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Junior (education year) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
1920 Locust yearbook p. 053 (Junior)
Artwork from a 1920 yearbook, showing a "Junior" class.

A junior is a student who is in their third year of study. This term is mostly used in the United States and some other countries. You'll hear it for students in secondary school (high school) or at a college or university.

In high school in the United States, a junior is usually an 11th-grade student. They are considered "upperclassmen," meaning they are among the older students in the school.

Being a Junior in the United States

High School Juniors

In the United States, the 11th grade is often called the "junior year" of high school. This is a very important time for students.

Juniors are encouraged to start getting ready for college entrance exams. These are tests like the ACT or SAT. Good scores on these tests can help students get into the colleges they want.

It's also a good time for juniors to start thinking about which colleges or universities they might like to attend. Many colleges pay close attention to a student's grades and activities during their junior year. This is because it's the last full school year before students apply to college.

College Juniors

When students go to college, their third year is also called their "junior year." By this time, most college students need to choose their academic major. An academic major is the main subject or field of study they will focus on.

College juniors are often advised to look for internships. An internship is like a temporary job where you gain experience in your chosen field. It helps students learn more about their future careers. Some juniors also start thinking about going to more school after college, like medical school or law school. They might also begin preparing for special tests needed to get a license for certain jobs.

See also

  • Freshman
  • Sophomore
  • Senior
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