Junior year is undoubtedly one of the—if not the most—hardest years of high school. Not for the extra loads of schoolwork or the friendship breakups that inevitably occur throughout the year, but the non-stop stress of picturing a life outside of high school. As college application deadlines creep up on juniors fresh out of exam season, staying organized can feel overwhelming; however, balancing a busy schedule with summer activities can make the application process manageable.
Spreadsheet:
Many students at this point in their high school career already have a clear image of where they envision themselves in the future. Whether it’s an Ivy League university on the East Coast or a local community college, these ideas vary as college applications become increasingly competitive. Overall, applying to only one school out of the thousands across the United States is not the safest option, which is why creating a spreadsheet with reach, target, and safety schools can be incredibly helpful. It’s also important to find a safety school you genuinely love almost as much as your top choice; that way, in case rejections follow, there will always be a second option.
College Essays:
College essays do not just come into your head at once; they are a collection of ideas brainstormed over time that perfectly influence the person you are today. Over summer break, rather than spending each night repeating the same phrase, “I’ll do it tomorrow night”, create a plan. Each weekend, take some time to watch videos on inspiration, tips, and tricks to write the best possible essay for applications.
Along with this, begin working on a Common Application essay. As the prompts are released early, this allows students to begin early; use this as an opportunity to perfect essays over time rather than cramming all at once. A place to start is drafting the Common Application essay in late June, critiquing in July, and finalizing or receiving advice in August. Writing can be much less stressful by dedicating only a few minutes each day to it, rather than cramming for hours for a week straight.
Standardized Testing:
Retake the SAT or ACT, as it can be an important step in strengthening a college application. Whether applying to a school with a high acceptance rate or a highly selective private university, improving standardized test scores can open additional opportunities for students in the current junior class, such as scholarships that may not have been expected or simply feeling more accomplished. Scheduling test dates throughout the summer and dedicating an hour each weekend to studying can make a significant difference. Strengthening Math and English skills not only benefits test performance but can also improve other areas of the college application process. For many students, retesting may even lead to superscoring and a higher overall SAT or ACT score.
Letters of Recommendation:
Many students have a favorite teacher; whether it was the art teacher who usually let the class relax and work on personal tasks or the strict Physics teacher who pushed students to grow to their greatest potential, everyone has their favorite. However, having a favorite professor isn’t only beneficial for success in their class, as many universities worldwide require letters of recommendation from these teachers.
By the end of junior year, take some time to ask a few teachers if they would consider writing a letter of recommendation for your college applications. This way, when the early action time rolls around, scrambling for teacher letters, last-minute essay critiques, and losing track of all the statistics is not an issue.
