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What to do Junior Year: Possibly the Most Important Year of High School
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By Honey A on August 28, 2024
Junior year, or the second to last year of high school (11th grade), is arguably the most important year of your high school career. Sure, you will be busy with college applications and making memories in senior year, but a bulk of your college application is made up of what you do in your junior year. So let’s see how we can get started on the right foot!
Disclaimer: This guide is based on my experience as a junior last year and is geared towards those applying to U.S. universities in their senior year. The main aim of this guide is to give an overview of when you might want to consider beginning certain activities and (hopefully) calm any nerves you have about the upcoming academic year.
August/September
Depending on your school this may be the time you sign up for your classes. Remember to pick courses that challenge you but ones you can still manage. Your grades are especially important this year so make sure you give it your best effort!
Note: If your school does not offer many advanced classes and you would still like to challenge yourself, consider taking an online course to supplement your learning in school. Coursera, edX and many other platforms offer a variety of online courses (many for free!) in both academic and non-academic areas.
Also, consider running for an executive or leadership position in one or more clubs, or even starting your own club.
October
Begin researching colleges and attending college fairs. Now would also be a good time to find out if there are any specific requirements for schools you plan to apply to (such as whether or not they require the SAT).
November
At this time you should consider whether you want to write your first SAT exam. The SAT is offered at a variety of dates throughout the year, and most students take their first attempt in December or March of their junior year. Find which time is best for you, and don’t forget to sign up before the seats are filled (registration usually opens many months before the date of the exam)!
Note: A full list of dates for this academic year can be found here (dates available for you to sit the exam may vary based on school and location).
December
Take the SAT for the first time (if you’ve signed up for this sitting)! Remember to stay focused and do well on your first semester/ first term exams! Use your school break to work on any passion projects you might have and continue researching schools you would like to apply to.
Note: Passion projects include any sort of self-directed initiatives you may do based on a hobby you enjoy. This can be something as academic as starting your own club or something more personal to you like refining an old hobby. The important thing is that these projects are things you genuinely enjoy, rather than activities you take on to enhance your college application. If you are considering doing a passion project and are stuck what to do, this blog has many ideas that may serve as inspiration.
January
I know it sounds early, but start thinking about your summer plans. It’s totally okay if you want to chill out this summer, but if you plan to sign up for a summer program or job this is the time that applications usually open. You may find that some open later than others, but it is better to be early than miss the deadline entirely.
February
Continue working hard, you’re half way through the year! If you plan to take the March SAT, this is the time to begin signing up.
March
Take your first/second sitting of the SAT (or not, you may have already gotten an amazing score so congrats!) Continue to work on curating your college list.
April
Depending on where you are, you may have external exams right around the corner. Use this time to give it your all! You got this!
May/June
Take your final exams and crush them! Finalize your summer plans. Start working on your common app (or personal statement) essay!
I hope you found this guide somewhat helpful in planning out your upcoming year. Everyone’s year is different and what works for you may be different than what worked for me. The important part is that you spend your junior year in a way that is meaningful to you. If you take away anything from this guide, remember that it is never too early, whether it’s SAT preparation, working on your college list, or even finding a summer job. That’s all for now, see you in the next post!
Thank you to Diya R for editing this article!
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