<p>hey guys i'm new here.. and i came to ask a couple of questions</p>
<p>anything specific i need to do (even though i pretty much have my summer booked)</p>
<p>i'm getting a job for like a month.. then two major community service projects that will probably eat up my whole summer</p>
<p>i'm taking a pretty hefty course load next year (2 ap's and all honors.. this is the max u can take in my school).. and i've maintained a gpa of a 4.0 so far</p>
<p>so i'd like to ask some advice and get a jump start on this.. nitty gritty college process thanks!</p>
<p>honestly, just try to enjoy your summer this year. because next year is stressful (i'm an upcoming senior) and even in the summer before senior year you have to start worrying about apps and college visits. so at least try to have a little bit of fun to balance out the stress of junior year.</p>
<p>ok here are my 8 steps towards a great junior year:
1. Do your homework as it comes to you, if you can do something today don't procrastintate it.
2. ECs are important but don't let them take too much time away from your academics.
3. Let loose at least once every two weeks. Go out, party, get drunk, whatever, just let some of that pressure escape.
4. The best way to study is in groups, this way you'll be forced to study and you might actually enjoy it.
5. Start some sort of portafolio where you can keep college info/school achievements/Ec achievements etc
6. Get to know your GC, start arranging appointments with him ona regular basis.
7. Get to know the senior class, they have tons of valuable tips/info on specific junior courses or teachers etc.
8. Work work work...but have fun</p>
<p>Plan your schedule for standardized testing now!</p>
<p>If you have time, study this some this summer or early fall for the October PSAT. if you took the PSAT sophomore year, use it to show you your weak points. This will also act as prep for the SAT (just need to study a higher level of math and the essay). Definitely plan to take the SAT in the fall or winter of junior year, DO NOT leave it to the spring as you'll be busy with AP tests and SATII's. Schedule to take SATII's that correspond to your AP classes in May so you won't have to do any extra studying. If you've had pre-calc take the Math 2c right after. That leaves open April or June if you want to retest the SAT. Think about the ACT too if you don't do well on your first sitting of the SAT.</p>
<h2>^^^ I definitely agree with entomom!! I have several friends who did not plan and will end up taking both the SAT Reasoning and SAT IIs this fall for the first time!</h2>
<p>JUNIOR YEAR ADVICE
--If your ECs are weak, start some activities now. Senior year is too late to start. Junior year is acceptable. </p>
<p>--As your going through the college search, don't become too consumed. Seek out advice. And keep your goals realistic.</p>
<p>--You're going to be okay. Just thought I'd reassure you.</p>
<p>--Work hard... Play hard when you can.</p>
<p>--Don't get senioritis a year early. </p>
<p>--Limit your time on CC. This is extremely tough, but very important. Sometimes you're just going to have to <em>stay off</em> of the computer and get 'er done.</p>
<p>--Procrastination is inevitable. But do your absolute best to limit your procrastinating tendencies.</p>
<p>--Talk to your parents. They are likely cooler than you ever thought... Even if they're not cool, they can occasionally offer great advice... Even if they don't offer great advice, talk to them about college, make sure their/your goals are realistic, and talk to them about your financial situation for college. Don't wait until you start applying to do this.</p>
<hr>
<p>It'll be tough, but when you take that last exam of your junior year, it feels SO good to be a senior!</p>
<p>hi alll thanks for all the great advice i really appreciate them.!</p>
<p>entomom, you said plan my standardized test schedule.. i need some help doing this.. yes i am takingn SAT prep this summer for a little bit to boost up my verbal score.. other than that i should be fine.. (i got a 78 and 76 on math and writing so i'm shooting for around a 220 for the PSAT's this year)</p>
<p>can you take the SAT during the fall and the winter? i'll be prepping during august and september (and a little bit in june)</p>
<p>i'm taking pre-cal honors and AP us history and AP bio next year. can i take the corresponding SAT II's (IIC, us history, bio) without extra prepping (meaning after studying for the ap exams i don't havta study extra for the subject tests)?</p>
<p>Mary.loves.you thanks for the advice--though i have a question. what defines a weak ec? right now i do piano varsity soccer clarinet a leadership role in church and community service club at school (i organize most of the events).. my time is mostly sucked up by the community service stuff b/c that's where my heart truly is (i'm going international this summer on a service project as well). do i need to do something in extra.....?</p>
<p>joe,
Check out the College Board website for SAT dates, here is this last years:
<a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees.html</a>
So, testing is in Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Mar, May & June. My D got her PSAT scores back in mid-Dec to see how she did, did some additional studying (mostly the essay) over Christmas break and took the Jan sitting. That worked out good for her, but you do sacrifice your break which I wouldn't necessarily recommend. Others I've heard like to take their first SAT in Oct or Nov, right along with the PSAT since they're studying anyway. I think any of those early dates are good, you might want to just plan it for sometime that works well in your schedule. </p>
<p>I would definitely hold May for the SATII's in US History & Bio as you will likely find these easier than the AP's you're studying for (meaning no extra prep). I would include the Math 2C, but some people recommend not taking 3 SATII's in one sitting due to test burn out. It's a tough choice as it would also be cheaper to take the 3 together than to take math separately. If you do it separately, June might be better than March as you will have finished all of the coursework before taking the 2C. If you did that, you might want to plan on March for the possible retake of the SAT.</p>
<p>Scheduling is going to differ for each person depending on all the other things you have going on outside of school. But having an early start rather than waiting to take or retake tests in the fall of your senior year will reduce your stress and help you develop a realistic list of schools early so that you can start applications and essays in the summer.</p>
<p>Why not? Don't overdo the studying. Study some, take it. When you get your scores, if you feel you could do better, you'll have time to take it again in June or study over the summer and retake it in the fall of your senior year.</p>
<p>my private school since i am set up for special accomidations(nothing terrible) but it will help me a lot..I take the PSAT(only time my school does it) this fall(juniors only do it) and Sat in may and November(may of junior November of Senior.) U can only take it those 2 times if u have the accomidations I mean the acc. R probably the best u can get at my school b/c my school is for special ed kids. No im not a real special ed kid i have minor issues but taking the sat that way would be easier we would take it w/ r class and theres only 11 of us for next year 13 now and getting smaller by year! we will have 9-10 kids in r graduating class. I WiLL try to take the act one/2 times also b/c my school doesnt work w/ ACT so they cannot tell me what to do</p>
<p>You said "community service stuff" is where your heart truly is. If this is your passion, definitely keep going with that.</p>
<p>Colleges like to see leadership, too, so you might want to keep any clubs/activities where you have potential leadership opportunities. </p>
<p>For the rest, do as much as you can without killing yourself (or your grades-- I'm pretty sure colleges won't excuse C's and D's because you were too busy with NHS or whatever) </p>
<p>There is no magic number of ECs that'll get you into college X, or any right combination of clubs and service that'll get you into college Y. </p>
<p>Ultimately, just do what you like, and be able to explain to colleges how that made you a better person, etc.</p>