Juniors at this point should be clarifying and gaining confidence in academic and career goals.

During this time, students are expected to stabilize their academic course of study, acquire the necessary background and study skills to perform their best, pursue career/graduate school information, and formalize relationships with faculty/administrators on campus.

Advisors can help students evaluate their own academic progress, recognize accomplishments, establish vital contacts on campus not only to help clarify goals but to also lay the groundwork for obtaining letters of reference.

Quite often this is the time students discover why they are committed to their major (or not). They assess the impact of their major on their life plans. Items to discuss:

• What now draws their interest? Why?
• Are they finding their initial excitement to be met by class offerings? Should they pursue another direction in the major or related to the major?
• Do they need to consider a change or co-curricular involvement to flesh out some interests or to develop some? Are there internships, jobs, research experiences, and service opportunities they need to explore to refine what they want to do?

Items in considering:

Graduate School

• Standardized Tests: students should be aware of the GRE Subject test dates because they are administered three times per year: November, December, and April.
• Research and experience: depends on the discipline or area of interest within the discipline. Ask/assess: does the student have research experience? Does the student have any work experience?
• Recommendations: has the student developed relationships with faculty members in order to receive great recommendations?
• Knowledge: has the student done any research to know what schools they will apply to their senior year?
• Readiness: is there is real interest in graduate school or a real concern/fear about getting a job? Is graduate school the default option because the student does not know what he/she wants to do?

Law School

• the law school application process begins 18 months prior to the first day in class.
• Standardized Tests: students ideally take the LSAT in June of the junior year. They must register by May and must spend at least three months preparing.
• Recommendations: has the student developed relationships with faculty members in order to receive great recommendations?
• Logistics: student should be prepared to submit all applications by Christmas of their senior year.
• Knowledge: has the student done any research to know what schools they will apply to their senior year? Do they understand a reach and safety school and where they fit in?
• Employment
• Do they know what they are interested in doing? Based on? What is their ideal situation?
• Do they want to do something that directly relates to their major? Do they want to utilize skills learned in/through class, internship, service learning, or research? What types of things do they want to learn about certain professions?
• Do they have a resume? Do they know how to write a cover letter? Do they have the relevant experience for what they want to do? Do they know how to interview? See employment options below.

Reference
Adapted from Kramer, G.L. (2000). Advising Students at Different Educational Levels. In Gordon, V.N., & Habley, W.R. (Eds.) Academic Advising: A Comprehensive Handbook. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, Inc., 99.
Adapted from Wheaton College Academic Advisor Handbook