Juniors, get ready! Get Set! Go! Take action now!

Here are a few important tasks to make you college–application ready:

1. Register NOW for your SAT 1, ACT and SAT 2s (subject tests)!

Planning ahead will help ease the pressure you will encounter during junior year. We still see students who wait until the spring of their junior year to take their first ACT and/or SAT. That’s way too late! Start preparing now! Based on your math level, your GPA, your reading habits and abilities, think about testing as early as December. If you are a junior, you will take your PSAT on Wednesday, October 14 or Saturday, October 17, 2009. Even though you will not receive your scores until November or early December, you can still plan to take your first ACT as early as December or February. If you have good PSAT scores, you may even consider taking your first SAT as early as January! We can’t over-stress the importance of timely, targeted test preparation. Once you set a benchmark for yourself from your first set of scores, you will know your strengths and weaknesses. Chappaqua Learning Center can help you every step of the way.

2. Plan to take SAT Subject Tests in May or June.

If you have not already taken an SAT Subject Test, plan to do so in May or June of your junior year. The more competitive colleges require or recommend two or three Subject Tests for admissions. CLC recommends that you take your Subject Tests while you prepare for your AP or IB exams--while the information is still fresh in your mind. Do not wait until October to take Subject Tests for the first time; you may want to retake an SAT or Subject Test at that time.

3. Meet with your guidance counselor.

Encourage your parents to attend a local college fair or college night at your school. Speak to your guidance counselor before that, though. With so many students to talk to, your guidance counselor needs all the help you can provide in order to give you proper help. Cultivate a good relationship. Look for cues about the best time to approach your counselor. Collaborate!


4. Work on a long list, then a short list of colleges to visit during first-semester school holidays, February, and Spring breaks.

Take a tour, attend an information session, sit in on classes, dine in the student center, and talk to college students at every opportunity. You don’t want to apply blindly. Besides, visiting college campuses can help improve your chances for admission!

5. Identify teachers who can write your college recommendations.

Colleges prefer recommendations from sophomore and junior-year academic teachers. As the school year begins, you need to identify and cultivate strong relationships with the teachers who can write you a great recommendation. Talk with these teachers about your work in and out of class--and even about their thoughts on colleges for you. Teachers like to know that you’re planning ahead.


Posted in Score at the Top Learning Centers’ Blog