process. Revisit the goals they set in 10th grade and check in on their next steps in the college process. Review the importance of doing well in school, good study habits and time management. Emphasize that junior year is their last chance to improve their GPA, as they will apply to college before their first semester grades of senior year are posted.
SEPTEMBER
Discussion Topic: Help Mentees Understand All the Ways College Is Fun
Introduce mentees to the exciting aspects of college and focus on the reasons that college is fun and desirable. Talk about the social, extracurricular, and lifestyle reasons why college is a fun place to be. In particular, mentors can share stories about their own fun experiences in college. Help mentees explore other social and non-academic elements of college to build excitement about college as they go through their 11th grade year and the college application process gets into full swing.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Help Mentees Understand All the Ways College Is Fun
Introduce mentees to the exciting aspects of college and focus on the reasons that college is fun and desirable. Talk about the social, extracurricular, and lifestyle reasons why college is a fun place to be. In particular, mentors can share stories about their own fun experiences in college. Help mentees explore other social and non-academic elements of college to build excitement about college as they go through their 11th grade year and the college application process gets into full swing.
Action Items/Reminders:
- Review their transcripts. If they have any Ds or Fs, encourage them to repeat the classes as soon as possible through an online credit recovery program offered by their high school or independent study.
- Check the DAHS Calendar, KHS Calendar, or RHS Calendar, to see when college reps will be on the campus. Encourage them to signup to attend.
- Each school typically holds a college fair on campus in the fall. Stress the benefits of attending and help them think about what they can learn from talking to college representatives. Give them ideas of what questions they can ask -- what kinds of majors are offered, what do they specialize in, what's the weather like on campus, what do you love most about the campus, etc.
OCTOBER
Discussion Topic: Explore the College Application Process
Prior to meeting with your students, review the College List page to prepare yourself to support your student in the process of identifying colleges for their lists. Introduce mentees to the College Checklist for Junior Year and make connections to the goals they’ve set for themselves this year.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Explore the College Application Process
Prior to meeting with your students, review the College List page to prepare yourself to support your student in the process of identifying colleges for their lists. Introduce mentees to the College Checklist for Junior Year and make connections to the goals they’ve set for themselves this year.
Action Items/Reminders:
- All juniors take the PSAT in October. Encourage your students to take the test seriously -- juniors can get scholarships based on their results. They are also predictors of their SAT/ACT results and provide feedback about where they need to study.
- Ask them if they are taking advantage of tutoring offered through College Is Real and after school tutoring in classrooms.
- Are they involved/participating in school and in extracurricular activities?
NOVEMBER
Discussion Topic: Introduce Financial Aid Basics and Financial Literacy
Explore all the options available for paying for mentees’ college education. Help mentees understand the senior year and pre-college expenses they are likely to encounter. Help mentees create a personal financial action plan and map out the steps mentees must take in order to execute the plan. Discuss ways mentors may be able to assist in the implementation of this plan as they look ahead to senior year. Encourage optimism and excitement about the future as you talk about the reality of paying for college.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Introduce Financial Aid Basics and Financial Literacy
Explore all the options available for paying for mentees’ college education. Help mentees understand the senior year and pre-college expenses they are likely to encounter. Help mentees create a personal financial action plan and map out the steps mentees must take in order to execute the plan. Discuss ways mentors may be able to assist in the implementation of this plan as they look ahead to senior year. Encourage optimism and excitement about the future as you talk about the reality of paying for college.
Action Items/Reminders:
- Review their first quarter grades with them. Only semester grades appear on transcripts, so discuss strategies for improving their grades for the second quarter to bring up their semester grades.
- Encourage them to start looking for meaningful summer experiences. The application deadline for many programs is in February/March. If they are not going to participate in a program, encourage them to do community service or to work during the summer.
