For many students, it’s sufficient to take an exam once in the spring, and a second time in the fall of senior year. In advance to secure a spot at your preferred test site.ĭo prepare, but keep it all in perspective. January is a good time to sit down with your parents or college counselor and come up with a schedule for taking college entrance exams.Ĭolleges accept either the SAT or ACT, so learn about each one - or consider trying each test once. You to submit a portfolio of schoolwork instead of SAT (or ACT) scores.Īlso, when you ask for letters of recommendation, you can ask your teachers if they’d like a copy of what you felt was your finest work in their class. Start a folder of your best tests and papers - with teacher comments and grades. Give them something special to say about you!Ī few colleges may require you to submit a graded essay, science lab report, or other academic work. These teachers will be writing your college letters of recommendation in just a few months. Ask for help pursuing that interest beyond class assignments.

Be a considerate leader in group work.ĭare to let your teachers know when a topic ignites your curiosity. Plan ahead to share one or two ideas or questions in each class, every day. If you’ve been a wallflower until now, force yourself to participate. Admission officers are looking for lively, engaged students who speak up in class. If too many extracurricular commitments dragged down your grades, consider taking a break from one or more non-favorite activities.Ĭollege classes often are taught seminar-style, with lots of student interaction. If you need a tutor for a difficult class, get one. How did you do? Are you proud of your effort and results? Set new goals for the second semester and plan a schedule that allows success. College admission personnel will focus on your performance in this year’s core academic classes. Juniors, here is your college admissions checklist for January:īy now you’ve heard it dozens of times: Your junior year grades matter a lot. You’ll apply to college, and you may learn, before 2013 ends, which colleges have said yes. Jessie Brumfiel, the director of college counseling at Dunn School in Los Olivos, Calif., for admissions advice for the class of 2014. (Seniors, your January checklist was published on Monday.) We’ve asked This week, The Choice is publishing our monthly Counselor’s Calendar, which is intended to keep students on track during the college admissions process. Timely advice from experts for students who want to stay on track during the college admissions process.

College checklist for juniors