College Application Guide: Junior Year Edition
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Emily Hokanson
The college application process can be very stressful and overwhelming. But by starting early and thinking about your plans, you will get through the process a lot easier! As a senior myself, I’ve learned the ins and outs of college applications. With that being said, this article will take you through the steps that you can take as a junior to prepare and complete your college applications successfully.
First Semester (September-January):
The first semester of your junior year should start off with a self-evaluation. Take some time to review your transcript and make a list of all the extracurriculars you’ve been involved in. If you find yourself in a situation where maybe you don’t have enough extracurriculars or rigor in your courses this is the time to add some. After self-evaluation comes planning for the year. Junior year is arguably one of the hardest years of high school seeing that there are more responsibilities such as a higher workload and the ACT. To keep a balance between all these responsibilities you need to make your plan of attack for the year.
September
Write out a list of extracurriculars you’ve done during high school
If you find you don’t have too many extracurriculars or enough leadership positions begin looking for clubs/organizations you can join ASAP
Join at least one extracurricular relating to your major if you can
Look over your transcript and ask yourself:
Do I have enough rigor in my courses?
Is my GPA where it needs to be?
Begin thinking about your study plans for the ACT/SAT
If you’re thinking of taking the ACT earlier than Hamilton’s required date, look into the application deadlines for those dates
October
Sign up for ACT/SAT prep classes
These classes have strict deadlines, so make sure you apply quick, whether it’s through Hamilton or another program
Begin volunteering/becoming more deeply involved in clubs
It’s very important to show you’re involved in your community, so make sure you are not only a part of something but are actively participating and passionate about the work you’re doing
Start looking into colleges
Do some light research
Think about what you want in a school (location, major, size of school)
Create Spreadsheet of Colleges
Make sure to add factors that are important to you
Keep an eye out for scholarship opportunities
Yes, many scholarships are for seniors, but there are quite a few for juniors as well and you should take advantage of this
Scholarship Liaison, Melody Williams, sends emails almost weekly with scholarship opportunities (Keep a LOOKOUT!)
November
Look at where your grades are
This is a little over halfway through the semester, so if you are struggling this is the time to begin improving and looking for extra help if needed
Practice for the ACT
MAKE A STUDY PLAN
Aim to practice 15 minutes a day
Continue building your resume
By this time you should be fairly active in at least one or two clubs/organizations/extracurriculars
Continue to find and participate in leadership opportunities
December
ACT prep classes begin
Even if you aren’t in a prep class or it hasn’t begun try to start studying on your own
Start thinking about your major and ask yourself:
What subjects am I interested in?
What kind of work-life do I want?
How much more education am I willing to do for a career?
If you have absolutely no idea what you want to do, start trying to figure it out through new hobbies, and different volunteering opportunities.
Hamilton Life Coach: Hamilton has a life coach come in twice a month and he is extremely helpful when it comes to finding new opportunities, learning about yourself, and helping you figure out what you want and how to do it (especially if you have no clue of what you want to do). He is AMAZING!
Begin making a list of colleges you are interested in
Start to do more in-depth research into the colleges you are looking into and figure out which ones are most suitable for you
Make sure to consider factors like finances and your grades to make sure you are looking at schools that are good options for you
Beginning-Mid January
STUDY and PREPARE:
Final exam time can be very stressful, but by planning ahead and studying in advance you will be able to manage your time much more efficiently
Study/Preparation Tips:
Get extra help if you need it
Complete review materials early, so you can ask questions throughout the weeks leading up to the exam
If you struggle with focusing, try to stay after school to complete work/study, go to a library, etc…
Split your study time by subject to make sure you can prepare for every class
Stay calm, you can do this!
Meet with your counselor
A great way to see where you are is by looking over your grades, extracurriculars, etc with your counselor. They can give you advice on what you’re doing well and what you might need to do. They can also give you great resources for the ACT.
Look at your second-semester schedule
If anything needs to be added or you want to take a harder course this has to be done before the next semester starts!
