Juniors, right now is a crucial time for you! Everything you do (and don’t do) now, will affect where you will be accepted one year from now. You’re setting yourself to apply to college, don’t forget that!
Grades, grades, grades
Not to sound like a broken record, but your grades are SO crucial this semester! You only have this semester and next semester to get your GPA to a place you are proud of. Remember that little number has a huge impact on where you can apply to college. So, study! If you have trouble doing it on your own, get a tutor. Many public libraries offer homework help to students for free.
Keep volunteering
Pretty much every high school requires some volunteer hours to graduate, so get them out of the way now. Plus, the more volunteering you do, the better it will look on your applications! Plus, from a personal standpoint, it will make you feel good to help others who are less fortunate than you.
Prep for your test
There are tons of test prep options out there! Download an app, buy a SAT or ACT book, take a class, get a private tutor, find practice questions online. Whatever you choose, get going on it now! The next SAT dates are January 25 and March 8. The next ACT dates are February 8 and April 12. Remember, you will need to sign up about a month early for both tests. If you need to waive the fee for the test, your high school counselor has that information. Use the Tests Page to stay organized for all your tests!
Become a leader
If you haven’t already, become a leader in an organization you’re involved in. It’s an easy way to show colleges that you are motivated and involved. As this term comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to campaign to be a leader next semester. Go get em’!
Keep playing with your college list
Search for colleges based on parameters you think you’re interested in. You don’t have to change for certain right now, just make an educated guess and go from there. If you visited a big city and loved it, look for urban schools. If your high school already seems huge, look for small colleges. The CollegeMapper Advanced Search is a great place to start!
Keep these 5 things in mind this month and you’re good to go! Yay, college!
