Build a college list based on evidence, not rankings, and a testing plan that fits the schools you are considering.
Track scholarships with junior-year deadlines, since some close before senior year starts.
Line up recommenders, a summer job or program and an application-ready résumé.
Finish the year with Common App starter work, mock interview practice and a plan for senior year.

Why 11th Grade Has Its Own PALP Path.

11th Grade is when college becomes real: your first college list, testing decisions, recommenders and summer plans. PALP adds résumé and interview practice, networking, money decisions and real project work.

NVEEE students in a Public Policy workshop discussion

A Public Policy workshop discussion, the kind of critical-thinking practice you build on in 11th Grade.

What You'll Work On This Year.

Your year runs in three seasons. Each one produces real work you can show, not just discussion.

Fall

Build the Base and Start Doing Real Work

Set your goals and a testing plan for the schools you're considering.

Start an activities résumé.

Decide what matters to you in a college before building a list.

Compare colleges using evidence, not rankings.

Take on a real Give Miami Day campaign role.

Take more ownership of your Community Impact Project.

Winter

Increase Independence and Opportunity Readiness

Build a researched college list.

Refine your SAT, ACT or PSAT plan.

Track scholarships, including junior-year deadlines.

Interview a professional and practice following up.

Apply for summer jobs, internships or programs.

Build an application-ready résumé.

Spring

Apply, Demonstrate and Prepare for What Comes Next

Start your Common App account.

Plan senior-year classes with the right balance of challenge.

Choose your recommenders and learn how to ask.

Visit colleges and update your list.

Complete mock interviews and improve with feedback.

Compare real college costs, not sticker prices, and practice banking and credit.

Defend your Community Impact Project and plan for senior year.

Life Skills You'll Practice.

College readiness is more than applications. You also build everyday skills that make independence easier.

Comparing colleges & making decisions Banking & credit fundamentals Grocery & meal budgeting Professional networking Workplace communication Car, tire & emergency basics Making connections in unfamiliar settings Managing testing & application deadlines Checking AI-generated research

NVEEE students after a professional networking workshop

Students after an "Instant Impact: Developing Your Network" session, the professional networking you practice in 11th Grade.

What You'll Have by the End of the Year.

By June, you'll be able to show:

✓A college comparison based on evidence

✓An application-ready résumé

✓A testing plan, if you need one

✓Your Common App started

✓A plan for who will write your recommendations

✓Professional networking and follow-up

✓A summer job, internship or program application

✓Your scholarship and opportunity tracker

✓Your Community Impact Project contribution and defense

✓Mock interview feedback and your improvement

✓At least one scholarship, grant, award or funded-program application

✓A plan for senior year

Scholarships, Awards & Opportunities at This Grade.

Start now, not senior year. You learn to find opportunities that fit you, confirm the rules and apply for at least one scholarship, grant, award or funded opportunity this year.

Scholarships Awards Competitions Youth Grants / Seed Funding Summer Programs Internships / Jobs Leadership Programs

Horatio Alger scholarships. Some major opportunities open during junior year for students who meet financial and other eligibility requirements. If you miss a junior-only window, the opportunity is gone.

Bezos Scholars Program. For eligible juniors, Bezos Scholars combines leadership training with a community project and seed funding, a strong match for your Community Impact Project experience.

Coolidge Scholarship. A major national scholarship for highly qualified juniors. You can't wait until senior year to find out about it.

Public speaking and civic competitions. Contests such as the American Legion Oratorical Contest connect to the public speaking and civic skills you practice in PALP, if you are eligible.

Summer programs, jobs and internships. Aim to apply for real summer experiences before senior year, not just browse them.

Eligibility, dates and amounts change, and no opportunity is guaranteed.

Your Leadership Path.

In good standing, you can earn the Peace Ambassador title, compete for Student Leadership Team roles and lead a workstream. Returning Peace Ambassadors may qualify for Leadership Fellow. Junior Counselor in Training is by invitation.

Start here

PALP Member

Every registered student.

Earned

Peace Ambassador

Meet the October to December standards.

Considered, not guaranteed

Student Leadership Team / Workstream Lead

In good standing and ready to lead.

Selective

Leadership Fellow · Junior Counselor in Training

For returning Peace Ambassadors. Junior Counselor in Training is by invitation.

