Author: Miriam Schaffer
As a high school junior, this is a very important year for planning for applying to college. You do not want to wait until your senior year to start thinking about how to have a stand-out college application. Here are some things that you should be doing now so that when it comes time to apply to college, you have as strong a profile as possible to present to college admissions reps.
Get The Best Grades Possible
The grades you get in your junior year are very important. Many colleges, including the University of California and most California state universitiies look at only your sophomore and junior year grades. So, you want to get the highest grades possible to keep your GPA high, or boost it up if you did not previously achieve high grades.
Choose Honors and AP Classes
When it's time to choose classes for your senior year, don't think it's a year when you can settle back and relax. Even though many colleges you apply to won't see your senior grades whent they read your application, you will be required to list the classes you are taking and the more you show that you are challenging yourself, the better.
Communicate with your teachers and counselor
Many colleges require letters of recommendation from your teachers and counselor. While your high school may have you fill out a list of activities you've been involved in and list community service and other extracurricular interests, it's helpful if your counselor and some of your teachers have had conversations with you. Schedule an appointment with your counselor in the spring of your junior year and tell him or her that you'd like to let them know a little bit about you. Teachers can get to know you by your participation in class, as well as taking some time to talk to them after class or after school.
Study for the ACT or SAT
If you have already taken the ACT or SAT, but feel you can score higher, then continue to study for them. You might want to consider getting an outside tutor or other help to boost your score.
Visit Colleges
Take the time during a vacation in your junior year, or if there's no time in the year, then in the summer before senior year, to visit college campuses. You want to decide where to apply before senior year starts. College applications can take a significant amount of time, and along with your work load and activites at school, you don't want to be trying to cram in college visits during the fall of your senior year. Book a tour of the colleges you are visiting in advance so that you can see and hear about the college from a tour guide, and then be sure to attend an info session to hear from admissions reps.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment to make a plan for applying to college, email:
- Written By: Miriam Schaffer
- January 02, 2017
