<p>I'm not sure if this is the right place to post, but I'm wondering what a high school junior should be doing. Are their certain things that would better prepare for college? </p>
<p>Other than preparing for ACTs, college visits, is there anything I should do that would increase my chances for college? </p>
<p>Thanks all</p>
<p>Get good grades and go out for leadership roles in ec's for your senior year. Community service projects and having a summer job, though not necessary, won't hurt and could help you find a unique experience to write about in college apps.</p>
<p>Take honors and AP courses and recognize that you have to prioritize your time. Jr. year is tough even for great students with great brains and study skills. Social life can fade into the background but still make time for the few things that really matter to you. My girls kept their involvement with sports horses and church but trimmed off the things they didn't love. There's room for them Sr. year. :0) Now, with AP testing about two months off they are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and look forward to having more time for those extras...before application season starts :-)</p>
<p>Take a look at the Common Application and get familiar with what information they want and in what format. Get a list together of your ECs and awards.</p>
<p>If you have a pretty good idea of what colleges you are interested in, find out their testing requirements - do they require SAT subject tests? if so, how many?</p>
<p>During junior year, create a list of 15-30 schools that interest you. Take note of suggestions from your counselor, parents and relatives, boss or coach, etc. By summer, you should have a substantial list and can take the next three months to whittle it down to a reasonable number. I suggest deciding on your safeties early on; make them your first applications.</p>
<p>Save any essays from this year that have application potential; you might also keep a notebook of essay ideas. Start writing your essays over the summer, and have several adults look at them. The more you work at them, the better they'll be. You might want to look through a couple of books on college essays to get a feel for what works. Don't leave this important step out and hope inspiration hits the day the applications are due!</p>
<p>Start thinking about which teachers to ask for recommendations. If you don't plan to apply to schools that are a reach for you, this isn't really that important, but if you are applying to reaches or Ivies, it is. Try to keep in closer touch with those teachers. Join an activity that they lead, see them outside of class to ask a question, try to take a second course from the same teacher, etc. Make sure that they know who you are, so that next fall they will be well disposed to refer you.</p>