The school year is halfway done. And while that means exciting things for this year’s senior class (apps are nearly done, wahoo!), parents of high school Juniors are just getting started.
Here is some advice. I hope it is helpful!
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Many students report that the transition between sophomore and junior year is even more difficult than the transition between high school and college. Seriously. I think that’s just a bunch of hype, a way for older kids to scare the young ones.
The truth is that yes, junior year can and should be rigorous, both in academics and extracurricular activities. The key word here is “should.” Sure, your student can coast through the year, which happens to be the one most heavily scrutinized by college admissions committees, but we don’t recommend it. They’ve got to go all out, maximizing their course load and activity schedule, in order to ensure that junior year is the apex of their high school career.
Here are some quick tips to help you help your student plan for greatness during your junior year of high school.
GRADES:
Ideally, their grades have been solid throughout high school. If they haven’t, here’s the chance for your student to prove himself/herslef. The next best thing to a GPA that is consistently high is one that improves over time. It shows that the student recognized their faults and increased their efforts accordingly. Also, your student’s course load during junior year should be as rigorous as possible. They should challenge themselves with the most difficult courses, including honors and AP classes. Finally, and this is a huge tip, if your student is aiming at Top 20 schools, make sure they take the AP tests for all of their AP classes. Even if they’re not going for college credit, it shows commitment and follow through, qualities prized by admissions committees.
ACTIVITIES:
Just like with academics, activities should be maxed out during junior year. In school-related clubs, students should angle for a leadership position or two (or more!). Becoming a leader within a club they love isn’t about the title. It shows that your student is passionate about the activity, and in the minds of admissions committees, this passion translates to meaningful participation in their future college community. But, beware. This does NOT mean that your student should join a million clubs! They’re angling for depth not breadth here. We don’t want to burn your student out…especially if there is no payoff for all that burnout in the end. Finally, if possible, having your student start their own activity, whether inside or outside of school, is always impressive.
STANDARDIZED TESTING:
Students should plan on taking standardized tests more than once during junior year. For SAT takers, consider taking the test in January then again sometime in the spring. If they haven’t achieved the superscore they desire, they can take the test a third time in October of their senior year—after some summer prep work, of course. The same advice goes for the ACT. Also, if your student is unsatisfied with their performance on the SAT, they can always hop aboard the ACT train, but we recommend doing this sooner rather than later so they have adequate time to prepare for the new test. Finally, students aiming for Top 25 colleges should plan on taking the SAT II during junior year, likely in the spring.
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS:
While you shouldn’t start filling out applications just yet, junior year is the time to begin seriously considering college admissions. This means doing some research ASAP. The best place to start is the internet, scouring the websites of schools you and your student are interested in. These sites are incredibly helpful, with information on academics, activities, and even virtual tours. You should also plan on visiting colleges, if possible. For learning all about a school, there’s no substitute for getting on campus and having your student talk to current students. It’s seriously the best way to learn about the pros and cons of different institutions.
ESSAY FODDER:
During junior year and the summer before senior year, your student should be participating in activities that could potentially become material for their personal statement. However, it’s important to remember that, to paraphrase Ralph Waldo Emerson, it’s the journey not the destination that matters. We never want students to participate in something just because it would make for a good essay. Rather, impressive essay material should be a happy byproduct of the participation itself.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
By the end of junior year, your student should figure out who they’d like to write their recommendations. Then they should ask these potential recommenders and lock down at least three. The best people to write college recommendations do not necessarily have the most impressive titles. They should be the teachers/coaches/mentors who know your student best and can speak to their strengths in great detail. These qualities are what make for a solid (and impactful!) letter of recommendation.
TIME FOR THEMSELVES:
Amidst all of this craziness, it can be easy to get caught up in the process, and for students to get very, very, VERY stressed out. (And parents, too!) So it’s VITAL to remember that everyone needs some time for themselves. COULD they be working on their essays? Or spending a bit more time preparing for the SAT? Yes, but without a little downtime to just relax, hang out and do the things they love, they’re going to burn out QUICKLY. And that’s not going to help anyone 
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The most important thing to remember about Junior Year is that it is going to be the foundation for the actual application process that will start VERY early during Senior Year. So these steps are just a few things to think about to help your student carve that path to college EARLY, and make for a much more successful process next year.