10 Mar Road Map for March: Juniors

Spring is here, and for juniors that means standardized testing. Some of my students have already taken the SAT or ACT at least once, but even if you’re just getting started, you have plenty of time to meet my recommended goal of completing testing before senior year begins. If you took the SAT last weekend and were affected by the technical issue regarding timing, I suggest reviewing this guidance from Compass Education Group or contacting me for advice.  Also remember that the vast majority of colleges remain test-optional for your class.

Junior year spring break is also a time that many students visit college campuses—which means you should book your tours now, since they can fill up quickly during peak times. Ideally, you’ll be able to see the college in action on a regular school day, which will give you the best sense of campus life.  Check out this list of tips for visits. And if you can’t travel, virtual tours and Q&A sessions are good alternatives.

The Common App recently announced that its personal essay prompts for the upcoming cycle remain unchanged, while updates are coming for the Additional Information portion of the writing section. However, there’s no rush to start drafting essays just yet—instead, focus on finishing your school year strong. What I do recommend doing now is creating a Common App account and filling out the Profile, Family and Education sections. This small step will help you get familiar with the platform so you’ll feel more prepared when it’s time to really dig in to the rest of the application.

It’s also time to firm up your summer plans. Yours may include test prep, academic work, an internship or job, travel, or volunteering. Whatever you’re doing, be sure to give yourself some time to relax and recharge, as well as plenty of time for college application work and essay writing. And if you’re interested in individual advising, now is the time to get in touch!