Junior Guide for Parents

Fall Semester

1. Take the PSAT/NMSQT
   • At school, have your student sign up early to take the PSAT/NMSQT® in October. Get PSAT/NMSQT tips and a free practice test online at www.collegeboard.com.
2. Start The College Search
   • The college search process starts with the student. Have your student make lists of their abilities, preferences, and personal qualities. Have him or her list things they may want to study and do in college. Jumpstart the college planning by reading about majors and careers. Look at potential college and university websites for places that most align with your student’s interests.
3. Think About Paying for College
   • Make an appointment with your student’s high school counselor for you and your student to talk about his or her college plans and attend college night and financial aid programs advertised at the high school. Use financial aid calculators to estimate your student’s aid eligibility and college costs.
4. Plan a Spring Testing Schedule
   • Georgia Southern University reviews both the SAT and ACT test scores for acceptance. Students can take the exam multiple times to achieve the best possible score. We encourage all test scores be sent to the university, even if it’s the first attempt. When making test reservations, be sure to have your student include the following testing codes to have their results electronically sent to Georgia Southern University (SAT 5253, ACT 0830). Use the access code on the student’s PSAT/NMSQT score report to sign in to My College QuickStart™. With this personalized planning kit, you can prepare for the SAT using a study plan based on your PSAT/NMSQT results and explore lists of suggested colleges, majors, and careers.

Spring Semester

1. Prepare for the ACT or SAT
   • Have your student visit the SAT Preparation Center™ to take a free full-length official practice test and get a score and skills report. Be sure to sign up for The Official SAT Question of the Day™ for daily practice. The ACT also provides practice questions for each subject area for your student to review.
2. Explore the Options
   • Start visiting local colleges: large, small, public, and private. Get a feel for what works for your student and the family. Have your student develop a list of 5-10 colleges that he or she is most interested in. Georgia Southern University Admissions hosts a spring Open House with high school juniors as the main audience.
3. Create an Eagle Info Page
   • Both you and your student can create personalized web pages on Georgia Southern Admissions website. Each page allows your student to select areas of interest and receive specific information about Georgia Southern’s programs and services. These pages also have important parent information and are where your student will register for upcoming Georgia Southern events. Visit Eagle Info Pages to get started.
4. Plan Ahead for Senior Year
   • Sit down with your student to review their senior year class schedule. Have your student challenge themselves, if possible, with honors and AP classes and stick with the college preparatory courses they have begun. Georgia Southern has a list of class requirements for acceptance on the Freshman Admissions page.
5. Plan Ahead for Summer
   • Plan summer activities early. Encourage your student to enrich themselves by volunteering, getting an interesting job or internship, or signing up for special summer learning programs.

Summer

1. Keep the Momentum Up
   • Visit colleges. Take campus tours and, at colleges your student is serious about, schedule interviews with admissions staff. Have your student bring a campus visit checklist with specific questions that are important to have answered. Review applications for colleges to which your student will apply. Check important dates; some universities have early dates or rolling admissions. Consult Georgia Southern University Admissions website for important dates and deadlines.

Last updated: 8/9/2021