HOW TO ORGANIZE AND GET AHEAD JUNIOR YEAR

 Source: CollegeData

If you’re currently sure that college is in your immediate future, there are ways to start working on your application as a junior in high school, even while researching and/or visiting colleges.

1. COMPLETE PARTS OF YOUR APPLICATION

I focus on helping students build and finalize their list by the end of junior year, but once we hit the spring semester, we begin multi-tasking to cross other items off our to-do list. If that’s the spot you’re in, this includes completing activity list descriptions and filling out parts of the Common Application.

Within the Common Application, you’re allowed just 150 characters to describe each of your extracurricular activities done throughout high school. This is typically a multi-meeting process with my students because it’s harder to write these descriptions than they initially realize. Instead of focusing on describing the activity, focus on any accomplishments achieved, or why you enjoy participating in it.

I’ll also let you in on a college admissions life hack – while the Common Application doesn’t go “live” until August 1st, you can start filling out parts of it before then.

At the end of July every year, the Common Application shuts down to prepare for the next admissions cycle. If you’ve answered any specific college application questions, your answers will be lost, but info about your personal and educational background (located in the Common App tab) and any college lists you’ve created will get rolled over from the previous year’s version.

Instead of waiting for August 1st to start filling things out, you can already have the Profile, Family, Education, Testing, and Activity sections done before shifting your focus elsewhere. Even if your college list includes non-Common Application schools – schools that might be included with the Coalition Application, the University of California application, Apply Texas, among others – these schools will ask similar questions. But now, you have a bunch of basic information ready to copy and paste wherever it’s needed.

2. PREPARE TO ASK FOR LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

If asking two teachers to write you a letter of recommendation for college during the spring of junior year feels early, that’s because it is. This is on purpose, though -- some teachers may only say yes to a certain number of students. If you want specific people to be part of your application process, it’s a good idea to ask sooner rather than later.

I usually suggest that students ask for letters of recommendation right after spring break. Teachers are coming back from vacation, so they’re relaxed, and there’s no end-of-year stress with AP tests or final exams yet. It’s that perfect lull in the school year – especially since they’re typically not getting bombarded with these requests yet.

Use your time at the beginning of junior year to continue cultivating your relationships with all teachers and to decide which two you’d like to ask when the time comes.

3. WHEN TO START THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE ESSAYS

My favorite time to help students conceptualize essay ideas is in June and July prior to senior year. Writing an essay still feels natural at that time because you were just doing it in school, but you don’t have homework to distract you from getting a first draft written.

I’ve found that the best way to get a first draft on paper is to break up the writing process. First, spend time brainstorming different topic ideas, whether it’s just writing notes on potential ideas, or answering writing prompts that’ll force you to contemplate various aspects of your life experiences and personality. From there, map out how you’d like to attack this topic with a thorough outline.

But juniors shouldn’t worry about essays until the end of junior year. Before then, focus on crystallizing your list, completing parts of your application, and getting prepared to ask two of your current teachers to write you a letter of recommendation.