<p>Hey, so I'm going to be a junior next year and I'll be taking some AP classes (USH, Lang, Enviro,) and taking the SAT and the ACT. I'm wondering when to start taking SAT prep, when to go on college tours, when to start studying for AP tests, etc. Also, any other advice that current (or past) Juniors could give would be great! (Doing more ECs, community service, etc!)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>In my experience it wasn’t nearly as bad as people make it sound or all that much different from sophomore year, but I’m probably more of a slacker than most people on here. (For example, I didn’t visit any colleges.)</p>
<p>Hey, don’t stress! I had 6 weighted classes (5 APS and 1 honors) and a non-weighted class and I survived. I’m not too burned out. </p>
<p>I haven’t really gone on many college tours, so idk about that. For SAT prep, I took it in the summer before junior year and took it in October. I retook in March. AP tests I didn’t actually start studying until the week before exams! Fun times… We don’t know how we did until July :/</p>
<p>For ECs, I just did the same stuff as freshman/sophomore years.</p>
<p>Your AP courses should help you prepare for the tests. As you start your classes your teachers will probably provide you tests similar to the AP test, and you will start to get a feel for what to study for/how to study/ and when to start studying on your own more for the exam (outside of class). </p>
<p>College tours can be beneficial in junior year. I wouldn’t necessarily take time out of school for tours though in junior year. Don’t stress-it should be fun!</p>
<p>Go on some college visits while colleges are in session junior year (spring break, long weekends, etc.). But check the spring break schedule for the colleges, as they might be gone while you are there. You get a lot more out of a visit if there are students on campus. You can attend a class, eat in the cafeteria, and generally get a better feel for the college.</p>
<p>If you decide to do more ECs/volunteer stuff, try to deepen and extend something you did freshman & sophomore years (if you play a sport, volunteer to ref or coach that sport, for example). Colleges like to see a few really strong/deep interests, so if you are doing a few things you like already, add to that part of your “narrative”.</p>
<p>Keep up your grades and try to finish testing by June.</p>
<p>do as much extracuricculars as possible. depending on the schools your applying to, the only thing thatll set you apart from another kid that took APs just like you is the stuff you did in school. this includes sports, SGA, getting involved with the county law making.even establishing a club. try and uptake leadership oportunities as well. colleges dont just want a smart aplicant, they want someone thats well rounded and will make there college a better place by persuing the same goals and maintaining the same attitude they had in highschool.</p>
<p>I just took the SAT on May 4th. I didn’t do any formal prep for it, just some practice tests out of the review books. I’m crossing my fingers that I did okay on it because I don’t want to take it again senior year. I agree with Kongo. You should try to finish your testing by June of junior year. Senior year is stressful enough without having to worry about standardized testing of all things. I’m taking SAT Subject Tests on June 1st in US History, Literature, and Math Level 2 and the ACT on June 8th. I wish I had started the testing process earlier in the year. I’d say take the ACT/SAT for the first time in February/March. Then retake in May/June if needed.</p>
<p>Other than that, keep the grades up and excel in your EC’s in that abundant free time you’ll have. ;)</p>
<p>don’t bite off more then you can chew</p>
<p>don’t be dismayed if you find that things are a bit harder than expected</p>
<p>remember that you’ll get through it</p>