We’re in the homestretch of the school year, and I know many juniors are juggling AP exams, finals, and perhaps another round of SAT or ACT testing. It’s a busy and often stressful time, so first and foremost, keep your focus on finishing strong. Your performance now matters and sets the stage for a successful admissions season ahead.

As you wrap up the year, it’s also time to start laying the groundwork for your college applications. One of your top priorities should be securing letters of recommendation. Most students will need a counselor letter and two teachers from core academic subjects. Ideally, these teachers are from your junior year, when your work is most recent and rigorous. Be sure to understand your school’s process and provide any required materials, such as a résumé or brag sheet, before summer begins.

Next, make a clear plan for finishing standardized testing—by July for the ACT or August for the SAT. Having testing behind you will make the fall significantly more manageable and allow you to finalize your college list with confidence. Keep in mind that some of the most selective colleges are now requiring testing, as are several state university systems, so many students in the applicant pool for similar schools will be submitting strong test scores.  You may want to give some extra effort to your final attempts, even if your colleges are test-optional, if the typical scores for admitted students are higher than your current scores.

Finally, plan to use your summer well. The more application work you can complete before senior year begins, the better. You can start building your Common Application profile now, and anything entered in the “My Common App” sections will carry over to the new application cycle. I encourage students to aim for this section to be nearly complete —including the personal essay—by the end of July so they can turn their attention to the requirements for individual colleges in August.

With thoughtful planning and steady effort, you can turn this busy season into a strong launch for the months ahead. And if you would benefit from individual advising, please contact me!