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College application deadlines have a tendency to come up fast. But the process of preparing for college typically begins much earlier than senior year.

Plenty of students prefer to get ready as early as their junior year of high school in an effort to strengthen their eventual college applications (and make the process more manageable).

For those interested in college, some years of high school carry more weight — especially, the junior year. Colleges often look more closely at grades and achievements from this year, since coursework tends to be more challenging and it’s the last full academic year they can view before students apply.

As a result, approaching junior year with a clear action plan may give you a leg up on admission into your dream college. Compiling a junior year of high school checklist can help you tackle this vital year with more drive, confidence, and focus.

Here’s an overview of why junior year of high school is so key and some strategies for staying focused while preparing to apply for college.

Why Junior Year Is Important

Junior year of high school can be especially impactful for strengthening your college application. Since it’s the last school year that universities can look at in full, many admissions committees pay particularly close attention to grades and extracurricular activities from junior year.

The third year of high school can feel overwhelming for a few reasons:

•   Class difficulty levels are often higher than earlier years.

•   Students can begin studying now for the SAT and ACT. (It’s possible to take these exams in the spring of junior year, affording juniors a chance to retake them during the fall of senior year.)

•   Upper-class students can take on numerous extracurriculars and a part-time job.

To help make junior year a lighter lift, it can help to enter into it with a checklist in hand. This can not only relieve stress but lead to more success when college acceptance letters are sent out the next year. What follows are some helpful things to keep in mind to make more out of this critical year.


💡 Quick Tip: You’ll make no payments on some private student loans for six months after graduation.

Getting Involved in Extracurriculars

To strengthen their college applications, many juniors opt to get more involved with organizations or activities they care deeply about. Being involved in extracurriculars doesn’t have to feel like a chore.

Extracurriculars that might stand out on a college application include clubs, student council, volunteering, athletic endeavors, and more. There’s no one-size-fits-all way for students to be engaged in school or in their communities.

Many high schools host a variety of clubs that students can join. You might choose one or two you’re really passionate about. Participating in a club can serve as a break from hitting the books (all while still fleshing out your college application profile).

Volunteer work is another way to stand out when applying to college. During your junior year, you might seek out a volunteer opportunity with a nonprofit you feel strongly about. Or you might choose a field you hope to work in one day. For instance, if you’re interested in medicine, you might seek out volunteer opportunities in a local hospital.

Staying Focused

To stay organized and focused during your junior year, consider keeping a digital calendar or paper planner. With eight dates available to take the SAT, and ten different dates available to take the ACT, it can be easy for busy students to lose track of when to study for and schedule their standardized tests.

Once you select a test day, it’s a good idea to mark it down on your calendar or planner. You can then work backwards, planning out practice tests and study sessions during the build-up to the testing date.

The simple act of writing things down can make them easier to remember, so some researchers suggest jotting down key dates first in a physical planner before then adding them to a digital device or calendar.

Recommended: ACT vs. SAT: Which Do Colleges Prefer?

Making a Junior Year Checklist

In addition to writing down important dates, you might benefit from making a personalized junior year checklist. Some tasks you could include are:

•   Studying for major tests, like the SAT or ACT

•   Joining extracurricular clubs or organizations

•   Researching different colleges and universities

•   Getting familiar with the format of college applications

Once you draft your checklist, you can then make to-do lists under each subcategory. Use your calendar/planner in tandem with your checklist to stay on top of these goals and deadlines.

Designating a Study Space

Creating a dedicated space for studying can also improve your focus during a jam-packed school year. You might opt to designate a comfy space at home, where you can concentrate on your studies. To make the space both inviting and conducive to working, consider decking it out with school supplies, keeping it clutter-free, and decorating it with inspirational pictures or personal items (like a photo of your dream school).

Remembering to Reward Accomplishments

To keep up your motivation, it’s important to reward major accomplishments during this high-stakes year. Once you’ve scheduled and mapped out important dates and tasks, you might make another list of potential fun rewards for meeting each goal. Aced those finals? Binge on some light TV. Finished the SAT practice exam? Download that new game everyone’s been playing.

Keep in mind that an overly hectic junior year can lead to excess stress and possibly make it harder to accomplish big goals. Carving some time out for regular breaks can help you avoid burnout.

Getting a First Job

Junior year can also be a good time to get your first part-time job. If you can find a job that’s easy to get to and from (and doesn’t distract from academics), work experience can be one more experience to highlight on a college application down the road. Holding a part-time job at a young age demonstrates skills such as time-management and personal responsibility.

