Juniors - Managing It All and Thinking Ahead

November is here and I know how stressful this time of year can be for junior students. This is often the most demanding year in high school and can be a juggling act as juniors learn how to manage their time with higher level coursework, more demanding extracurriculars, and added responsibility - all while carrying the pressure of keeping strong grades.  Not to mention the looming idea of college  that makes some of us want to hide under a rock. It's a lot to manage. The good news is that juniors still have plenty of time to prepare, and gently nudging your child toward the college planning process now will pay off dividends for you (and them) in the end. Here are some practical ways for junior students to prepare this year:

Finish with an upward trend.  In an admission evaluation, all colleges will heavily weigh the first six semester of coursework, and many admit students without ever seeing senior year grades. How students perform this year is key to their overall success. And remember, the GPA and class rank at the end of junior year will be what Texas public colleges use in determining assured admission. Junior year is vitally important and finishing with the strongest academic performance will be key for admission reviews. 

Begin test prep for the SAT or ACT.  Ideally, juniors will test for the first time in December. Additional prep and re-testing should be the focus through the spring, reserving the summer months for essay writing and application work. Your best move is to avoid cramming for the tests and to begin actively prepping now with a clear testing plan in place.

Prioritize campus visits this year.  Campus visits are the single most important factor in evaluating and determining a college's fit. Saving these trips for senior year will cause unnecessary feelings of being rushed and overwhelmed. It takes time to narrow a list of schools, and having the information to confidently navigate the choices will pay off when senior year rolls around. It's easy to sign up for a campus visit through the college's admission website, and I strongly encourage formal visit events like Monday at TCU. If you plan to visit schools in peak seasons (any holiday, spring break, etc.), plan ahead as many colleges fill their sessions and campus tours very early. 

For more information on planning through junior year, contact us at info@clccollegeprep.com