Student Leadership Roles You May Be Considered For

PALP Student Chair

Operations & Accountability Lead

Communications & Digital Media Lead

Outreach & Recruitment Lead

Fundraising & Partnerships Lead

Community Impact & Service Lead

Learning, Research & Innovation Lead

Project / Workstream Lead

You can express interest or be invited based on your strengths, but no role is automatic. Only real deliverables, verified by a supervisor, with real dates, can go on your résumé.

NVEEE students together during a leadership workshop

NVEEE students during a leadership workshop, putting project-management skills into practice.

Your Community Impact Project Role.

Lead parts of your project, keep tasks on schedule, work with partners and turn the experience into material for applications.

PROBLEM

VALIDATE

PLAN

ACT

MEASURE

IMPROVE

PRESENT / DEFEND

How the NVEEE Empowerment & Success Hub Supports You.

Between sessions, you use the Hub for lessons, templates, trackers and tools connected to your current work. For 11th Grade, that includes:

College comparison spreadsheet Scholarship & opportunity tracker Résumé builder Interview practice tools

The Questions PALP Helps You Answer.

PALP teaches you to ask better questions, find trustworthy answers and make decisions you can explain.

How do I build a college list that actually makes sense for me?

You define what matters to you and compare programs, support, cost, environment and career fit instead of starting with prestige.

What is a reach, target or likely school, and should I trust those labels?

Those labels are estimates, not guarantees. Current data from each college and your own situation matter more.

Do I need the SAT or ACT for the schools I am considering?

You learn to check each school's current testing policy and build a plan based on what is actually required.

How much is a college really going to cost my family?

You learn to look past the sticker price and understand net price, grants, scholarships, work-study, loans and what your family would pay.

Who should I ask for recommendations, and when?

You learn to choose adults who know your work, give them useful information and ask professionally before senior-year deadlines.

What should I do the summer before senior year?

You plan your summer on purpose, whether for work, programs, applications, college research, testing or service.

Why are some major scholarships already due before senior year?

Some opportunities are designed only for juniors. PALP tracks them so you don't find out after the deadline.

Can PALP Help Me Find Money for an Idea or Project?

PALP tracks youth programs, competitions and funding that reward community work, and shows you how to describe your project the way they expect.

Project funding is never guaranteed.

Your Grade-Specific Digital Toolkit.

Here are examples of the spreadsheets, trackers, templates and guides you can download from the NVEEE Empowerment & Success Hub in 11th Grade.

11th Grade Toolkit	What It Helps You Do
College Criteria + Comparison Spreadsheet	Compare colleges using criteria you can explain and defend.
Testing Decision Tracker	Record current testing policies and your own testing decisions.
Activities & Achievement Record	Organize your verified experiences before application season.
Résumé Builder / Tailoring Tool	Prepare for jobs, programs, scholarships and interviews.
Scholarship & Opportunity Tracker	Track eligibility, location, deadlines and required materials.
Recommender Planner	Choose who to ask and prepare professional requests.
Networking / Informational Interview Guide	Prepare for real conversations with professionals and mentors.
Interview Scenario Bank + Feedback Rubric	Practice before a scholarship, job or program interview matters.
Summer Opportunity Application Tracker	Go from browsing opportunities to submitting real applications.

Your PALP Year Adds Up.

CORE+ REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES+ COMMUNITY IMPACT PROJECT+ CAMPAIGNS+ LEADERSHIP= VERIFIED SERVICE & EXPERIENCE

You can earn 45+ service hours, depending on your activities. Project work, campaigns and leadership roles can add more, based on what you complete and document.

NVEEE students together on a college campus

NVEEE students on a college campus, stepping into leadership before senior year.

Grow With PALP Through Graduation.

If you're returning, you lead instead of just participate: running a workstream, mentoring newer students or pursuing Leadership Fellow or Junior Counselor in Training.

9th Grade

Find Your Footing

10th Grade

Build Your Skills

11th Grade · You Are Here

Step Into Leadership

12th Grade

Lead & Launch

Start with us now. Imagine how much you'll have to show by graduation.

Every returning student takes on more leadership responsibility. Named roles, such as Student Leadership Team positions, Leadership Fellow, Junior Counselor in Training and Junior Counselor, are still earned.

Have Questions?

Every PALP question and answer now lives on one page, organized by topic.

Getting Started Questions See All FAQs

9th Grade → 10th Grade → 12th Grade → PALP Overview →

Get Ahead Before Senior Year.

Build the plan, experience and applications that make 12th Grade easier.

Grade 11 College Readiness, Scholarships & Leadership | PALP

Prepare Before Senior Year Gets Here.