May Newsletter for Parents of Juniors By Explore Editor
As your child’s junior year comes to a close, the college search is just beginning. May is a great time for your child to begin making a list of colleges you may want to apply to, visiting nearby campuses, and researching the different ways to pay for the ever-increasing tuition costs. With so many different factors to consider, the beginning of the college search can often be the most frustrating step. That’s why we asked three of our top College Admissions Experts to weigh in on what high school juniors should be doing during the month of May. Covering everything from standardized test prep to accurately assessing your transcript, these experts offer some great tips on how to get a head start on the admissions process. Here’s what they had to say:
“In creating your initial college list, you need to assess realistically your chances of acceptance at a wide range of schools. Critically evaluate your GPA and tests scores and ensure that any list will offer you a wide range of selectivity. Do not delude yourself; your grades are the number one factor that colleges will evaluate you by.”
–Suzan Reznick
“Not only do high school juniors need to keep up their grades in challenging courses, but they also need to prepare for and take the SAT or ACT, SAT Subject Tests, and/or AP exams. I highly recommend taking the SAT I or ACT in early spring of junior year and taking SAT Subject Tests in June, because many students need May for their AP exams.”
-Helen Choi
“If you are planning to apply early to any schools in the fall, recommendations should be arranged in May — especially if you are approaching a particularly popular teacher. You should select a teacher from English or social science, and another from the science or math area.”
-Ralph Becker
As always, Unigo is here to help your family through every step of the process. Our network of Admissions and Financial Aid experts are eager to give you advice on the types of schools your child should be looking at, and ways to get the most out of your financial aid package. You and your child can also talk with college students from the schools you’re interested in and get the inside scoop you won’t hear on a campus tour.
And if you have any questions, shoot us a line at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.