Second Semester (January- June):
The second semester of your junior year is about staying focused and productive. It’s about completing the year with good grades and taking the ACT. This is also the time when you will begin to narrow down which colleges you are interested in applying to. While also planning out what your senior year will look like.
Mid-End January
Think of candidates for your recommendation letters
Having a trusted teacher/faculty member that knows you and can attest to the kind of student you are is important.
If you don’t have someone in mind, there’s still time to build a connection during your second semester
Continue studying for ACT
Figure out which subjects you are doing well in and what subjects you need to work on, prioritize the subjects you’re struggling with
Narrow down college choices
Make a list of at least 3 colleges you know you are going to apply to
For the schools you’re unsure of, continue to research so you can make a final decision
February
Plan your schedule for Senior Year/ Meet with your counselor
Don’t choose the easiest classes possible just because it’s your senior year. Colleges like to see students take advantage of their senior year and this is a factor they consider when looking at applications.
To make sure you’re on track for graduation and have a good balance of classes for senior year meet with your counselor and go over your class choices
March
Take the ACT!!!
March 7th
April
Decide if you want to take the ACT again after receiving your score
If you do want to retake the ACT, look at the other test dates offered and figure out which subjects you need extra practice on
Prepare for AP tests
Apply for Summer Jobs/Internships
Try to find opportunities that relate to the major you would like to pursue in college, this shows colleges that you are serious about what you want to do
May
AP testing begins
You can send your scores to one college for FREE, so make sure you select a college you want to have your scores
If you’re not satisfied with your scores they can be retracted later
Look over Senior Year schedule/ Meet with your counselor
Having your counselor look at your schedule with you is a great way to make sure you’re on the right track
Make sure you have enough classes to show colleges you are taking advantage of your senior year
Make schedule changes if needed!!!
Make a FINAL list of colleges you plan to apply to
By this time you should have an idea of what you’re looking for in a college and have a list of colleges in mind
If there’s only one school you really want to go to that’s great, but have a couple safety schools that you would be comfortable going to just in case
Summer before Senior Year:
The summer is a time to relax while also using your free time to tour colleges and begin college applications when they open. Make sure to continue your involvement in any volunteer work or projects that continue into the summer. This is a time to have fun and get fully prepared before senior year.
June
Begin planning college tours
Take advantage of the free time you get in summer, so you don’t have to miss school for these tours. Especially if you’re traveling to out-of-state colleges.
Start your internships/jobs
July
All AP Scores are released
Check out those scores and see if you earned some credits!
August
College Applications Open Up
Almost every U.S. college opens its application on August 1st.
Early or Regular Action?
Early action deadline for applications: November 1st
Regular action deadline for applications: January
Common App or UW System?
Decide which application service you would like to use. Common App is for people who want to apply out of state while the UW system is used for in-state applications, but many state schools still take Common App (ex: UW Madison, Marquette, etc.)
Start filling out applications
Filling out all of the basic information, extracurriculars, employment, etc can be time-consuming, so just get it done and out of the way
Essay
Review the essay prompts on your application and begin thinking of ideas
Write up a rough draft!
Recommendation Letter
Asking early is always best! Try to ask in person if possible because it’s much more meaningful than an email
Teachers will need a copy of your full transcript along with a list and description of all extracurriculars and employment, so make sure to provide all that information!
Several teachers have many requests for letters of recommendation, so show some appreciation with a thank-you card or gift. They will really appreciate it!
Junior year is most definitely one of the most rigorous years of your high school career. There are more responsibilities along with the pressure of the ACT and getting ready for college. Utilize this list and other resources to not only prepare for college but to have a successful junior year! Good Luck!
Junior Year Advice Resources
A Complete College Prep Checklist: High School Junior Year - The Scholarship System
The 7 Best Extracurriculars for College Apps | BestCollege
Leadership Opportunities for High Schoolers | Key Club
advice for high school juniors 🌵 what you need to know about classes, activities, + life
Junior Year College Readiness Checklist! Are you ready to apply to college?
What to Do EACH Year of High School | Prepare for College
