SEPTEMBER – AUGUST
Of all the years in high school that college admissions people are interested in, junior year is at the top. This is the year when you should take the most Honors, AP/IB classes and get the best grades you can. This is also the year when you should go the extra mile and astound your teachers with the quality of your work. Look for ways to make significant contributions in your activities and sports.
SEPTEMBER
- By the time you hit junior year, you should be well settled in favorite extracurricular activities. If you haven’t, it is never too late to get involved. Look for ways to make a difference: become an officer, editor, captain, leader, going beyond just being a member of the activity. Colleges want students who are involved in their schools and communities.
- Keep in mind balance in your life, but take as many Honors and AP/IB courses that you can handle.
- If any course gives you trouble, as soon as you notice, talk with your teacher; get some help.
- Junior year is when to get serious about college visits. Plan family vacations around colleges in which you are interested.
- Because a number of colleges ask for a writing sample as a part of their applications, save some of your best English, history, etc. papers from this year.
- Make sure that you are signed up for the October PSAT.
OCTOBER
- October is a good time to fill out the College Selection to determine your wants, needs and preferences regarding colleges so that you can develop a college list. You can also go online to do a college search.
- After you have identified something about what you want in a college, begin researching colleges that match who you are as a student and person.
- Take the PSAT.
NOVEMBER
- Begin thinking about when you are going to take the different admissions tests. Ideally, you should complete all of the tests by June of your junior year. Completing your testing by June will reduce your stress levels during senior year when you will be filling out college applications.
- If you haven’t already, make arrangements to get admissions test tutoring. Students who do this often raise their scores by as much as 200 points. Remember, the best tutors are booked months ahead.
DECEMBER
- Every once in awhile stop by to say hello to your high school counselor. You want to make sure that this person knows who you are as he/she will be filling-out your application School Report forms, something to which admissions officers pay a lot of attention.
- December is usually when high school counselors provide you with the results of your PSAT, which will give you an idea of how you will score on the SAT.
- Take a free ACT practice test (usually at no cost) at the likes of Princeton Review to see if you score higher on it or on the SAT. Decide whether the SAT or ACT better suits you.
- Also, take extra time with teachers who you might ask to write recommendations for you. Teachers need to know that you appreciate them.
JANUARY
- January of your junior year is a good time to begin putting together an activities resume.
College Fair
- Check to see when the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and other college fairs are being held in your town or area. Mark your calendar with the date so that you can attend.
- If you haven’t already, put together a preliminary college list.
- Make plans to visit colleges during Spring Break.
- Take stock of how you are spending your time in and out of school. Is there anything you want to add or eliminate from your schedule? Make sure that everything you do is either something you enjoy or "counts" academically.
- If you don’t have a social security number, this is a good time to apply for one. You will need one for most college applications.
- Sign up for the SAT, Subject Tests and/or the ACT offered between now and June.
FEBRUARY
- Update (or put together) draft of your activities resume.
- Begin emailing, calling or writing colleges for information about their schools. Also ask for the name and email address of the college representative assigned to your high school.
- Meet with your school counselor to have him/her evaluate your college list. Ask for suggestions of other colleges.
Summer Plans
- Begin thinking about what you want to do this coming summer; colleges pay particular attention what applicants do the summer before senior year.
- If you haven’t already, make arrangements to get admissions test tutoring.
MARCH
- Refine the list of colleges in which you are interested; start reading about them in the various college guidebooks, including The Fiske Guide, The Insider’s Guide and Colleges That Change Lives.
- Use Spring Break as a time to visit colleges.
- Remember that junior year grades are very important, especially those from Spring semester.
- Make sure that you are signed up for AP Tests that are given at your school in May.
APRIL
- Continue exploring and narrowing down your college list.
- Consult with your high school counselor about your senior year courses.
Summer Plans
- Actively pursue your summer activities, whether a job, a special academic or enrichment program at a college, a trip or volunteer activity. Most importantly, do what you love.
- If you haven’t already, sign up for the SAT, Subject Tests and/or ACT so that you can finish up your testing by June.
MAY
- Begin collecting personal stories that you can use for your essays. Students, parents and family members can begin remembering anecdotes, apocryphal stories, and the like at family dinners or long car rides. Someone should write these down for use in the essay writing process.
- Ask favorite teachers if they will fill out the teacher evaluation from for your college applications.
- Carefully choose your senior classes, taking into consideration the rigor of the program and balance in your life.
Summer Plans
- Finalize your summer plans.
- Take the AP test for any AP class in which you are enrolled.
JUNE
- If you haven’t already, finalize your activities resume.
- Ace your finals.
- Have your college list narrowed down to the 10-20 colleges you like best. Arrange them into Reach, Good Chance and Pretty Sure categories (based on your SAT/ACT scores compared to successful applicants at the colleges.)
- Work with your parents to set up a schedule to visit colleges during the summer. Identify dates; call for interview appointments; research travel arrangements.
Internet
- If you now use aol or hotmail, upgrade these servers or change to Yahoo, G-mail, cable or DSL service so that you can fully make use of college on-line applications.
- Download the latest version of Internet Explorer or Netscape, the browsers that college applications require.
- For MAC owners, Safari does not work for many college applications. Therefore, download Firefox at http://download-firefox.org
JULY
- Now is the time to buy a file box, put together your admissions application filing system, and gather/purchase all the materials you need to complete the applications.
- Continue updating your college list and researching colleges that interest you by reading about them in The Fiske and other guides, going onto college websites, and visiting the colleges.
- Begin making plans to visit colleges on your list during the fall. Identify dates; call for interview appointments; research travel arrangements.
Contact With Colleges
- If you haven’t done it before, July is a good time to make contact with the colleges on your list to let them know you are interested in them.
- For students who are in a fall sport, this is a good time to use your resume to begin brainstorming ideas for the short and long Common Application essays.
Learning Disabled Students
- Make sure that your educational testing is up-to-date (within three years of the time you apply to colleges).
Recruited Athletes
- Complete the NCAA Initial Eligibility Clearinghouse form if you plan to play Division I or II college sports.
AUGUST
- Determine which of the colleges on your list you want to apply to first. If possible, complete at least one application before school starts. What this means is filling out the application, finding a focus, brainstorming ideas for the essay questions and then writing drafts, having someone you trust proofread your application and edit your essays.
- Since the Common Application is available; determine which colleges on your list accept the Common App. Download and print the application and the supplemental application forms for each college.
- Go to the admissions section of each college website to which you plan to apply to see if their application is available on-line. If yes, download and print a copy.
- Organize a Due Date grid for all of your colleges.
- Your college list needs to be finalized by the middle of this month.
- To assure yourself of an interview during fall semester, late summer is the best time to call admissions offices for interview appointments. Ask if you can interview with the admissions representative assigned to your school.
- Decide whether or not you want to apply early to a college/s
- Take some time to enjoy the rest of your summer. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT!