07 Feb Road Map for February: Juniors

We’ve passed the midpoint of the year and it’s time to take stock of how things are going. Your grades are the most important factor in college admissions, so if you need extra support, now is the time to seek help. Depending on how your transcript is structured, it may show semester grades, or just the final grade for the year.  If you’ve had a rough patch in a class there still may be time to improve so that your grade for the year is strong.

Juniors should be researching colleges online and scheduling tours, and I also recommend taking advantage of college fairs that may be coming to your area, like those hosted by Colleges That Change Lives or NACAC. These events give you the opportunity to explore multiple colleges at one site and have face-to-face meetings with the admissions reps who are recruiting for your region (and who are likely to be the first-line readers of your application after you submit it.)  Also keep an eye on the schedule of college representatives who may be visiting your high school, since this is another perfect opportunity to connect with directly with admissions staff from schools you’re interested in.

If you haven’t lined up your summer plans yet, start exploring opportunities now. Whether it’s a job, community service, or an academic program, make sure your summer includes meaningful experiences as well as time to work on college applications. The more you complete over the summer, the less stressful your senior year will be!

This is an exciting time—stay proactive and focused, and start laying the groundwork for a successful college application process. And if you are looking for more individualized guidance, I hope you’ll contact me.