Here is a useful checklist from the New York Times. It explains precisely what juniors should be doing to gear up for college admissions season in the fall.
1) Prepare for Standardized Testing
In addition to final exams, May and June are testing-intensive months with Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams, the SAT, SAT Subject Tests and the ACT.
Get plenty of rest on the days leading up to the test and eat a healthy breakfast before each one. You are more likely to perform your best if you are relaxed and rested.
2) Ask Your Teachers for Letters of Recommendation
In addition to a letter of recommendation written by a college counselor, colleges will ask applicants to provide academic references from teachers, preferably from junior or senior year. Make sure to ask your teachers for letters of recommendation before the end of the school year. Your teachers may ask you to provide a “brag sheet” to help them shape specific anecdotes
about you in their letter.
3) Review Your Academic Schedule for Next Year
Before you leave for the summer, have a conversation with your college counselor or academic adviser about the courses you will be taking next year. Your course schedule should reflect the level of rigor and challenge that is most appropriate for you. Also, colleges prefer that students take courses in the traditional core academic subjects: English, math, science, history, and foreign language.
4) Make Plans to Visit Colleges Over the Summer Months (In-Person or Virtually)
While a campus visit during the summer does not offer the opportunity to see a school during the regular academic year, it can still be a worthwhile experience; you will meet members of the campus community and explore the area surrounding the campus. Colleges are open during the summer, and admissions offices will typically offer prospective students opportunities to visit during this time. Contact admissions offices to request their summer schedules for campus tours and information sessions. Once you and your parents have finalized your travel itinerary, make sure to keep your college counselor in the loop about your plans.
Here’s our free college campus visit checklist.
5) Hold On to Those Papers!
As you are cleaning out your school locker for the year, it may be tempting to throw away those writing samples and research papers from your English and history classes. If you plan to apply to a school with test-optional admissions policies, please note that some of these institutions require applicants to submit graded academic papers instead of test scores. Collecting these papers now and tucking them away in a secure place will save you time from having to search for these when you are ready to apply to colleges in the fall.
6) Make Your Summer Plans
While the summer months are certainly a time to rest and recharge, you should talk to your college counselor about potential summer activities. There is still time for you to seek employment, register for a summer program, take a summer course at a college or university, or volunteer in your local area. Remember to choose your summer activities
and experiences based on what areas you have a genuine interest in and are passionate about, not what you think will be impressive to a college or university.
7) Finish the School Year in Strong Fashion
Finishing the school year on a strong note academically can positively impact your college process, especially if you decide to apply early in the fall. Continue to work hard in all of your classes and earn strong grades. Also, do well on your final exams, which will factor into your final grades. The final grades from your junior year will likely be the last grades that colleges will see on your transcript during the fall application cycle, not including grades that are sent to colleges during the first term of your senior year.