DECEMBER
Discussion Topic: Develop Study Skills and Prepare for Standardized Tests
Review the timeline for standardized tests and understand the importance and implications of strong performance on these exams. Help mentees identify ways to prepare for these exams, and the role of proper preparation in achieving. Discuss ways mentors can support mentees in their efforts to do as well as possible on the exam. Review ideas for doing well in school and how they relate to performance on tests.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Develop Study Skills and Prepare for Standardized Tests
Review the timeline for standardized tests and understand the importance and implications of strong performance on these exams. Help mentees identify ways to prepare for these exams, and the role of proper preparation in achieving. Discuss ways mentors can support mentees in their efforts to do as well as possible on the exam. Review ideas for doing well in school and how they relate to performance on tests.
Action Items/Reminders:
- They should receive their PSAT results by late December. Encourage them to use the "My College Quickstart" program associated with their PSAT report for a personalized plan for test preparation. They will need an Online Access Code from their score report. For more information, click here.
- Remind them about the end of the semester coming. Any projects due? How will they prepare for finals? Any grades or missing assignments that need to be addressed now?
JANUARY
Discussion Topic: Mid-Year Reflection: Self-Assessment
Reflect on the first half of junior year by assessing the progress made on the goals mentees set. Celebrate achievements and identify challenges that have come up since the start of the school year.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Mid-Year Reflection: Self-Assessment
Reflect on the first half of junior year by assessing the progress made on the goals mentees set. Celebrate achievements and identify challenges that have come up since the start of the school year.
Action Items/Reminders:
- Review their first semester grades with them. If they get any Ds or Fs, encourage them to repeat the classes as soon as possible through an online credit recovery program offered by their high school.
- Remind them that they will need to ask two teachers or other adults for letters of recommendations for senior year and make sure they are developing good relationships.
- Mandatory SAT Prep begins in January. Test prep is either in the morning, after school or during advisory -- strongly encourage them to attend all sessions. For additional SAT/ACT test prep ideas click here.
FEBRUARY
Discussion Topic: Learn Stress Management and Practice Resiliency
Examine the different priorities mentees are juggling and what is causing stress. Revisit the concept of resiliency and understand that setbacks and mistakes are part of life. Explore successful prioritization strategies and create a plan for mentees to better manage competing priorities. Discuss what motivates mentees, create incentives for accomplishing big tasks to sustain motivation, and brainstorm some fun “stress-busting” activities.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Learn Stress Management and Practice Resiliency
Examine the different priorities mentees are juggling and what is causing stress. Revisit the concept of resiliency and understand that setbacks and mistakes are part of life. Explore successful prioritization strategies and create a plan for mentees to better manage competing priorities. Discuss what motivates mentees, create incentives for accomplishing big tasks to sustain motivation, and brainstorm some fun “stress-busting” activities.
Action Items/Reminders:
- They will be signing up for their senior year courses in this time frame. Encourage them to take rigorous courses and to make sure they are completing the courses required for college eligibility. To be as competitive as possible as a college applicant, they should NOT have free periods or TA in their schedule.
- Check up with them about signing up for summer experiences.
MARCH
Discussion Topic: Identify Personal Preferences and Link to College Fit
Ask mentees to reflect on their identity and preferences and what kinds of colleges are right for them. Explore all the factors in college preference, including available majors, school size, location, social life, and financial aid. Remind them of the different types of universities and the options for California public universities. Talk about your own college selection decision and experience. Work together to create a list of preferences mentees can use to explore the “fit” of potential colleges.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Identify Personal Preferences and Link to College Fit
Ask mentees to reflect on their identity and preferences and what kinds of colleges are right for them. Explore all the factors in college preference, including available majors, school size, location, social life, and financial aid. Remind them of the different types of universities and the options for California public universities. Talk about your own college selection decision and experience. Work together to create a list of preferences mentees can use to explore the “fit” of potential colleges.
Action Items/Reminders:
- Ask them about signing up for the SAT and the ACT and Subject Tests (if recommended by their Program Director). Tell them to see their Program Director to register and get fee waivers (CIR will cover test registration fees if a student is not eligible). Encourage them to sign up early; remind them of deadlines.
- Remind students that SAT Prep is mandatory. Ask them how it is going, how they are learning vocabulary and how they are reviewing math. You might be able to help them come up with strategies, or to provide resources for them. See free test prep ideas.
