Four Things High School Juniors Should Do for their College Application Process

Although it still feels like winter in many parts of the country, it is time for high school juniors to think about their college application process. Taking care of a few things during the second half of junior year will make the college process go much more smoothly. Here are my recommendations for juniors to get their process started:

Prepare for Standardized Tests

There is still a lot of uncertainty around the availability of standardized testing sites due to COVID.  In addition, many colleges and universities are announcing test-optional policies for the Fall of 2022. To see a list of colleges with test-optional policies, click here. Despite many colleges having test-optional policies, juniors should still prepare for either the SAT or ACT and attempt to sit for one of the tests, if they can do so safely. Having scores to submit that are toward the upper end of a college’s test range can help a student's application even if a school is test-optional. It is also a good idea to register for more than one test date to have options.

Make a Resume and Activities List

Junior year is the perfect time to create a list of the student’s activities because it will be necessary for the Common Application. The list should include all activities beginning with 9th grade. It should list any extracurricular activities, summer programs, part-time jobs, or awards that the student has received. This list should be organized chronologically. 

Think About Teacher Letters of Recommendation

In their junior year of high school, students should begin to think about which teachers they will ask for letters of recommendation for their college applications. Typically, a college will require two letters of recommendation (although some may accept more) from junior year teachers. Students should make an effort to build a relationship with their teachers. When it comes time to ask the teacher if they are willing to write a letter on behalf of the student, the student should have an activities list ready to give to the teacher to help them have a complete understanding of the student and their interests. If the teacher shows any hesitation about writing the letter, consider asking someone else.

Research Colleges

Spring of junior year is the time to start looking at colleges. Some schools are offering in-person tours and all the others have some type of virtual experience.  Students should also spend time on college websites, and focus on areas of academic interest, extracurricular clubs, and activities.  When looking at schools, don’t forget to think about the quality of life factors like weather, distance from home, and community around campus. Students should take notes on what they like and don’t like about each school so they can refer back to the information when they are applying during senior year. The more specific these notes are, the more helpful they will be in crafting clear, focused college application essays.

And Finally, Some Strategies for Parents

Parents and students need to remember that the college application process is a marathon, not a sprint. Parents need to accept that their students will form impressions on schools based on random factors. Parents can point out other aspects of the college that they view as significant, but they should recognize that it may not change the student’s mind. Finally, parents need to provide their students emotional support during the college process. It is equally important for parents to figure out who they will be able to turn to for support for themselves. It might be a spouse, friend, or the local barista-just choose someone who is supportive and nonjudgmental.

Have additional questions about the college application process?

Schedule a free consultation with me or visit excelsioradmissions.com.