11th Grade

Creating a Plan for Senior Year

It’s hard to believe junior year is wrapping up in only a few short weeks. Now is the time to look ahead to your student’s final year in homeschool! This year, your student will continue many of the tasks begun in his junior year, building on the foundation and priorities you’ve set so far.

Plan to Re-take Tests

In his senior year, your student will have a better grasp on subjects he was just getting acquainted with in 11th grade. This gives him a leg up on the ACT and SAT! He’ll approach these tests with a better understanding of the material but also enough standardized test experience to quell some of those test-day nerves (at least most of them!). If he hasn’t taken any standardized tests yet, that’s okay too! Get a good test prep book and work test preparation into your student’s schedule this summer, and he’ll be ready to go in the fall. If you are interested in a test prep program, I have an online one running year-round that you can check out here.

Check Up on Dual Credit

Whether your student has been taking dual enrollment classes for the last year or if he’s just starting this fall, start looking through the course catalog. Sign-ups for fall classes typically open in June, so don’t miss out! Also, take the time to check with your prospective universities (if you’ve picked a few) to make sure any classes for which you register will transfer to their programs. You don’t want to waste time or money dual enrolling for classes that don’t transfer in!

Plan for More CLEP Testing

Similar to dual enrollment, CLEP testing can begin much earlier than senior year and many homeschoolers take advantage of that fact. If you have any CLEP tests not yet taken, plan for when you’ll integrate these into your student’s schedule and curriculum. Remember: you can list CLEP preparation and test time as a half credit on a student’s transcript if he still needs high school credit in a subject, but has enough mastery to avoid taking a class in the subject.

Job Shadow

Still unsure about a potential career, ministry, or major? Find job shadowing opportunities! Encourage your student to make a list of potential careers, if he hasn’t already, and locate someone he can shadow in that field. Even an afternoon in an architect’s office or a few hours at the hospital can give your student a feel for the nature of a career, which will help guide his choice of a major.

Isolate a Major

Students don’t need to declare a major their freshman year (at most universities), but it is to their advantage to have a course mapped out from the beginning. This prevents wasted credit and wasted time and can help find scholarships specific to an area of study.

Narrow Down a College or Career Choice

Finally, isolate a few colleges and/or career choices. Set up college visits, call the admission offices, and find out what you’ll need to send their way in the near future. Encourage your student to do this work; students who take initiative show that they are invested in their own higher education and tend to appreciate their college experience more.

Remember, not all students want to go to college – and if that’s your student, start looking into trade schools and entrepreneurship opportunities! The same principles apply and can be helpful in non-university pursuits.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected]