09 Sep Road Map for September: Juniors

Welcome to junior year! This is an important year in the college planning process, but you don’t need to tackle everything at once. As you settle into your new schedule, focus first on developing routines that will serve you well to manage your academics, activities, and other commitments throughout the year.

Your academic work is, of course, your top priority. Junior-year courses are often a step up in rigor, so to be successful you might need to identify specific times for homework or meeting with teachers, or make adjustments to your extracurricular schedule during busy weeks. Building good habits early in the year can help keep your workload and your stress level manageable.

Fall is also a great time to explore colleges and get an understanding of what you’re looking for in your college experience. Research factors like academic programs and campus life, and if you can, plan some campus visits for days when your high school is closed but colleges are in session. Visiting a variety of schools—large and small, urban and suburban—can help you figure out what feels right. You can also learn about colleges through fairs, virtual programs, and visits with admissions representatives at your school. Keep notes about what you like and don’t like; those impressions will be helpful as you begin to develop your college list.

Finally, set a few specific goals for the year. You might aim to visit several colleges this fall, get your standardized testing done by next summer, or research majors you’re considering. Junior year will be busy, but good planning now can set you up for a successful year ahead. And if you’re looking for support through this process, I hope you’ll get in touch.