Your high school might also offer “work-like” opportunities to upperclassmen, such as working on the school yearbook, interning for credit, or volunteering on or off site.

Recommended: Am I Eligible for Work-Study?

Financing College

Earning admission is just one piece of the going-to-college puzzle. Once accepted, many high schoolers wrestle with how to pay for college.

Some funding options include savings, need-based grants, merit or affinity scholarships, federal student loans, and private student loans.

Some grants, such as Federal Pell Grants, are disbursed by the U.S. government to students with financial need. Grants, unlike loans, do not typically have to be repaid by the student. Scholarships, another source of “free money,” are frequently merit-based, meaning they’re often awarded based on a student’s academic, athletic, or community-based accomplishments. You can find information about scholarships through your high school guidance counselor, the financial aid office at your chosen college, and by using an online scholarship database.

Loans are another common way to help pay for college. There are both federal and private student loans. Federal student loans are issued by the U.S. Department of Education and come with various benefits, including low fixed interest rates, income-driven repayment, and deferment options. Private student loans are funded by banks, credit unions, and online lenders. These loans can have fixed or variable interest rates, and repayment terms vary depending on the lender. Approval for private loans is typically based on the borrower’s credit score and history; students typically need a cosigner.


💡 Quick Tip: Parents and sponsors with strong credit and income may find more competitive rates on no-fees-required private parent student loans than federal parent PLUS loans. Federal PLUS loans also come with an origination fee.

The Takeaway

Junior year isn’t just another grade — it’s a turning point that can play a vital role in shaping your college journey. With your grades, test scores, extracurricular, and leadership roles carrying extra weight this year, planning ahead can give you the chance to stand out when it’s time to apply to college.

Whether it’s prepping for standardized tests, leaning in on extracurricular activities, exploring career interests through volunteering, or researching your funding options, the steps you take this year can open big doors when application season arrives.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

FAQ

Why is the junior year of high school important?

Junior year is often considered a pivotal stage in high school because it’s the last full academic year colleges can evaluate before applications are submitted. This is a time when students are expected to demonstrate academic growth and maturity, often by taking on more challenging coursework. It’s also when students take standardized tests like the SAT or ACT. Strong performance in junior year can give you access to more selective colleges, scholarships, and advanced senior year opportunities.

Does junior year matter in high school?

Yes, junior year matters significantly in high school. Colleges often see it as the most telling year of a student’s academic ability since it reflects performance in challenging upper-level courses. It’s also when extracurricular involvements, leadership roles, and community service can become more meaningful on applications. Since college admissions officers often review transcripts through junior year, strong grades and achievements during this time can make a major difference in future opportunities.

Why is 11th grade the most important year?

Eleventh grade is often considered the most important year because it’s the final full year of grades colleges will see before applications are submitted. Students are typically enrolled in their most challenging courses, giving them a chance to show academic growth. Standardized tests scores, advanced coursework, and extracurricular commitments during this year can help open doors during application season.

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SOISL-Q325-086

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the tech industry, coding bootcamps can be a quicker, more affordable alternative to getting a traditional degree. However, these courses still require a significant amount of time, energy, and money.

Are coding bootcamps worth it? They can be. You’ll want to keep in mind, however, that bootcamps vary in terms of quality, so finding a good one can take some research. In addition, the skills you learn from a bootcamp may not be enough to land the type of job or career you want.

Read on for key things you need to know about coding bootcamps. Including what they are, how they work, and how much you may be able to earn when you graduate.

What Is a Coding Bootcamp?

Coding bootcamps are short, intensive courses designed to provide in-depth training in software development fundamentals, and prepare students for entry-level jobs in the tech industry.

Many people consider bootcamps when pursuing a career change or looking for a shorter path into the tech industry, as they last about 12 weeks on average.

Bootcamps are conducted in both traditional classrooms and online, and are designed to accommodate students with little-to-no coding experience.

However, not all coding bootcamps are accredited schools. While some boot camps are affiliated with universities and, therefore, required to uphold the educational standards of the institution it is in partnership with, most coding bootcamps remain privately owned with educational standards that may not necessarily be governed by any scholarly entity.

Therefore, coding bootcamps, no matter how appealing, may not all produce the same quality of education or warrant any recognition outside of the tech industry.

Recommended: How to Pay for Coding Bootcamps

How Much Do Coding Bootcamps Cost?

