Twelve Steps Juniors Can Take to Prepare for a Successful College Admissions Process

Twelve Steps Juniors Can Take to Prepare for a Successful College Admissions Process

Winter break is over. College-bound juniors should ensure they are on track for a successful college application process. Students who want to avoid a stressful, anxiety-ridden senior year complete as much of the college application process as possible during the summer break. Empowering juniors now with the knowledge and tools they need to be strategic and purposeful in their processes will result in a lower-stress college admissions process. 

Follow These Steps to Promote a Positive College Admissions Process

ONE: Work Hard in School

For many college applicants, junior year grades are the most current colleges will have when reviewing applications. For this reason, students should strategically troubleshoot weaknesses and analyze academic strategies. Students taking Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes should aim for high scores on AP and IB tests. Finally, consider if increasing academic rigor during senior year is appropriate.

💡Expert Tip: The high school transcript is the bedrock of college applications.  

 TWO: Work with an Expert

The most competitive colleges and universities continue to become increasingly rejective, many admitting sub 10%, even 5% of applicants. With more than 2,500 four-year colleges and universities in the United States, working with an expert will ensure students and families learn about outstanding, albeit lesser-known colleges that could be the perfect fit. Additionally, since every college has its own nuanced application process, hiring an expert ensures the smooth navigation of a complex process. 

Read 5 Smart & Fiscal Reasons to Hire an Independent College Consultant to see if hiring an expert makes sense for you.

💡Expert Tip: Since the educational consultant business is not regulated, make sure you hire an independent education consultant who is HIGHLY QUALIFIED. For more information, read 21 Questions Worth Asking Before Hiring an Independent Counselor.  

 THREE: Plan and Execute a Strategic ACT/SAT Plan

Although most colleges are test-optional, submitting a test score is advantageous for many students. Ideally, students achieve desired scores by the end of junior year. A strategic plan should include the following steps:

1. Determine whether the ACT or the SAT is the better-fit test by taking the MindPrint Cognitive Assessment and/or taking mock exams

2. Sign up for the SAT HERE or the ACT HERE  

3. Set a score goal 

4. Work with a test prep professional who understands your learning style (i.e., understands cognition, teaching, and learning)

5. Make a practice plan that maximizes the chances of reaching goals and stick to it  

6. Take the test

7. Evaluate scores and decide if you want to take it again  Don’t waste time and resources on both tests. 

💡Expert Tip: Don’t waste time and resources on both tests.

FOUR: Know Your High School Counselor

Most colleges require a recommendation letter from a high school counselor. Since the average high school counselor in the U.S. has 408 students on their caseload, far more than the 250 recommended by the ASCA, it is on you to ensure they actually know you. Make an appointment to sit down with them, give them a copy of your resume and a brief description of who you are beyond the classroom. Providing your counselor with information about the multi-dimensional person you are will make their jobs easier and will likely result in a more personalized (i.e., stronger) recommendation letter.

💡Expert Tip: Set up a meeting ASAP and arrange a series of follow-ups.

 FIVE: Extracurricular Activities: Quality Over Quantity 

Junior year is the time to focus on, perhaps even narrow, the scope of your extracurricular activities. Involvement in extracurricular activities, from sports to fine arts to volunteering to work, should reflect passions, interests, and values, providing meaningful information to colleges about who you are. Junior year is also the time to either step into leadership roles or plan to assume such roles during senior year. Ultimately, demonstrating commitment over time and making an impact in whatever you choose to do will result in personal growth. Position yourself to tell powerful stories in your college essays.

💡Expert Tip: Less can be more. 

 SIX: Feel the Vibe and Demonstrate Interest: Visit College Campuses

Look at your school calendar and carve out days and times to visit colleges, ideally while classes are in session. In addition to campus tours, consider novel ways to learn about colleges: for example, sit in on a class (if permitted), eat in the cafeteria, and talk to students about their experiences. When in-person visits are not possible, some colleges offer virtual tours, information sessions, and other opportunities to engage with the institution. For colleges that consider demonstrated interest in the admissions process, engaging in person and/or virtually is a must!

 💡Expert Tip: Plan ahead. Tours and information sessions fill up fast on days when school is out.

 SEVEN: Build a Preliminary List of Good Fit Colleges

Junior year is the time to create and/or refine your college list. Ideally, by the end of 11th grade, your list will be balanced and only contain colleges you feel are the right fit. A balanced list includes colleges that you are highly likely to be admitted to, and that are affordable (including a public school where you qualify for in-state tuition). At this point, college lists may be longer than ultimately necessary but should contain at least 8-12 colleges where you feel confident you could thrive.

 💡Expert Tip: To learn more about creating a balanced college list of good-fit schools, read Four Steps to Making a Balanced College List and Don't Be a Square Peg in a Round Hole: 5 Ways to Identify “Good-Fit” Colleges

 EIGHT: Ask Teachers to be Your College Recommenders 

Before the end of the school year, decide which teachers are most likely to write you strong college recommendations. Ensure that you have a rapport with teachers so they can speak to your academic and character strengths. Be prepared to provide an updated resume and a brief description of who you are outside of the classroom. Providing your recommenders with information about the multi-dimensional person you are will make their jobs easier, likely resulting in more personalized (i.e., stronger) recommendation letters.

 💡Expert Tip: Select core class teachers (math, English, science, social studies, world language) who best reflect your academic goals.

 NINE: Explore Your Interests: Gain Some Sense of Direction

It is common and perfectly acceptable to have no clue what you want to study in college. That said, spending some time delving into your interests, personality, and values will help you better identify the best schools for you and maximize your chances of graduating in four years. College is expensive, avoid adding a semester or a year by taking the time to learn about yourself and your interests, and how they translate into potential career options. 

 💡Expert Tip: Read, Clueless About What to Major In? Three Simple Steps to Help Students Get a Sense of Direction

 TEN: Check out Common Application  Essay Topics

The 2024-2025 Common Application essay prompts should be confirmed in the spring: use them! In my experience, the best college essays are authentic, personal, and deep, reflecting core values. Since most of the topics require students to delve deep into topics they may never even have thought about, why not preview the questions now to create the opportunity for meaningful reflection? 

 💡Expert Tip: Resist ChatGPT and other AI. Essays written by AI are generic, impersonal, shallow, and boring. More importantly, it is unethical to present work composed by AI as your own.

 ELEVEN: Plan Your Summer: Relax, Evolve, Work on College Applications 

Start the summer by setting goals; these should include, having fun, relaxing, completing as much of the college application process as possible, and growing as a person. Summer vacation is long: ample time to do it all!

 💡Expert Tip: Get inspired by reading 12 Ways to Have a Fun AND Meaningful Summer 

 TWELVE: Value Yourself

It is easy to get caught up in what feels like mass hysteria over college applications. Everyone seems to be an expert on where you should go to college, what it takes to get in, and why you should go there. Remember, you are way more than the sum of your grades and test scores, and it is less about where you go to college and more about what you do while you are there. 

 💡Expert Tip: Stick with the facts and the data; do not make decisions based on emotion and “facts” found on social media.

 Ultimately, investing some time during the remainder of junior year will empower you to have a manageable, relatively stress-free college application process and allow you to enjoy senior year to its fullest!

 For more information on what you can do during junior year to set yourself up for a purposeful and successful college application experience or about anything related to the college admissions process, please contact me at kathy@fineeducationalsolutions.com.