11th Grade Checklist

AUGUST

• Review your 11th grade class schedule to be certain you are taking courses relevant to current post-graduation plans. Be aware of college preparatory requirements! 
• Review and discuss the career options available (work force, apprenticeship programs, military, technical school, 2-year college, 4-year college). This is a very good year to explore options
• Visit school campuses anytime during the junior year (set up appointments through the Admissions Office).   

SEPTEMBER 

• The Counseling Office and MCIS have a wealth of information regarding careers and schools
• Attend a career/college fair held at one of the local colleges
• Scholarships are generally an ongoing process during the senior year. While there are few scholarship competitions open to juniors, students should watch the announcements for any that may come to the school (into the Counseling Office or online)
• Representatives from various schools and military branches schedule visits to Ely throughout the year; visits are announced in the daily announcements and on the Counseling Office whiteboard. Representatives can be found in the Counseling Office during their scheduled visits
• Look for PSAT/SAT/ACT preparation workshop
• Visit schools!  
• Students that have not passed the GRAD Reading test taken during the spring of 10th grade, will need to retest until it is passed in order to graduate. Retests are held at the beginning of every month. 

OCTOBER

• College-bound juniors may elect to take the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test); registration is handled through the Counseling Office. The PSAT is $14 and must be payed before the start of the test. PSAT fee waivers are available for those that qualify.  The PSAT (which is set up just like the SAT, a college admissions test) will compare a student's test scores to other college-bound juniors, familiarize the student to the college admissions test, and determine if the student will qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The PSAT is scheduled for October 16th, 2013 at 8:00am in the media center. 
• Watch for scholarship, leadership and summer enrichment opportunities
• Visit schools!
• Watch for school/military representatives!
• Check out resources in the Counseling Office and Minnesota Career Information System (MCIS). MCIS username: Ely; password: student. 
• Ms. Pender will be visiting with juniors in their social studies class to talk about college and career planning and MCIS.

NOVEMBER

• Seniors may make arrangements to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB-November 6th, 2013; 8:00am)
• Scholarships, leadership, summer opportunities
• Visit schools!
• Watch for school/military representatives!
• Check out the resources in the Counseling Office, online and MCIS
• Parent-teacher conferences  

DECEMBER

• PSAT scores usually arrive this month. Group interpretations are provided
• Scholarships, leadership, summer opportunities
• Visit schools!
• Watch for school/military representatives! 
• Check out the Counseling Office, online and MCIS.  

JANUARY

• Parents and students may attend the Financial Aid Night at Memorial High School Media Center
• Scholarships, leadership, summer opportunities
• Visit schools!
• Watch for school/military representatives!
• Check out the Counseling Office, online, and MCIS. 

FEBRUARY

• Scholarships, leadership, summer opportunities
• Visit schools!
• Watch for school/military representatives!
• Check out the Counseling Office, online, and MCIS
• If you are planning to take Concurrent Enrollment courses or PSEO as a senior, you will need to pass the Accuplacer and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5. Accuplacer testing will be held in February and April.

MARCH 

• Juniors register for senior year classes, count credits, and discuss post-graduation plans
• Summer School registration begins
• Scholarships, leadership, summer opportunities
• Visit schools! 
• Watch for school/military representatives!
• Check out the Counseling Office, online and MCIS
• Look for SAT & ACT Test Preparation Workshops  

APRIL

• MILITARY OPTIONS
• Juniors choosing the military as a post-graduation plan or career should be working with one particular recruiter
• WORK FORCE OPTIONS
• Juniors choosing to go to work after graduation should consider putting a resume and portfolio together (letters of recommendation, work experience, school transcripts, etc.). Students may see their counselor about how to write resumes and ready themselves for work
• Plan to take the ACT or SAT if you are planning to attend a 4 year post-secondary institution. Most students take the ACT. The SAT is often a requirement for schools outside the Midwest. 
• All juniors will take the GRAD Math Test
• If you are planning to take Concurrent Enrollment courses or PSEO as a senior, you will need to pass the Accuplacer. Accuplacer testing will be held in April.
• Scholarships, leadership, summer opportunities
• Visit schools!
• Watch for school/military representatives!
• Check out the Counseling Office, online, and MCIS   

MAY

• Register to take the ACT  in June or to take the SAT.  Students should see their counselor or visit with their school of choice to determine if they need to take the SAT
• Scholarships, leadership, summer opportunities
• Visit schools!
• Watch for school/military representatives!
• Check out the Counseling Office, online, and MCIS  

JUNE-JULY-AUGUST

• ACT or SAT tests are offered
• Students may want to schedule appointments for senior pictures
• Military plans should be finalized
• Visit schools!