How to Use Your Junior High School for College Preparation

Higher education is a pivotal phase in every student’s career, and it should be properly planned for. While most students begin preparing for college admissions in their senior year, the junior high year is actually the ideal time to start planning and preparing for college. By beginning preparations in the junior high year, students have ample time to identify the skills required for college and work on honing them.

If you are a junior and want to know how to start preparing for college, this blog is exactly what you need right now. Keep reading to learn how to make the most of your junior year and effectively prepare for college.

How to use your junior high year for college preparation

Are you a junior-year student planning to prepare for college in your senior year? If so, it’s time to get serious and start preparing now. By following the steps outlined below, you can effectively prepare for college without wasting any of your valuable time.

How to use your junior year for college preparation

Focus on your academic performance: All colleges prioritize students with a high GPA, making academic excellence crucial. By focusing on your academics from junior high year, you set yourself up for success in senior year, which can help enhance your GPA. Moreover, a strong GPA can make you eligible for merit-based scholarships, helping you to pay the cost of your college education. Remember, building a high GPA begins with laying the foundation in your junior year, so you should start now.

Get involved in extracurricular activities: While achieving academic excellence is crucial, getting involved in extracurricular activities is equally important. Most colleges want to know about the extracurricular activities you’re engaged in to understand how well-rounded you are. Junior high year is an excellent time to participate in activities you’re passionate about, such as sports, music, drama, and community service. You can join clubs related to these interests or volunteer for community service if that appeals to you.

Start researching colleges: Researching colleges is a time-consuming task, so it’s best to start as early as your junior year. This will save you valuable time in your senior year to focus on other important tasks. Begin by creating a list of colleges that match your preferences, considering factors such as fields of study, tuition costs, campus atmosphere, location, and more. Once you know which colleges you’ll be applying to, you can start preparing for their specific requirements in advance.

To find the best financial fit, you can use the top5 colleges tool.

Prepare for standardized tests: Many colleges require standardized test scores as part of the application process. It is advisable to begin preparing for one of the popular standardized tests, either the SAT or ACT. Both test scores are widely accepted, but their focus areas differ slightly. While the SAT emphasizes math and English, the ACT includes a separate science section. It’s wise to choose between the two based on the major you plan to pursue in college.

If you are confused about which one to choose, you could read our blog “SAT vs ACT-Tips for Choosing the Right Test.”

Participate in college presentations and campus tours: Many colleges organize informational presentations and campus tours for prospective students. During these events, colleges provide insights into their programs, admissions processes, and student life. Attending these events is a great way to kickstart your college exploration journey.

If you want to know how attending college presentations can be helpful for you, you can read our blog “5 Importance of Attending College Admissions Presentations.”

Start building relationships with your teachers and mentors: Letters of recommendation are a key component of the college admissions process and can often serve as a deciding factor in the selection process. As such, they should accurately reflect your strengths and skills. This is best achieved when the letters are thoughtfully written by your teachers and mentors. To ensure this, it’s important to start building strong relationships with your teachers and mentors during your junior year, so they get to know you well and can write compelling recommendations on your behalf.

Want to learn how to ask and when to ask for letters of recommendation? Read our blog “How to Request Letter of Recommendation : Essential Tips.”

Develop Time Management Skills: Time management skills will be extremely helpful during your senior year when you need to balance academics, extracurricular activities, and personal time. It’s important to start developing these skills in your junior year by using a planner to track important deadlines, learning to prioritize tasks, and avoiding procrastination.

Participate in Summer College Program: Many colleges organize summer programs for high school students, providing an excellent opportunity to understand how college academics differ from high school. By participating in such a program, you can gain clarity about the potential major you might want to pursue in college. Moreover, depending on the program, you may also have the chance to earn college credit. This is a fantastic opportunity to experience college life, and it is definitely worth considering.

Conclusion:

Junior high year is a crucial time for you to start planning and preparing for college. It is the ideal period to focus on your academics and extracurricular activities, begin researching colleges that align with your needs, explore potential majors, start preparing for standardized tests, attend college presentations and campus tours, and develop time management skills. While junior year may seem early for this kind of preparation, it is actually the perfect time to get started if you want to avoid the stress of last-minute planning in your senior year. So, begin preparing now.

If you need more help, you can read our blogs for guidance from “Insightful Blogs | Top5 Colleges: Navigate Financial Aid & University Selection.”