Important information for Juniors

 What Should College Bound Juniors be Doing?

• Challenging Course Load Your Senior Year: The more selective colleges look for students who continue to challenge themselves in their senior year. It is up to you to find that balance between challenging yourself and not making yourself crazy!
• Get Good Grades! Grades matter for scholarships, college entrance and work readiness. If you are looking for merit aid to help pay for college, then you should know that good grades=opportunity for merit aid=money to pay for college.
• UNR Nevada Bound Tour: These tours give students and their families an opportunity to learn about academic opportunities at UNR, tour a residence hall, and learn about admissions, financial aid and more. Register online at unr.edu/about/visit-campus .
• Research potential schools that you are interested in. Ask questions, take notes and start working on your resume.
• Create your resume. Start to compile a list of your accomplishments from 9^th grade to present. (You will need this in order to ask for an effective letter of recommendation).
• If traveling this summer, visit some college campuses…even if they are not on your list.
• Visit colleges virtually. Search their admissions and look for virtual tours. Take notes so you can ask applicable questions.
• If You Are Considering Out-of-State Colleges, Begin to Compile Your College List. Use sites like College Greenlight or Big Future College Board to research schools and find those that are a fit.
  • The goal is to have options for your senior year (acceptance and ability to pay). Options are created by applying to a realistic/balanced list of schools, generally about 6-10 colleges. Create a balanced list.
  • Early deadlines: application deadlines have become increasingly early, some mid-October of your senior year.
• How Do You Spend Your Time Outside of Class? Volunteer work? Internships? Paid employment? Involvement in your church? Sports? Clubs? Challenge yourself to try something new or to continue to pursue something that you are interested in. Be thoughtful in your choices. What matters is that you are getting involved and learning in the process.
  • See www.washoeschools.net/renohsccc “Job/Volunteer Opportunities” for a listing of options.

Playing a sport in college? You will need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center

• The timeline for student-athletes is often accelerated. The NCAA recommends that student-athletes register for eligibility at the beginning of their sophomore year in high school.  However, you can wait until the beginning of your junior year to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, but there are disadvantages to waiting.  You must register with the NCAA Eligibility Center before going on an official visit and receiving an official scholarship offer.  
• Website Registration Checklist
• Take your first step to becoming an NCAA student-athlete at eligibilitycenter.org. Choose from our two account types to get started:
• Certification Account: You need to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center to compete at an NCAA Division I or II school. You also need to be registered with a Certification Account before you can make official visits or sign a National Letter of Intent in Division I or II.
• Profile Page: If you plan to compete at a Division III school or are currently unsure in which division you want to compete, create a Profile Page. If at any time, you wish to pursue a Division I or II path, you will be able to transition to a Certification Account.
• For Certification Accounts, please allow between 30 to 45 minutes to register completely. If you need to exit and come back at a later time, you can save and exit once your account or profile is created. Reference the Help section located in the top task bar at any time to answer your questions as you work through registration.
• Below is a list of items we recommend you have before beginning your registration with the NCAA Eligibility Center:
• Valid Student Email: You need a valid email address that you check regularly to register. This is important for updating prospective student-athletes about their account. For more information about accepted emails, please reference our FAQ.
• Basic Student Personal Information: This includes information such as your name, gender, date of birth, primary and secondary contact information, and address.
• Basic Student Education History: Please include details about all high schools or secondary schools you have attended in the United States or internationally, and additional programs you have attended. Check if your school has a list of NCAA-approved courses.
• Student Sports Participation History: For Certification Accounts, this includes details for any expenses or awards you received, any teams you have practiced or played with or certain events in which you participated outside of the traditional high school season. It also includes information about any individuals who have advised you or marketed your skills in a particular sport. This information helps the Eligibility Center certify your amateur status when it is requested by an NCAA school.
• Payment: For Certification Accounts, nonrefundable registration fee for U.S., U.S. Territories* and Canadian students: $90
• *U.S. Territories include American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Nonrefundable registration fee for international students: $150
• The NCAA Eligibility Center accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. For payment questions, look here. Some individuals may qualify to apply for a fee waiver.
• Next Steps: Stay on track in high school and understand these quick tips to help in your eligibility process.
• For more information, please visit: NCAA Eligibility Center