11th Grade

Kicking into high gear.

Your junior year is where momentum really starts to build. Check in with your counselor and make sure you’re taking the right classes to get you where you want to go. You’ll be looking more closely at schools and programs and getting serious about your post-graduation options. You’ll be planning for the ACT or the SAT. And you’ll be looking into scholarship and financial aid opportunities. There’s a lot to do this year, but remember—the future looks bright.

Let’s tackle your junior year!

Download the 11th Grade Next Steps checklist

Descarga la lista de sugerencias de Next Steps para estudiantes del grado 11

Fall
Winter
Spring

Talk to your school counselor (as often as you need to)

Regular, one-on-one conversations with a mentor will make all the difference.
Your counselor is there to make sure you get the answers you need as you begin to make your post-high school plans. Meet with the counselor several times this year to discuss career paths, college, and technical training options. Have specific questions prepared each time, so that you can walk away with usable information or specific tasks.
Next Steps
- Use this guide to figure out what you need to be talking about with your counselor.
Make sure you're taking the right classes.

Check in with your school counselor and review your class schedule.
You need to verify that you have taken, or are taking, classes that will help you succeed in college and in your career. Idaho’s high school graduation requirements match up with the admissions requirements for Idaho public colleges and universities, but you may want to consider taking additional credits in specific subject areas if you have a career goal in mind, seek to earn college credits prior to attending, or are applying to colleges that have different requirements.
Next Steps
- Review Idaho’s graduation requirements.
- Learn more about dual credit classes.
- If you are enrolled in a pathway career and technical program you may start earning SkillStack® badges this year. These badges stack up to Technical Competency Credits which can get you ahead in your technical college program.
Keep those grades up.

Your GPA matters a lot this year. Here's why....
The grades you're earning right now will impact your options next year. A solid GPA means you'll be eligible to enroll in Idaho public universities. A really strong GPA could mean more scholarship money. So stay focused and ask for help if you need it, particularly if there's a class or two where you're struggling to maintain a high grade.
Next Steps
- You should have at least a 2.25 GPA to ensure you’ll get in to school and be competitive for financial aid.
- See where you’re at by calculating your current GPA: A = 4.0; B = 3.0; C = 2.0; D = 1.0; F = 0. Add up all of your class grades and then divide that number by the number of classes you’ve taken. That’s your current GPA. Want to double check? Ask your counselor.
- Learn what you can do to improve your GPA.
Do more than school.

You are more than your grades, after all. Be a well-rounded individual.
Demonstrating that you are a student with diverse skills and interests will help you get into college and can lead to scholarship opportunities. Join a club, do a sport or volunteer in your community. Whether it's school-based or a community activity, find something you can be passionate about and do it!
Next Steps
- Explore school-based extracurricular activities on the Idaho High School Activities Association website.
- Consider joining a career technical student organization.
- Check out this article about the importance of extracurricular activities
- Consider working part-time to save for college and learn about the types of work activities you enjoy, and those you don’t. You’ll learn a lot about yourself, and what you want in a career.
- Check out the Idaho Department of Labor’s job search. It’s easy to search for jobs in your city.
- Attend a career fair. Talk with employers and ask questions about the field and qualifications they are looking for also ask them about professional, what are sometimes called “soft skills,” you may need to develop before applying for jobs that interest you.
Figure out what you want in a college or training program.

How do you decide what's right for you? Think about what you need and what you want ahead of time.
A lot of things factor into making sure a school or program is right for you: what you plan to study, class size, housing options, transportation, cost, etc. While you don't have to figure everything out before you graduate, take some time now to explore what you want after high school.
Next Steps
- Check out this NextSteps guide to evaluating college options.
- Once you understand your options, make a list of your needs and priorities.

Research schools and programs.

See what's out there and decide which programs meet your criteria and where you want to apply.
Whether you're headed to a four-year college, community college, or technical college, start researching now. It's probably best to identify a number of possibilities, so if your "Plan A" falls through, you can still pursue other fall-back plans consistent with your career goals.
Next Steps
- Compare Idaho colleges here.
Or browse Idaho college and technical colleges and programs:
- Public 4-Year College/University
- Public 2-Year College/University
Plan to take the ACT and/or SAT.

These entrance exams are offered in the spring. Mark your calendar and study now.
Get a study guide for the ACT and/or SAT and start to prepare for the entrance exam you plan to take. Be sure to register for the exams in advance. Your high school guidance counselor can provide you with the test dates and helpful brochures. You can also find out more on their websites.
Next Steps
- Find out which tests are required by the schools you’re interested in applying for.
- Read this article on the difference between ACT & SAT – “How to Choose Between Taking the ACT, SAT”
- Register for the SAT.
- Register for the ACT.
- Use the free, online SAT practices tools from the Khan Academy.

Get serious about your options.

Narrow your choices. Plan a campus visit.
Make plans to visit the schools that are most appealing to you. Think about applying to three or four institutions or programs. Be sure you include at least one "dream" school and one "safety school" school, so you have a reasonable expectation of getting accepted to at least one.
Next Steps
- Learn how how to prepare for college visits.
- Visit at least two types of institutions: large/small, community college/university, and academic/technical.
Time to test.

If you haven't registered for the exam you plan to take, do it ASAP.
You should be studying and taking practice tests, so that you are entirely comfortable with the format, types of questions, and content areas that you'll be tested on.
Next Steps
- Find out which tests are required by the schools you’re interested in applying for
- Register for the SAT. Use the free, online SAT study guide.
- Register for the ACT.
- Use the free, online SAT practices tools from the Khan Academy.
Research scholarship opportunities.

Last year, a large amount of scholarship dollars went unclaimed in Idaho.
Like millions of students before you, you can pay for school. You just need to understand the process and investigate options and opportunities that make sense for you.
Next Steps
- Check out our Scholarships 101 resource to learn more about scholarships and how to find them.
- Find out more about opportunities available through the State Board of Education and apply online.
- Research scholarships to technical colleges and programs.
- Check out the College Board’s scholarship search engine to broaden your research.
- Contact organizations sponsoring scholarships that you’re eligible for and request information.
- Ask your counselor for local scholarship applications.
Get organized for your final year.

Junior year is almost over. Take stock of your accomplishments.
Develop a resume of high school activities and awards, if you haven’t done so, and update as needed. Think about what you can do this summer to build your skills and add to that resume.
Next Steps
- Use these templates to create your professional or college resume.
- Decide which teachers might be willing to write letters of recommendation next year. Some teachers like to write these letters over the summer, so it’s important to let them know what you’re expecting from them.
- Learn more about getting a great letter of recommendation.
- Consider finding a summer job to set aside money for school and gain valuable experience that you can add to your resume. Check out the Idaho Department of Labor’s job search.

Talk to your school counselor (as often as you need to)

Next Steps

Make sure you're taking the right classes.

Next Steps

Keep those grades up.

Next Steps

Do more than school.

Next Steps

Figure out what you want in a college or training program.

Next Steps

Research schools and programs.

Next Steps

Plan to take the ACT and/or SAT.

Next Steps

Get serious about your options.

Next Steps

Time to test.

Next Steps

Research scholarship opportunities.

Next Steps

Get organized for your final year.

Next Steps

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