APRIL
Discussion Topic: Help Create a College List
Review the College List page to help guide your mentees through the college search process. Use the personal preferences mentees identified about the right “fit” for them to help them identify and evaluate colleges. Discuss what mentees need to do in order to be eligible for the schools on the list. Help mentees form and manage realistic expectations about their college preferences, and instill confidence in mentees about the support they will receive throughout the process.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Help Create a College List
Review the College List page to help guide your mentees through the college search process. Use the personal preferences mentees identified about the right “fit” for them to help them identify and evaluate colleges. Discuss what mentees need to do in order to be eligible for the schools on the list. Help mentees form and manage realistic expectations about their college preferences, and instill confidence in mentees about the support they will receive throughout the process.
Action Items/Reminders:
- Review their 3rd quarter grades with them and talk to them about what they can do in the next quarter to improve their semester grades.
- Ask them about signing up for the SAT and the ACT and Subject Tests. Tell them to see their Program Director to register and get fee waivers (CIR will cover test registration fees if a student is not eligible).
MAY
Discussion Topic: Discussion Topic: Learn the Importance of Self-Promotion and Utilizing Support Networks
Discuss the importance of professional presentation and the connection to and importance of developing networks. Help mentees understand the appropriate tone, dress, written communication and language for the college process, which may differ from how they present themselves in other areas of their lives. Mentees should understand that the way they present themselves translates into how they are perceived in the world. Mentors can help mentees feel confident about marketing themselves. Talk about their upcoming need to ask teachers or other adults for letters of recommendation for college and scholarship applications, and how they will continue to need to rely on good impressions and relationships throughout their lives.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Discussion Topic: Learn the Importance of Self-Promotion and Utilizing Support Networks
Discuss the importance of professional presentation and the connection to and importance of developing networks. Help mentees understand the appropriate tone, dress, written communication and language for the college process, which may differ from how they present themselves in other areas of their lives. Mentees should understand that the way they present themselves translates into how they are perceived in the world. Mentors can help mentees feel confident about marketing themselves. Talk about their upcoming need to ask teachers or other adults for letters of recommendation for college and scholarship applications, and how they will continue to need to rely on good impressions and relationships throughout their lives.
Action Items/Reminders:
- St Mary's and CSU East Bay has an excellent college fair in April/May; consider taking your students. See the WACAC Website for information and dates.
- They should be taking the Subject Tests and AP Exams in May and the SAT and ACT in June. Impress upon them the importance of the tests. Review helpful test reminders and perhaps text them the night before.
JUNE
Discussion Topic: Reflect on Year Three, Preview Year Four
Reflect on their College Checklist for Junior Year and check in on the progress they’ve made toward their goals. Celebrate everything they accomplished the past year. Preview the College Checklist for Senior Year and talk about what to expect as they start their senior year. Discuss discrete college preparation goals for the summer. Support mentees as they prepare for their summer activities.
Action Items/Reminders:
Discussion Topic: Reflect on Year Three, Preview Year Four
Reflect on their College Checklist for Junior Year and check in on the progress they’ve made toward their goals. Celebrate everything they accomplished the past year. Preview the College Checklist for Senior Year and talk about what to expect as they start their senior year. Discuss discrete college preparation goals for the summer. Support mentees as they prepare for their summer activities.
Action Items/Reminders:
- Remind them about the end of the semester coming. Any projects due? How will they prepare for finals? Any grades or missing assignments that need to be addressed now?
- Plan to attend the end of year College Is Real Awards Dinner.
SUMMER
- Encourage them to update their Academic Resume so they have all information ready when they start filling out college applications.
- Encourage them to get organized for the college application process.
- Consider taking them on college visits during the summer when they have more free time.
- They should have a solid College List, including application deadlines, by end of summer.
- Prepare for the SAT/ACT.
- The deadline to register for the September ACT is in August.
- Students will take the SAT again their senior year in October during SAT School Day.
- Encourage them to read during the summer, perhaps help them find reading material they might like -- books, magazines, etc.
- If they travel over the summer, encourage them to visit colleges if possible.