1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter

This is a good time to check your transcript and credit checks to make sure you are on track for graduation as well as meeting the admissions criteria for any schools you will be submitting applications to in the fall.

Make sure you sit down with your counselor and discuss your future plans so they can help best advise you.

This is your last chance to take AP, Dual Enrollment or Honors classes. The level of rigor you take in high school is often a consideration in college acceptance and scholarship awards.

Consider your college admissions and program of study when deciding on Dual Enrollment versus AP. AZTransfer is a great tool to see how these courses will transfer to our in-state universities.

Note: If you are applying out-of-state, you need to check with each university to see their policy for dual enrollment credit acceptance and what AP scores are awarded core credit. 

Discuss your course selections with parents/guardians/teachers/advisors. Ask the experts of the classes and the people that know you the best what they would recommend.  Plus, discussing your plans and goals with people can help hold you accountable.

Choose your course requests carefully. Double-check that your requests are correct and legible (if you are submitting your requests on paper). You do not want to have to wait in long lines in the fall trying to get a schedule change for something that could have been avoided. Be sure you register for all classes that are requirements for graduation next year.   

It is important that you understand the entry requirements for all of the universities or colleges that you are interested in applying to as they can vary from state to state.  You also should begin looking at the applications to ensure you are aware of what you need to accomplish early in senior year. Each college within a university may have its own additional GPA or test score requirements. Meet with your counselor or career center team to discuss what you plan to major in so they can help you be on track.

How do I sign up?

Please Note: ALL 12th grade GPS students had the opportunity to take one ACT test on March 1, 2022 at their high school without outside registration or fees. 

GPS will administer ACT (No Writing) to 11th grade students in Cohort 2024 on April 4, 2023 (computer-based).  

If you'd like to take an additional ACT test outside of the Junior Year GPS date register below directly with ACT.

Additional ACT Registration

SAT Registration  

What if I can’t afford the fee? Don’t worry, there are waivers available to those with financial need. See your counselor for further information about your situation and what you qualify for.

Please Note: Do you qualify for Free & Reduced Lunch? If so, you may be able to claim your SAT Fee Waivers through your College Board account or learn about ACT Fee Waiver Program.

Do I need to take both tests? The answer to that is mostly dependent upon the university you plan to attend, but you can explore all of the exams here.  It never hurts you to take both.  Not sure which exam is right for you? Here's a checklist to compare your strengths and help you decide. 

Studying

You should not just roll out of bed on the Saturday morning of the exam and "give it your best shot".

These tests require preparation.

For online resources, Khan Academy is the official study guide for the SAT, and there are similar free platform to help you prepare for the ACT. Outside companies also offer test prep courses for a fee that will cover the content of the exams plus test-taking strategies. You can find information for these offerings in your counseling office and career center.  

ZAPS Test Prep

A well-written personal statement/college essay can make the difference between being admitted into the university of your choice, obtaining a scholarship or not receiving it.

Your personal statement or essay is your chance to show what is unique about you and to get the admissions or scholarship committees’ attention. It is worth taking the time on this, so don’t delay, start writing this today.

For tips on what goes into a good personal statement, check out these resources:

College Essay Guy - Free Guide to Writing a Personal Statement 

Article: 9 Essay Writing Tips to ‘Wow' College Admissions Officers – usatoday.com 
Article: How to Write the Best Personal Statement - GoingMerry.com

It is important that you know what the entry requirements are for all of the universities you are planning to apply to.

You don’t want to find out too late that you don’t qualify. Take the time to look up each university/college and check their undergraduate entry requirements. Double-check your high school transcript and course requests for each year to ensure you are on track in meeting these. 

The PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitute Test) is a great primer for the SAT, but it is so much more than a trial run!  PSAT scores are used to identify National Merit Scholars and award merit scholarships.  More than 3.4 million high school students take this nationwide, multiple-choice test every year.   

The best way to study for the SAT is by using your PSAT results from October to focus specifically on the particular areas you need to improve. Your PSAT results can provide you with a personalized study plan if you link them with Khan Academy – the official test prep site for College Board. In addition, you can read about and take practice SAT tests on the CollegeBoard website.

Take assessments to discover your interests!

How well do you know yourself? Career assessments help you identify your interests, skills and values, and match them to occupations. Assessments do not tell you what you can or cannot be, but you can use assessment results to help you make career plans and influence what courses you choose to explore in high school.

AZCIS Assessments – (Note: These are accessed through your Rapid Identity/Clever Accounts):

AZCIS Career Cluster Inventory – Find out which career clusters match your interests and view the occupations in those clusters.

AZCIS Interest Profiler – Find out which work areas match your interests. View the occupations in those work areas.

Reality Check - Find out how much money you will need to attain the lifestyle you desire. View occupations that pay enough to support your ideal lifestyle.

Research your careers and post-grad options.

Check out the two items below to help you get started...

ASU me3 – Most students change their major in college at least once, and generally several times. This app will help you explore now to get a head start on planning for your future and what you can do to make it happen!

Junior Year | 4th Quarter