Lora Lewis

Educational Consultant
Lora Lewis Consulting

1) Take the most rigorous high school courses available to you and do very well in them. 2) Continue to pursue your extracurricular activities. 3) Take the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT in the spring and the SAT Subject Tests (if needed) in May or June. 4) Research an develop a preliminary list of colleges to apply to. 5) Begin brainstorming possible essay topics and taking notes. 6) Kindly ask...

Heather Tomasello

Writing Coach
The EssayLady, LLC

Here are some of the things you can do before senior year to help prepare for the college admissions process: 1. Take (or retake) standardized tests such as ACT or SAT. 2. Continue to refine your list of potential schools. 3. This is a great time to take college tours, if possible. If you can't visit in-person, you can take full advantage of the college website and also call the office of...

Joyce Vining Morgan

Founder and college counselor
Educational Transitions

Do well in tough courses, first and foremost. That said, get started on figuring out why you want to go to college, which leads to which colleges might be good for you. Take the SAT and the ACT, and think about taking some Subject Tests. Make sure to practice at least a little before taking the tests – you wouldn’t play Varsity anything without practice: same idea.

Mitch Clark

Executive Director
College Sherpa

One of the most important aspects of selecting your college is visiting campuses. If you’re not sure what type of school is a good fit for you, schedule visits at large and small public universities and smaller liberal arts colleges. Make college visits part of your travel plans for Spring Break or summer vacation. If possible, schedule time with an admissions counselor, and a professor or advisor in...

Zulema Wascher

Counselor
Rio Rico High School

As a junior, make sure you take the PSAT exam always offered in October of your Junior year. Make sure when you are taking the test that you mark the answer sheet that you want to receive scholarship information. During the spring of your junior year, you should be planning on taking the SAT or ACT. Although these tests are not always used for admission, they also help with scholarships offered through...

Mark Gathercole

University Advisor
Independent University Advising

Get a real hold on your academics - do absolutely as well as you can. Even if you've not done particularly well in grades 9 and 10, it's not too late to show people that you're serious about doing well in school and are qualified for college work. Don't give up your extra curricular activities, but pay good, efficient, determined attention to your school work. Your senior year is amazingly hectic,...

Pamela Hampton-Garland

Owner
Scholar Bound

Maintain high rigorous academic achievement Volunteer Take standardized test visit colleges

Carita Del Valle

Founder
Academic Decisions

Visit Schools!

By visiting schools with sharp contrasts it will give both the student and the family a better idea of what type of institution is right for them. When senior year comes along, now the student has a really good idea of what they do and don't like which is significant in the narrowing down process and less stressful because they did their "homework" early.

Patricia Krahnke

President/Partner
Global College Search Associates, LLC

Great Grades! Great Grades! Great Grades! (Did I Mention “Great Grades?”)

Short Answer: Great grades. Detailed Answer: Great grades. (And don’t plan on getting Senioritis in your senior year. If you do get it and your grades tank, the college that accepted you based on those great junior year grades will rescind their offer of admission; you will probably cry and make excuses; but no one will feel bad for you.)

Suzan Reznick

Independent Educational Consultant
The College Connection

Give yourself time for self-reflection

While continuing to achieve the best grades possible, prepping for standardized tests, and taking on leadership roles in your extra-curriculars, you need to give yourself time to figure out what type of environment would "fit" you best. During your junior year, you should be already visiting college campuses. And asking yourself key questions : Would this school make sense for me? Would I be happy...