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As the semester draws to a close, high school juniors have a lot on their plates. Finals are looming, and everyone is rushing around getting ready for the holidays. It’s tempting to push preparing for the college admissions process to the end of their “to do” lists at this time of year. The process seems so far off, but it’s actually just a few months away.
It may seem daunting to add new tasks into the mix, but there are five simple steps that high school juniors can take now to lay the groundwork for a smooth college process. Here they are:
First, create an email dedicated to the college admissions process. Most colleges use email as the primary form of communication with prospective students, and many will ask students to provide a personal email address rather than a school one. This is because most students lose access to their high school emails after graduation. While many students already have a personal email, it’s a good idea to create a new one just for the college process. That way, the voluminous amount of college email doesn’t crowd your regular inbox, and all of your college-related correspondence will be in one spot. Once you create this email account, use it when you register for college visits, correspond with colleges, and submit your applications.
Second, make a list of all of your extracurricular involvement throughout high school. It can be difficult to remember all of the activities you’ve been involved with dating back to freshman year. At this point, you don’t have to create a formal list—you can just keep a running list in the notes on your phone. If you really want to get ahead, note the years of participation, the approximate number of hours per week, and the approximate number of weeks per year for each activity.
Third, reflect on your relationships with your teachers. Most likely, you’ll need to ask at least one teacher to write a letter of recommendation on your behalf. Generally speaking, core subject teachers from junior year are optimal choices for letters of recommendation. In some cases, however, it may make sense to ask teachers from other grades to write on your behalf. You don’t have to make any final decisions—and asking anyone to write a letter for you is premature at this time—but it’s helpful to begin thinking about it.
Fourth, take a virtual tour or two. Grab some popcorn and post up on the couch to watch on-demand content available on many colleges’ websites. Ideally, you should explore colleges of different sizes and types to get a broad sense of the landscape. By understanding what colleges offer, you will start to understand what’s available and begin to formulate your own set of priorities and values to guide your college search.
Fifth, think about your summer plans. You may already know what you’re doing this summer, which is great. But, if you’re not sure, consider how you can spend your summer productively. If possible, allocate time for working on your essays and applications in order to make the fall of your senior year less hectic. You might think about taking a summer job or attending summer school. Summer can also be a great time to strengthen your college applications by completing an internship, taking a college course, or participating in a college summer program related to your intended major. Applications for some of these programs have already opened, and some programs have deadlines early in the new year. No matter what you do, be thoughtful about how you spend your summer. There will still be plenty of time for fun, but a bit of mindful planning can bolster your applications and alleviate senior year stress.
