Juniors: Spring Checklist
Juniors,
We know all you can think about right now is AP exams and year-end grades, but when you pick your head up from your studies, take a moment to make sure you are on track for college admissions.
Here’s our CTK checklist:
Meet with your high school college/guidance counselor before school gets out for summer to ensure you have done what you need for your counselor and understand how you will coordinate the college application process with your counselor in the fall. You likely have a survey to fill out for your guidance counselor, and you need to know how your high school’s college admissions software works (Naviance/SCOIR/Cialfo).
Ask teachers for letters of recommendation this spring. Although most teachers will not write letters until fall, they will fill their rosters now, so secure spot now by asking in person. Don’t forget to follow up by sending along a brag sheet to support them in writing your letter. Read more here for our best advice on obtaining the most persuasive letters of recommendation.
Review year senior-year course registration to ensure you are signed on for the appropriate level of rigor and sufficient coursework to complete your high school career. Remember that colleges will see your first quarter and first semester grades, so it is crucial to neither under-enroll– too easy of a course load– nor overload your schedule– resulting in low grades.
If you are beginning or continuing to prep for the SAT or ACT, be strategic about when you test and how you prepare. We advise students to avoid testing in May if they are taking AP exams, and most students should plan to complete testing by early October if they are planning to apply for early action or early decision deadlines. Wherever you are in your testing process, assess your scores and develop a strategy for which schools you plan to submit your scores to and at which schools you will apply under a “test optional” approach. Read more for our advice about applying test optional, test blind, and timing of test prep.
Plan summer in your own way. For some kids, that means enrolling in a summer course; for others it is working; for others it is embarking on a personal project. Lean into what you are most interested in, and remember that colleges appreciate seeing you dive into your true interests in your own unique way.
Summer is the time to get ahead on college admissions tasks. Before applications even open in August, you can write your personal essay, finalize your college list, and develop an engaging activities list for Common App.
Do You Want a Peek at the Common App Activities Template?
Reminder, the Common App opens in August. You can get a head start by copying this Google Doc and listing your high school activities. This will drastically facilitate the task when it comes time to list your activities in order of importance in the Common App.
Is Your Junior Not Engaging Much in Selecting Colleges for their List?
You are not alone. In my practice I see all types of families. Some begin touring colleges as early as middle school with an older sibling, others are first-generation students without much guidance, while others wait until fall of their senior year.
One of the biggest mistakes I often see families make as they create their college list is that it's too "top-heavy" and full of a student’s “reach” or “dream” schools without enough more realistic options. I always remind parents that students also need to fall in love with their “target” schools and their “safety” schools so there isn’t too much disappointment if their dream schools don’t come through.
Relying on the admissions data in the apps used by our high schools (e.g., Scoir, Naviance) to help create a college list can be very misleading because the apps haven’t caught up with the most recent admissions cycles. Working with your high school counselor and relying on the expertise of college coaches will help you create a well-balanced college list to ensure your acceptance to the most schools.
Book a college list-building session with Christina for her expert, data-and-experience-based guidance on the right set of colleges for your student.
What are the College Application deadlines?
Early Decision & Early Application deadlines: October 15 - November 15, 2023
Regular Decision deadlines: December 2023 - January 1, 2024
In case you missed it, we offer a variety of a la carte admissions packages for rising seniors to help with every aspect of the admissions process. You may find this FAQ helpful as you decide what type of support you need.