The college application process–something all juniors are terrified to think about, but is it really that scary–or do juniors just have no idea where to start?
The college application process can be overwhelming, yet when broken down, it is not as scary as everyone thinks. Junior year is the perfect time to begin two crucial steps in the college process: Researching and Planning—two steps geared toward guiding juniors on their path to success.
The fall of junior year is the time to begin researching.
Think of research as the foundation for your entire college application process. Start by thinking about the environment where you would thrive best. This may be a small school with around 2,000 students and a very confined campus, such as Stonehill College in Easton, or a large school with over 30,000 undergrad students and a big focus on Division 1 sports, such as the University of Alabama.
It could be a mix of the two. You may feel like you would thrive in an Upstate New York school like Syracuse University, with an undergraduate population of approximately 15,000. Or maybe you like an urban campus spread across a city, such as George Washington University (11,000 undergrads) or New York University (30,000 undergrads).
Whatever environment you believe you belong in can only be determined by you; however, it helps to determine these preferences early so that you can define your final list.
Researching may also include the colleges you think you would like to apply to and creating a “potential” list that is very undefined. Research what programs you are interested in pursuing at school and whether these potential colleges offer them. This may include nursing programs, pre-law programs, and education programs—the list is endless.
If you have no idea what you want to do in college and are at a crossroads, or are just stuck in general, research the programs at these schools for undecided students. You will find out that many colleges and universities do not allow students to declare their major until the end of their sophomore year.
Researching is the perfect step to begin your junior year because it allows you to get a feel for what you want in college, and it allows for an easy transition into arguably the most crucial step of the entire college application process: planning.
Planning includes deciding which standardized tests you are going to take–and when. This can include the SAT or ACT. The SAT is typically held in March, May, June, August, October, November, and December, and this gives you a lot of time to plan when you choose to take the test. The ACT is usually held in February, April, June, July, September, October, and December, giving you a lot of time to prepare.
Remember to take the test you believe suits your academic performance the best. The ACT features a 35-minute reading section, a 45-minute English section, a 60-minute math section, and a 35-minute science section, with an optional 40-minute essay section. The SAT features a total of a 64-minute English section, split into two modules, and a total 70-minute math section, split into two modules.
If you are worried about your performance in either of the tests or can’t decide which one to take, think about it like this: the ACT, on average, features more straightforward questions than the SAT; however, in the ACT, you are given less time to complete each question, which is what makes the ACT very challenging. Opting for the SAT over the ACT, or vice versa, will not affect your chances of getting into the college of your choice–it is all about choosing the right test for you.
This could be taking the SAT or the ACT, a combination of both, or, if applicable, opting out of either test and applying test-optional. No matter what test you plan to take–or not take–the best piece of advice seniors can give when planning their college application process is to take the tests early and give yourself plenty of time to study and to be prepared.
It may seem as though studying for the SAT or ACT months before the actual test date is a waste of time; however, it will help you in the long run. If you plan to take the SAT or ACT in June of your junior year, it will be most beneficial to start delegating one to two hours of your time on any day of the week to study for the test of your choice. Start this process in late March or early April rather than trying to cram months’ worth of studying into the week of the test.
It is also helpful to research the average SAT or ACT score of an admitted student at all of the schools you wish to apply to and to get a sense of what range you are shooting to achieve when taking the test. Typically, it is recommended that students planning to send their test scores as a part of their application should aim to be within or above the school’s average SAT or ACT score.
Another helpful tool is once you have created your Scoir profile with your guidance counselor at the end of your junior year, you will be able to see the exact SAT or ACT scores admitted students from Scituate High School got and helped them get into their colleges. However, the beauty of the SAT and ACT is that if you do not get the score you wanted to get the first time, you can retake the test and improve your mistakes when the test is administered again.
A great tool for studying for the SAT is Khan Academy. Here, you can find endless online practice tests, study tips, and more. Khan Academy features practice tests with corresponding videos on different topics, such as grammar, math, etc., which can help any student looking for extra help before taking the test.
Don’t forget your junior year PSAT qualifies you for the National Merit distinction–if you are within the top 2% or 1% of the country based on your test scores. This distinction looks amazing on a college application, so if you are looking for ways to stand out in your application, begin studying for the PSAT early to ensure you are prepared for the test. Khan Academy offers a deep dive into what areas you need to work on based on your sophomore year PSAT, so sign into your college board and start studying!
After the 2024/25 admissions wave, many more colleges and universities are beginning to reinstate the policy that standardized test scores are mandatory when applying to schools. Of course, there will still be some institutions that do not follow this policy, but you should plan to take either the SAT or ACT.
In addition to taking standardized tests, the second semester of your junior year is the time to start preparing for college applications seriously. Around April or May, you should ask teachers if they will write your letter of recommendation–and make sure you are choosing teachers who can reflectively describe your academic strengths or personal character. Homeroom teachers are a great resource, or maybe a teacher taught you for the past three years.
Consider your possible major, and ask a teacher who can speak to your skills in this area. Ask your biology or math teacher if you plan to major in STEM. If you are applying to major in the humanities, ask your English or history teacher. Don’t discount your freshman or sophomore teachers as well–your recommendation letter does not have to come from a junior-year teacher.
Lastly, junior year is the ideal time to begin touring colleges. Utilize February and April breaks to tour colleges and universities outside New England, such as the D.C., the Carolinas, or the South. Colleges expect their prospective students to show demonstrated interest in their schools, and college tours are a way for you to understand what kind of campus you like.