You have a lot to deal with in high school right now, but it’s not too early to start thinking about college. While it may seem far away and a little overwhelming, taking some steps your junior year can make a big difference when you apply to colleges as a senior.
High School Coursework
Your high school transcripts are the most important part of your application to IUP. We look closely at the courses you’ve taken and how you did in those classes. Your junior year may be the most important year of coursework, depending on when you apply and how well you’ve done. Be thoughtful about the classes you take—don't be afraid to challenge yourself.
SATs and ACTs
Hopefully you aren’t stressing about the
SATs or
ACTs, but it’s a good idea to take them at least once during your junior year. If you are looking at
competitive programs
, you have even more incentive to start preparing for and taking these exams early.
Since the earliest you can take the SATs during your senior year is often in October, it can be helpful to start taking the exams during your junior year. Otherwise, when you start your senior year, you may feel lots of pressure if you haven’t already taken the exam at least once. If you register for an earlier date during your junior year and your scores are not as high as you need or want them to be, you will have plenty of time to study, make some adjustments, and earn the scores that show your ability.
The ACTs are another exam for you to consider. Sometimes, if you struggled on the SATs, you can earn scores that are better indicators of your ability on the ACT exams. The ACTs cover a broader range of information and are worth considering, especially if you didn’t do as well on the SAT as you expected.
We encourage you to submit all of your scores when you test—your score report is included in your registration and is considered official when it comes directly from the testing service. Whether you take the SAT, ACT, or both, we will apply the highest exam score to your IUP application.
Visiting Campus
Our students tell us that when they made a visit to IUP, that’s when they knew it was the right fit for them. IUP has many opportunities to visit. As a junior, we encourage you to consider attending one of our Open House programs offered in April, July, and August. You’ll be able to tour campus, learn more about campus life, and speak with professors at our Academic
Marketplace.
In July and August, we host Decision Day programs for rising seniors who want to apply and learn their decision before the start of the senior year. This is a great opportunity for students to be admitted or to get immediate, early feedback from an IUP
admission counselor to learn just what we need for admission.
Financial Aid
If you haven't already started thinking about how to finance your college education, you should definitely start considering the types of
financial aid available and begin planning. You might also look for scholarship opportunities. To make yourself as competitive as possible for admission to IUP and for scholarships, keep your grades up and look for things you can do that will strengthen your application, such as activities, community service, or a part-time job.