Your junior year is winding down with just a few months left, which means that you’re likely making plans for the summer.
Remember, the more you prepare before senior year, the more you’ll be able to enjoy it!
Here are some important plans you shouldn’t neglect, from now until the end of this school year - and throughout the summer between your junior and senior years of high school.
1. Allowing your standardized exam test prep to take a back-burner
Not staying on top of your ACT or SAT test prep around the month of June is common for many students at the end of their junior year of high school.
After completing finals in high school courses and AP exams, many students feel a break in studying is warranted.
While that may be true for a day or so, you cannot afford to take an extended break from studying for these important exams.
2. Not focusing on preparing for SAT subject tests
These exams can drastically enhance your college applications – especially if you do well on them.
If you sign up to take any SAT subject tests, make sure to fully prepare and review the subject in order to ensure you’re ready to take on any subjects you’ll be tested on.
3. Not devoting significant portions of your summer to college planning, visits and admissions
The end of the school year is the time in which you begin to make summer plans.
You should make sure that those plans include researching colleges, touring schools of interest and working on your college admissions essays.
Also, if you plan on taking a standardized exam again in the fall, you should focus on studying during the summer so that you’ll be prepared once your exam date arrives.
4. Not taking college applications into account when selection your senior year course schedule
All high school juniors should carefully plan out their senior year course schedule. Outside of academic requirements, there are several factors to keep in mind.
It’s best to choose first semester courses that will improve your competitive edge, in terms of college admissions.
Second semester course should be reserved for exploration and pursing one’s passions.
It’s also important to consider at least one or two courses with teachers whom you’d consider asking to write college recommendation letters.
