Juniors

Welcome to your Junior Year!

In your junior year, you will start preparing for the last chapter of your undergraduate career and life after Rutgers. From meeting with advisors to reviewing degree progress, to building your résumé with practical, relevant experience, there’s a lot to do! Our staff in the Advising Centers are here to support you every step of the way.

Read our SAS Junior Memo!

It’s what you need to know, when you need to know it.

What Makes You a Junior?

Class year is determined by the predicted year and month of graduation. Students are classified according to the number of credits they have completed by September. For junior standing, you need 60 – 89 credits.

Students are reviewed for graduation eligibility based on their declared class year and graduation month. Therefore, students must keep the Office of Academic Services apprised of their anticipated graduation year and month.

You can update your graduation date through our myGradDate system, but requests that are not in line with your current credit totals will be denied.

Your Junior Priorities:

• Meet with SAS and departmental advisors to review your degree progress and plan your final semesters.
• Take your on-campus involvement to the next level, and seek out leadership opportunities.
• Secure out-of-classroom opportunities to build your résumé, such as research, internships, and co-ops.
• Prepare application materials for dual degree, post-baccalaureate, and graduate programs.
• Prepare to enter the workforce - meet with the Office of Career Explorations & Success and possible employers.

Review Degree Progress & Plan Ahead

It’s more important than ever to verify your progress. We encourage you to use Degree Navigator to check graduation requirements, but also be sure to review your transcript to ensure that any transfer courses and/or AP credits are correctly noted and that your Rutgers record is accurate.

Follow Your Junior Checklist!

Seek Leadership Opportunities

Participation and leadership roles in a student organization provide you with valuable skills, experiences, and connections that complement the knowledge you’re gaining through academic coursework. Check out these helpful resources to learn why leadership and involvement are important for your post-RU life:

• Why Get Involved?
• Find Ways to Get Involved at Rutgers

Prepare Applications for Additional Education

Some students may choose to pursue additional education, based on the types of careers they are considering. This is the time to start preparing your applications, especially if you are considering a five-year or dual degree program, which often admits students at the end of their junior year. Check out the Grad School Application Prep List to get started. 

• Dual Degree Programs
• Build Your Résumé & Secure Out-of-Classroom Opportunities: Practical experience will set you apart from others in a job search. There are great opportunities at Rutgers to take your résumé to the next level. Many provide you with ways to earn credit towards graduation, too!
  
  • Career Exploration and Success
  • Research, Lab Experience & Thesis Programs
    • Don’t forget to connect with your major and minor departments for more opportunities!
  • Study Abroad
• Office of Career Exploration & Success: Receive assistance with resumé editing, interview prep and personal statements.
• Career Explorations in the Arts & Sciences
• Consider applying as a non-matriculated student to explore subjects.
• Dual Degree Programs
• Graduate Admissions Guide - The Princeton Review
• Graduate Study in the US: Guide for International Students
• Rutgers Graduate and Professional Admissions

Build Skills Now for the Life You Want Later:

Arts and Sciences graduates from Rutgers go on to succeed in many different fields, because of the professional skills they gain while attending college. Not sure where to start? Think about the skills you want to hone at RU, and connect with the offices and programs that can help you reach your goals. Don’t forget that SAS Advisors can guide you through options.

Sophomore & Junior Staff

See an SAS Dean for General Advising