15 Oct Road Map for October: Juniors

October is a busy month for juniors, with challenging classes, extracurricular activities, and college planning starting to take shape. Your transcript is the most important factor in college admissions, so your top priority should be your academic performance. If your grades weren’t as strong as you’d hoped during your first two years of high school, remember that colleges look favorably on an upward trend. Completing assignments on time, developing consistent study habits, and seeking help from teachers will go a long way toward getting strong grades this year.

Juniors are taking the PSAT this month, and for many students it’s the starting point for your standardized testing plan. If you haven’t already done so, take a practice ACT so you can compare your results when PSAT scores are released. Then decide which test is a better fit and develop a testing schedule that works around your academic and extracurricular commitments. Ideally, you’ll finish testing before senior year begins.

This is also a great time to explore colleges. Try to schedule a couple of tours this fall, and if these are your first ones, you don’t have to travel far. Even visiting local colleges can help you identify your preferences for size, location, campus environment, and academic offerings. Use what you learn to guide your research and begin developing your college list.

Finally, take some time to update your résumé or activities list, including your accomplishments, leadership roles, work, and community involvement. You’ll be glad to have this information organized when application season arrives next year.