Counseling
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Throughout the year:
- Focus on your academics! Junior year is important and tends to be the most challenging. It is also a time when students reach a peak in stress. Prioritize your academics and your mental health!
- Learn new time management and study skills. Junior classes have increased demands and require lots of time and effort.
- Maintain your involvement in clubs, sports, and activities that you enjoy.
- Be aware of your emotions and seek help and support when necessary.
- Use Xello and CollegeBoard for college research and planning.
- Visit your counselor! Message your counselor on Microsoft Teams if you need to set up a meeting.
Fall
- Take the PSAT in October to enter the National Merit Scholarship Competition.
- Attend the UCS Financial Aid Night - this is optional and more directed toward seniors, but juniors may benefit as well.
- Attend the UCS College Fair and the UCS Wellness Fair.
- Meet with your counselor to check in on your academic progress.
- Create an Educational Development Plan (EDP) on Xello.
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- Counselors will work with students to update their EDP through Xello.
- Xello provides matchmaker quizzes that can help students identify a potential career field.
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Winter
- Choose your senior year classes!
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- Counselors will work with students in February/March to choose senior classes.
- Consult with your teachers and your counselor to make sure that you are choosing classes that will set you up for success!
- Students should appropriately challenge themselves given their goals.
- Refer to EDP via Xello to look at educational goals for fields of interest.
- Counselors will work with students in February/March to choose senior classes.
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Spring
- Take the SAT, WorkKeys, and M-Step as part of the MME in April.
- Attend the UCS College Fair in the Spring during UCS College Fair Week.
- Consider registering for UCS Summer School to make up classes or get ahead by taking Credit Forward classes to make room in your schedule.
- Take your AP exams in May (if applicable).
- Maintain your good habits in your courses and finish the year strong!!
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- If you have struggled in previous semester, don’t worry! Upward trends in grades are an excellent sign of growth.
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Summer
- Develop your post-high school plans! Begin to think about goals, career options, colleges/universities, or technical schools.
- Do career and college research with your EDP on Xello.
- Create and develop your resume.
- Go on college visits.
- You may begin to work on college applications, but you will not submit anything until you have met with your counselor in September.
- Schedule virtual college visits or take a tour of a local college to familiarize yourself with the “feel” of the school.
- Take summer school classes to make up for a failed class or to meet a graduation requirement.
- Participate in a sport, hobby, club, or activity you enjoy!
Juniors: What's YOUR Plan? (youtube.com)
Standardized Assessments for 11th Grade:
AP Tests (if Applicable)
- Students will register for the AP tests in the Fall. Students are provided a code from their AP teacher to register for the exams through CollegeBoard. For more information about AP tests, visit the Advanced Placement page on the Counseling website.
PSAT - Taken in October of Junior year
- All UCS juniors will be registered for and take the PSAT in October at school.
- This test will qualify students for the distinction of National Merit Scholar based on their score.
- The PSAT does NOT get reported to colleges. It serves as a practice for the SAT.
- Students will receive their PSAT scores in December/January.
- National Merit Scholar Semifinalists will be announced in September of senior year.
SAT - Taken in April of Junior year
- All UCS juniors will be registered for and take the SAT in April at school.
- Colleges will take SAT or ACT scores. They do NOT require both and there is no preference for either.
- If students would like to re-take the SAT, they are welcome to register themselves for additional SAT tests on their own through CollegeBoard.
- Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch will receive reduced testing fees. Talk to your counselor for more information.
SAT II Subject Tests
- NOT NEEDED by any college in Michigan
- Only needed if you are applying to a HIGHLY SELECTIVE university (like Harvard).
- Students must register for SAT II Subject tests on their own through CollegeBoard.
- Colleges will specify if they require the SAT II Subject tests, so do your research!
ACT Plus Writing
- Juniors may choose to take the ACT Plus Writing on their own.
- Colleges will take SAT or ACT scores. They do NOT require both and there is no preference for either.
- Students must register themselves for the ACT.
- Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch will receive reduced testing fees. Talk to your counselor for more information.