School Counseling Tips for Juniors

Focus on Academics

Maintaining a strong GPA and selecting challenging courses are essential as colleges heavily weigh academic performance and rigor. Remember, it’s never too late to improve your GPA. View the sample four-year plan for a list of challenging courses for your senior year.

Get Involved

Get involved in activities that interest you. Whether it’s sports, clubs, or leadership roles, colleges look for well-rounded students with a passion for their interests. Now is the time to deepen your involvement and take on roles that showcase your leadership and commitment.

Explore Excel TECC

The Excel TECC (Technical Education Career Consortium) program is a collaborative initiative designed to provide high school students from 10 Northeast Ohio districts with specialized career and technical education. Offering a wide range of programs in fields such as engineering, healthcare, cosmetology, culinary arts, and marketing, Excel TECC prepares students for both college and career through hands-on experiences, internships, and industry partnerships. Students can earn college credits and industry-recognized certifications to gain a competitive edge in the job market. Beachwood High School hosts three programs: Culinary Arts, Marketing, and T.E.A.C.H. Students have the opportunity to apply to programs across all participating sites. 

College & Career Planning

• Join the College & Career Planning Google Classroom: Be sure to join the College & Career Planning Google Classroom using the the the following code: nvmvzrq
• Attend College Planning Night: Review the presentation materials to understand key aspects of the college planning process.
• Research Colleges: Utilize Scoir for comprehensive college research and to register for college visits to Beachwood High School. You also can register for college visits to Beachwood High School on Scoir. Finally, check out College Essay Guy's College Application Hub for even more resources.
• Plan Your Future with LEAF: Visit the Lake/Geauga Educational Assistance Foundation website for career, education, and financial advisory services.
• Explore Scholarships: Start searching for scholarships to support your college education.

Standardized Testing

Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT and the ACT. Take advantage of free resources such as Khan Academy for SAT prep and ACT Academy for ACT prep. Need additional help?  Consider a tutor or test prep program.

Financial Planning for College:

Explore Financial Aid: With your family, research how to obtain financial aid. Understand different types of aid and how to apply by visiting StudentAid.gov or making an appointment with a LEAF representative.

Volunteer Service

Complete your volunteer hours as part of the graduation requirement. A total of 50 hours is required, and early completion during your junior year will ease your senior year workload. Submit a signed Project Completion Form for each service project.

Scoir Platform

• Login Instructions: Access Scoir by logging in with your Beachwood email and password or through the mobile app.
• College Research: Use Scoir for an organized and efficient college search process.
• Letters of Recommendation: Request recommendations through Scoir only after discussing with your teachers. Ensure you have a list of schools where you want these letters sent. Please review these instructions for the Common App Recommendation process.
• Family Involvement: Invite your parents or guardians to join your Scoir account to help with the planning process and utilize college financial calculators.