<p>Everyone seems to agree on getting the SATs done by the end of junior year.</p>
<p>If I'm quite happy with my score (each section is above 700) but would like to improve a bit more over the summer ...would the Oct SAT be ok? Like it's kind of at the beginning of the year so things shouldn't get too crazy and I'll still have plenty of time to do my apps (I plan on starting some essays during the summer too)</p>
<p>Or should I just forget about it and JUSt focus on my apps? Would really like to get that M and CR score up though..</p>
<p>calm down. Seriously just spend time working hard in school and doing things you love to do. Things will fall into place.</p>
<p>I would personally suggest waiting a little to get started (gasp) but really you will change between now and next year and it is important to recognize you are not done growing yet and that colleges want a picture of a high school senior not someone halfway throgh junior year.</p>
<p>2) realize that the real reason you want to get into a good school is because of the name and to impress others (this is a hard reality to face, but youll probably see this is true once you actually start college). you dont even know what the quality of education is like at the school you want to go to. understand that there are tons of great schools out there and thats its ok if you dont make your first choice.</p>
<p>"July: Common App comes out. Think about starting it.
August: Do nothing.
September: Do nothing.
October: Do nothing.
November: Do nothing.
December: Scramble."</p>
<p>Oh, man. I scrambled in November for ED/EA schools, but this is basically what I did.</p>
<p>^ Smile, if you can do better, by all means retake. Just don't leave it until June and October and don't assume your scores will be going up 400 points (I have a friend who assumed she went up 300+ points and now her whole list is just high-match and reach instead of safety, match, and reach)...I am in a low level math class and was missing concepts, so my math score went up almost a 100 points because I learned the material between the test dates.</p>
<p>1.Start EARLY on your Common app essay
2.Revise, revise, revise.
3.Have all your friends,family,teachers read it. (Preferably English teachers because they know what they're talking about. Most of the times.)
4.Start on short answers and supplemental essays
5.Repeat steps 2 and 3.
6.Repeat step 3 whenever possible until the day before app due date.
7.Re... Relax. Just kidding. </p>
<p>Based on my sons' experiences:
Take the ACT's in April
Take the SAT II's (all three) in May-Take AP exams
Take the SAT I in June (if the ACT wasn't good enough)
Cultivate teacher recommendations-consider asking your junior year teachers at end of year
Start writing your common app essay in the summer
If necessary sign up for SAT or ACT again
Apply to an EA school and at least one rolling admission safety school
Don't fall in love with any one school-instead have a list of 6-10 schools where you think you would fit and be happy and challenged.
You become the expert in what you want-don't leave it to your parents to take charge.</p>