What do you do NOW? Homeschool junior year is filled with key tasks that must be done in order to successfully get college admission and scholarships. But absolutely NOTHING is normal this year!

Normally, during homeschool junior year, students should take PSAT/NMSQT®, attend college fairs, prepare for and take the SAT® or ACT®, visit colleges, and choose 4-8 colleges where they will apply during senior year. How is any of that possible when nothing is normal?

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Take the PSAT/NMSQT® Junior Year

What is the PSAT/NMSQT®? It is one of the high school tests that your child will take, in part for practice for the SAT® and in part to see if they qualify for the National Merit Scholarships Qualifier (NMSQT). Read my article here for more detail. This article will be especially helpful when life returns to normal.

If your child is super-smart and a good test-taker, then the PSAT/NMSQT® might be how they qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. The PSAT® is the qualifying test only when taken in 11th grade. Because the pandemic ebbs and flows, it's hard to know when your schools might be open, in order for them to take the PSAT/NMSQT® qualifying test. But there is an alternative if you are unable to take the test.

If Your Student Misses the PSAT/NMSQT® 

"A student who does not take the PSAT/NMSQT because of illness, an emergency, or other extenuating circumstance, but meets all other requirements for NMSC program participation, may still be able to enter the competition. The student or a school official must write to NMSC as soon as possible after the PSAT/NMSQT administration to request information about procedures for alternate entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program. To be considered, a request must be postmarked no later than April 1 following the PSAT/NMSQT administration that was missed. The alternate entry request should include the name and address of the student; the contact information of the person making the request; the name and address of the student's high school; and a brief explanation of why the student missed the PSAT/NMSQT. The earlier NMSC receives the written request, the greater the student's opportunities for meeting alternate entry requirements. Upon receiving and processing the request, NMSC will provide alternate entry materials, including instructions for program entry and a form that requires the signature of a school official." ~ NationalMerit.org

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College Fairs During Junior Year 

Finding the colleges where students will apply is the overarching goal of junior year. The first step is to attend college fairs. With most convention centers closed, the usual plan is a mess right now. Attend an in-person college fair if you can, but also make a plan to attend college fairs virtually. There are two options, and I encourage you to attend both. Find a Virtual College Fair: NACAC Virtual College Fairs and Christian College Virtual College Fairs

Download my eBook Finding a College You Love to learn more.

College Visits During Junior Year 

Once you have found some potentially interesting colleges, the next important step is to visit in person so you can determine if it's a good fit for your student. At some universities, visits are not allowed. This step is still important, even though it may look different. You and your student can take college visits virtually and have Skype meetings with representatives. You can contact each university by email and read their social media posts. Arrange to take an online class session to see how they manage when forced into remote learning. In each interaction, ask yourself two questions:

  1. Can the student live at the university for four years - even at this strange time?
  2. Can the student learn at that university for four years - whether remote or in person?

Test Preparation During Junior Year 

Because of the pandemic, many students are unable to take the SAT® or the ACT®. At the same time, there is concern that the tests do not equally represent the abilities of all students. For that reason, many universities have decided to become 'test optional' or 'test blind'. Test optional means you don't NEED a test to get into that college if you meet all their other admission criteria. Test blind means you don't send them test scores at all unless requested, and in addition, they will not consider tests at all. (Read more about test blind vs test optional here.) However, most parents need scholarships. And in some situations, lack of testing can interfere with the best options for getting more money. But the great news is that we are homeschoolers! We can put test scores on the transcript, so they are seen even if they aren't required. We can incorporate test preparation into our regular homeschool day, and maintain a readiness for the tests at all times. When the test is available, we can drop everything to take the test. You can find some helpful information about test preparation in my article, College Admission Tests: How to Ace the SAT® or ACT® .

I recommend that you include test preparation in your regular homeschool day. I suggest taking one section timed each day, about 3 days a week. I suggest one full-length timed test each month. After each practice, correct the answers, and review what was marked wrong on the test. This strategy can significantly raise scores. My son's SAT® score increased 200 points in one year with this strategy. You might find these online resources helpful for practicing for the SAT® and ACT®:

Taking Tests During Junior Year 

If your child CAN score well on tests, then I suggest that you do provide test scores even at a test optional university whenever possible. The goal is to provide two SAT® tests or two ACT® test during junior year. On the other hand, health is always more important than tests or academics. Always. (I'm not just The HomeScholar, I'm also an RN.) To maximize your success at taking tests, sign up for multiple tests throughout the year. Plan to take the SAT® or ACT® tests earlier than expected. It's hard to know when students will be able to enter a school to take a test, or if an outbreak may close a school. Signing up for multiple dates throughout the year will hopefully allow you at least one successful test.

It's hard to know when students will be able to enter a school to take a test, but it will likely involve masks and social distance requirements. Those will vary by school, so be sure you check ahead of time to see what your building will require.
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Making College Choices During Junior Year 

By the end of junior year, you'll want to be sure your student chooses 4-8 colleges where they will apply. Because colleges may be closed, or students might become ill, consider the location of the university carefully. Is it close to home or to a close family member? Can you drive there and back, moving the student without requiring a flight? Do they have excellent online classroom management, in case campus is closed? And does the university have high quality health care with safety measures already in place?

Whatever college your student plans to apply to, homeschool records have never been more important. When schools are closed and the SAT® and ACT® tests can't be taken, how do you prove high school academic success? Homeschool records! Prepare your records now, while you are healthy and have time. I've helped my fair share of parents who have been extremely ill with coronavirus and are really struggling to make their homeschool records right now. Create a professional and accurate transcript and thorough course descriptions. Provide a list of activities and awards and a reading list. Application forms may require additional documentation, but having those records ready to go will make your life much easier in the long run.

Homeschool records are a way to provide pandemic-proof, outside documentation of the homeschool transcript, but the records must be ready. You can find more information about how to make your student's complete comprehensive academic records here.

PSAT/NMSQT® is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

SAT® is a trademark owned by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this post.