High School Junior Year Checklist TKG

High School Junior Year Checklist Getting organized for your junior year is a recipe for success. So much of your junior year is defined by tests, papers, standardized testing deadlines, and scheduling obligations. Then, your limited free time is spent studying some more and visiting colleges. It can all get overwhelming very quickly, so having a step-by-step list to follow will help you prioritize your energy, organize your thoughts, and feel accomplished along the way as you check items off the list. Junior Year Master Checklist Semester 1 (Fall/Winter): Work hard in your classes. All of your grades matter, and your grades from junior year matter even more. Make sure that you’re getting help if you need it from teachers, peers, or outside tutors. Continue touring colleges (we recommend between 5-10)--take comprehensive notes, ask questions, and make sure to write your thank you notes. These contacts matter. Here’s a sample college visit itinerary for you.Register and sit for the SAT or ACT again this fall, if necessary. If you’re taking it for the first time, preemptively register for two dates so you’re not scrambling for a last-minute seat at a testing center come winter or spring.Register for spring SAT IIs in subject areas in which you feel confident. While many colleges list them as optional, the scores are good to have as proven demonstrated expertise in 2-3 academic areas of interest.Start roughly outlining your college list--create a master list and start removing colleges for specific reasons. Honing in on what you don’t want is sometimes even more valuable data than determining what you do want in a college.Begin thinking about junior summer. Many internships are only open to students who are rising seniors, or who are 16+ years old. This means you might qualify for some more selective or rigorous programs. In many states, it means you qualify for a workers’ permit, which means $$$ (and paid work looks great on a college application). Register for and attend any colleg e fairs happening at your school or in your area. Snag those business cards from those college reps and follow up.Build out your extracurricular leadership roles by accumulating responsibilities and creating deliverables (great for your resume).Update your resume. Semester 2 (Winter/Spring):Continue to excel in your classes and maintain As. Set up a meeting with your college counselor. They’re no longer bogged down with deadlines for the seniors come March and will start shifting their attention to your grade come end of year. Get a head start and begin cultivating that relationship--they are an important person.Register for any spring or summer SAT, ACT, or SAT II sittings. Complete applications for and finalize your junior summer plan. Continue to schedule and complete college visits. Selecting senior classes can be tricky, but we warn you: do not develop senioritis. Senior year term 1 grades matter greatly, and can in some cases make or break your application. Figure out whi ch teachers to ask for recommendations and ask them now. They’re going to be bombarded come fall, so avoid the time crunch and get ahead.Update your resume.Summer:Finalize your college list. Reevaluate as the summer progresses. It’s okay to make changes. Read. A lot. We’ve created a number of book lists here, here, and here, for you to start with.Update your resume.It’s essay time. Create a schedule for your summer that include completing:Activities listCommon App/personal essay (before you get started, read about how to write a great essay and essays that don’t work)Supplemental essays (we have blog posts on how to complete hundreds of college-specific supplemental essay questions)Common App (all sections--plan to do this with your parents/caretakers!)Other applications (UC, Coalition [some schools only accept the Coalition app], Georgetown [and other independent institutions that only accept their personal application]). Additional information sectionTake a breath and ge t ready for the whirlwind that is senior fall. The more you get done on your essays before you go back to school, the less stressed you’ll be. Trust us. If something is missing or you need help creating your own checklist, let us know by giving us a call or sending an email.