The cost of coding bootcamp can vary widely, and will depend on the school, the length of the program, whether classes are in-person or online, and whether you study full or part time. However, on average, tuition for coding bootcamps can run around $12,000 to 14,000.

While that’s not nothing, it’s a lot less than the cost of a traditional undergraduate degree. According to College Data, the average annual tuition at a public university is $11,260 for in-state students and $29,150 for out-of-state students. The average annual tuition for a private institution is $41,540. If you pursue a four-year bachelor’s degree program, tuition can therefore be much more than a coding bootcamp.

Like colleges and universities, many coding bootcamps now offer a range of funding options, so you don’t necessarily have to pay the full cost up front and out of pocket. These may include:

•  Scholarships: Some bootcamps offer scholarships for women, minorities, vets and even those experiencing hardships. You can often find out about scholarship opportunities by going to the tuition section of the bootcamp’s website.
•  Loans: External loans, including private student loans, are a common way to cover the cost of bootcamp.
•  Deferred Tuition: This allows students to enter and complete a coding bootcamp without upfront payment. You are required to pay back your tuition costs only after securing a job.
•  Income-Share Agreement (ISA): This is a wage-garnishment agreement between a bootcamp and a graduate. It generally specifies that once a graduate accepts a job, a portion of their income will be paid to the bootcamp for a specified length of time.

Is There a Stigma About Coding Bootcamps?

While coding bootcamps were once similar to Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) — virtual, often free or low-cost, classes notorious for their low completion rates — many of these programs are now highly respected by employers.

Unlike MOOCs, which are structured to teach hundreds of students at a time, utilizing a primarily hands-off teaching model, coding bootcamps typically rely heavily on instructor direction. Indeed, there may be more than one instructor assigned to each class, which is often no larger than,say, 20 students.

Many programs are also highly intensive, requiring as much as 40 hours of weekly instruction. In addition, these programs tend to rely on project-based teaching methods that require students to immediately put their learnings into action.

However, there is no standardization for bootcamps, so all programs are not created equal. As a result, finding the right bootcamp can take a fair amount of time and effort.

If you are currently employed, it can be a good idea to talk to your supervisor or HR department about any bootcamps you are considering to get a sense of how the company views the program, and how completing the course could impact your career with the company. It’s also worth investigating if your employer offers a tuition reimbursement program that could help you cover the cost of bootcamp.

Recommended: Student’s Guide to Certificate Programs

What Can I Expect From a Coding Bootcamp?

Completing any coding bootcamp should ultimately result in fluency in at least one coding language, such as JavaScript, Python, C++, C#, or Java. In addition, you will likely graduate with a portfolio of projects you completed during the course.

And because the goal of a bootcamp is to churn graduates directly into the tech industry, these programs often help graduates find, apply, and interview for industry positions.

Bootcamps generally don’t go much further than that, however. While starting salaries for coding bootcamp graduates average $70,000 a year, these programs may not provide all the education you need to succeed in a tech career.

Also, in some cases, coding skills aren’t enough on their own to land a job. Some employers, for example, may be looking for a broader set of skills in computer science or specialization in a certain field. Others may place high value on interpersonal or soft skills that allow you to work effectively in a team and communicate with coworkers.

As a result, even after completing coding bootcamp, you may find it necessary to go back and complete your college degree at a later date.

The Takeaway

Whether or not coding bootcamp is worth it depends on your career goals and the quality of the coding camp. On the plus side, coding bootcamp can train you up quickly, and they generally cost a fraction of the cost of a typical college degree. However, if you are interested in a management career or moving beyond coding, you will likely need a traditional college degree.

FAQ

Is it realistic to get a job after coding bootcamp?

Whether or not you’ll get a job right away once you’ve completed a coding bootcamp depends on several factors, such as which course you took and how in-demand the skills taught are in your area. In many cases, the coding skills can lead to a job after the bootcamp.

Is 40 too old for coding bootcamp?

No age is too old for coding bootcamp. Most people will have plenty of prior exposure to how websites and apps work, regardless of age, which can be a positive. Having an eagerness to learn and a willingness to dive in and do the work is usually most important.

How to pick a coding bootcamp?

To select a coding bootcamp, define your career goals and interests. Consider what type of course (online, in-person, a mix) will work best for you, and then zoom in on the bootcamp’s job placement rates, reviews, and career services to make sure they have a solid record. Finally, consider the cost and how you’ll pay for it.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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