Step 1. Hit the Ground Running…
Momentum is a powerful force. If you start off the school year with a positive attitude, a good work ethic, determination, and drive, it will carry throughout the year.
Step 2. Do not let the ever-looming fear of COLLEGE rule your life.
Junior year is like waiting on line for the high diving board; you can see people in front of you (the seniors) jumping off and into the pool (applications). You want it to be your gosh-darn turn already! At the same time, you’re a bit nervous. This is frustrating and nerve-wracking. Realize that you’re still about a year away from applications and this isn’t quite your time.
Step 3. Crack open those standardized test prep books.
1) Buy the Books Now is the time, if you haven’t already, to buy an SAT and/or ACT test prep book. (The Official College Board SAT Study Guide and The Real ACT Prep Guide are excellent choices, as they are created by the makers of the tests).
2) Choose the Test The first step is figuring out which test better suits you as a student. The best way to determine this is by taking both a practice SAT and a practice ACT (not both in the same weekend, though…don’t need anyone’s brain melting; you’re going to need that!). Clear about four hours one weekend to sit down and attempt one of these tests. Get a feel for its structure and the kind of questions it asks.
The SAT has three subjects cut into 10 sections: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing. There is also an essay, which is scored as part of the writing section. Each subject counts for 800 points, making the test out of a total of 2400 points.
The ACT has four subjects: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Unlike the SAT, you answer all the questions of a subject at one time. The ACT also has an essay. Each subject is scored out of 36 points, and a composite score also out of 36 is calculated from your average score from each subject.
*It’s not uncommon to see a student actually choose to take both tests. If that sounds like a whole bunch of extra, unnecessary work for you; don’t sweat it, choosing to take only one type of test is also a good choice.
3) Study Consistently Studying diligently throughout the year will make your testing experiences much easier. A little bit of prep everyday goes a long way. Seriously.
4) Choose the Date Choose your test date, register online, and take that bad boy. Most test-takers will take their test of choice twice. Popular combinations are taking a winter and spring test, or taking a spring and fall of senior year test.
Step 4. More SAT stuff…
Many colleges require applicants to take 2 or more SAT Subject Tests. Therefore, you’ll want to choose, study for, and take a few of these. The best thing to do is think about which subjects you are strong in (“I’m a great history student!”) and selecting a test based on this and the classes you have recently taken (“I just took U.S. History; maybe I should take the U.S. History Subject Test!”). Just like the SAT and ACT, buying a prep book, taking a diagnostic test, and studying for a long period of time, as opposed to cramming, is the way to go.
Step 5. Start college touring…
Not obsessively, of course, but do try to knock out as many tours as you can this academic year. Senior year is (gasp) even busier than junior year, and you likely will not have the time to travel to all the colleges you want to see during the fall of senior year. Ideally, the summer after junior year is your time to wrap up college touring, not begin.
Step 6. Do not believe everything you hear in the stacks.
This include gossip, horror stories from tests taken last period, which colleges your friends think you or themselves are capable of getting into, etc. It’s not worth convincing yourself false information is true.
Step 7. Don’t ditch your social life: make compromise.
Junior year is not the time to burrow away into your bedroom every waking moment you’re out of school because you have homework, standardized test prep, or other school-related work to complete. Balance is important, not only for your sanity, but also to teach skills you will need in college and beyond. Go see a movie with your friends on a Saturday night; just promise yourself you’ll be doing your essay on Catullus’s poetry the following Sunday morning.
Step 8. Do not over-calculate…
…GPA’s, averages, test scores, acceptances rates, etc. This will needlessly drive you nuts.
Step 9. Be a pal.
Remember, your best friends are going through the same thing as you. They’re just as stressed, overworked, and exhausted. Bond over your misery and support one another. Catty competition is useless for all parties involved.
Step 10. THE SECRET ABOUT JUNIOR YEAR NO ONE TELLS YOU:
It’s all hype. That whole “Oh wow, it’s your JUNIOR YEAR, yikes” sentiment has basically been created to scare you. You are well-prepared to handle whatever challenges your classes, extracurricular activities, or life throw at you this year. You’ve made it through K-10, so why not this year? Remind yourself of this. Don’t be get psyched out; carry yourself with same grace and diligence that has gotten you this far in life with a little extra “oomph” in the drive/determination department and you’ll be just fine.