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 in 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, but don’t be afraid to challenge yourself.
SATs and ACTs
Hopefully, you aren’t stressing about the SATs or ACTs. IUP does not require the ACT or SAT for admission to any of our majors or for scholarship consideration.
Taking these exams is completely up to you. We do not use them as part of the application review process at IUP. If you decide you want to take them, you may want to consider taking them at least once during your junior year with a plan to take them in the fall of your senior year. If you do choose to send scores to IUP, we superscore them (use the highest score from each section) and attach them to your record for reporting purposes.
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. You’ll be able to tour campus, learn more about campus life, and speak with professors at our Academic and Student Life Fair.
In the summer and fall, 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.
Helpful Timeline
Spring or Summer Before Senior Year
Visit us. This is a great time to see how beautiful the campus is.
July 1 Before your Senior Year
Application opens for rising seniors
September 1, Senior Year
Application review begins for those entering college the following fall.
Two Weeks After You Apply
You should hear from us with a decision or a request for more information so we can learn more about you. This notification will be emailed to you and you can view the change in your status in the admissions portal.
Explore IUP as an Admitted Student!
Set up your MyIUP account to explore opportunities you have at IUP. Attend an Experience IUP admitted student event. See information for admitted students to help with your next steps.
May 1
You have until May 1 to make your decision.
Confirm your enrollment at IUP by making a nonrefundable $150 enrollment deposit. This holds your place in the freshman class and guarantees your housing if you plan to live on campus. We will work with students after this date, space permitting. For the most housing and orientation options, deposit as soon as you make your decision!
