College Prep Resources for High School Juniors

Here are Some Resources to Help High School Juniors Prepare for the College Admissions Process Next School Year Application deadlines are approaching for current seniors, but this is a critical college prep time for high school juniors, as this is their last full year to prepare before starting the college application process next fall. Junior year is the most critical college prep time, as students are focused on standardized testing, researching and visiting colleges, building their college lists, and more. There’s a lot that juniors should be doing this year to ensure they’re ready for the college admissions process next year. It’s especially important for this year’s juniors to stay on top of their college prep and develop an application strategy, as many of them will be the first to take the redesigned SAT in March of 2016. Here are some college admissions and preparation resources to help carry high school juniors through the school year and help them get ready for the application season next year. Test Prep Standardized test scores are a big piece of the college application puzzle. It’s important to know what to expect, especially on the new SAT that’s debuting in March 2016, how to prepare, and what to do if you’re not reaching the scores you need to be competitive in an applicant pool. Everything You Need to Know About the New SAT: Part I Everything You Need to Know About the New SAT: Part II The Truth About SAT and ACT Test Prep The Benefits of Test Prep: Getting Into Your Top-Choice College Juniors: How to Deal with Your First SAT Score Testing Guide for International Students 2015 ACT Writing Test Changes Sample Questions from the Redesigned SAT SAT and ACT Myths Debunked: The Truth About Standardized Tests and College Admission What Families Need to Know About Test-Optional Colleges and Admissions College Visits Junior year is the time when most students begin seriously visiting colleges. This is a critical time as many students won’t have time during senior year to tour colleges, so now is the time to get in as many visits as you can. It’s not enough to show up, however, It’s important to come prepared in order to get the most out of your college visit. How to Prepare for Your College Visits 5 College Visit Tips 3 Ways to Cut the Cost of College Tours What to Ask on Summer Campus Tours Campus Visits Dos and Don'ts Tips for College Visit Information Sessions College Visit Packing List: What to Bring and What to Leave at Home Tips for College Visits This Spring 8 Ways to Cut the Cost of College Visits Building a College List This is one of the most important things that college bound students will do when preparing to apply to college. Building your college list shouldn’t be taken lightly, however, this is your chance to really branch out and explore some schools you might not have otherwise considered. It’s important to make sure your list is balanced, and is full of institutions that are great academic, social, and financial fits. Juniors: How to Build Your Balanced College List How to Create a Balanced College List The Truth About Building a Balanced College List Your Balanced College List: How Many Colleges You Should Apply To? Making Your Own College Rankings Best Colleges for STEM, Campus Culture, and More How to Avoid Undermatching When Applying to College 5 Ways to Narrow Down Your College List Grades and Academics Grades and course selection are two of the most important factors that colleges consider when evaluating college applications. Make sure you’re maintaining good grades and taking challenging courses. Your senior year grades and courses matter just as much as your marks from freshman to junior year, so make sure you’re planning for a challenging senior year course load. Grades: How to Identify Problems and When to Ask for Help Tips for Students With Bad Grades Choosing the Right Classes: Importance of Course Rigor When Applying to College Course Planning for High School Students Self-Studying: What's the Benefit and How to Do It Staying on top of college prep along with maintaining junior year academics and activities can be challenging, but it’s manageable as long as you stay on task, stay organized, and seek out help and guidance when you need it! Also, be sure to check out our college planning checklist for juniors as an additional college prep resource this year!