Juniors: Here’s What You Should Be Doing Right Now for College Prep

Junior year can seem overwhelming at first, but soon you will find that it is simply a checklist. Below are tips on how to create balance and college prep.

Check 1: Building Routines

“Routine, consistency, and predictability, the research suggested, are powerful influences on a teen’s life.” The University of Georgia did a study in 2018 on the effect routines have on students. Students who have a set routine tend to have better self-control and higher rates of college enrollment. It is statistically proven that creating a routine will better yourself in more ways than one. Along with the traditional things like making your bed and doing specific chores every day, you can slowly start to add in things like applying for scholarships and studying at least once a day. The more you focus on your routine the easier the rest will come. Be easy on yourself but stay disciplined. Good things will come with predictability and balance.

Check 2: Exploring Careers

Researching the career you will pour your life into can be difficult. If you have any doubt in the future, remember that The University of Tulsa found that 80% of students in college change their major. I cannot stress enough the idea of giving yourself grace in the transition periods you will soon face. Creating a resume, which can be done online, through a career center or a library, will give you an upper hand as all of your experience will be on one document. Something that would stand out on a resume is an internship. Internships will keep you disciplined and put you in a situation where you are forced to gain important life skills. Talking to your counselor about your future can benefit you greatly. They can give you insight on available scholarships and can offer you a career test. During a career test you will answer questions and in return it will provide a career that the test thinks best suits you. No matter what happens, it is better to admit that you walked through the wrong door rather than living the rest of your life in the wrong room.

Check 3: Opportunities

The main thing you should remind yourself of is: You are only a junior. Theodore Roosevelt expressed, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” You have time. Don’t limit yourself to what you know at this moment. You will learn more in the next few years than you know. There are people in college that still don't know what they want to do, as we can see from The University of Georgia’s statistics. There is not a wrong way to live your life. When you get the chance to go on breaks or have days off, I encourage you to go to college fairs and visit colleges. Going to college fairs gives you the chance to receive information and get in contact with schools. Visiting the colleges will give you real-life experience you can't get from behind a screen. When it comes to tests, like the ACT and SAT, some schools will be more selective than others. Take advantage of the materials your school offers and other study methods that work for you. Remember, what you’re not changing in life, you’re choosing.