May Checklist for Juniors

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What? May? Already?Here’s your checklist for this coming month so you can finish the school year strong and take advantage of your summer.

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• Finish the school year strong. Do your best work on your last assignments for the year and study hard for exams and APs so you can knock it out of the park on all the tests you take. This will make you feel like a superstar and leave your teachers with a positive impression of you as a student. BUT… if taking standardized tests endangers your health or the health of those around you, sit tight. You can take them later. Or not take them at all if need be.
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• Ask teachers for recommendation letters before the school year ends. It is a good idea to ask two teachers to serve as your recommenders for college at the end of this year. It takes pressure off you next fall when you will be crazy busy, and if any of your teachers aren’t returning next year, you’ll be able to get information from them about how to be in touch. We’ll have a blog post soon about the nitty gritty of asking for recommendations, but for now, just put it on your list.
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• Prepare for summer by developing a list of projects that you’ll be able to do on your own and at home. Self-assigned ****projects are just as valuable as structured activities, so think broadly. We’ll have a blog post soon with advice for coming up with your list of projects. For now, just start letting your brain wander and jotting down any idea that comes to mind.
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• Continue doing what you can to get a jumpstart on college applications. Here are some things you can be doing:

- Create your account on the Common App. Fill in the basics regarding yourself because that stuff will rollover into your account for next year. (But don’t insert any information on the college supplements yet because it will be wiped when they load next year’s applications.) If your school-based counselor recommends that you set up the Coalition App as well, do that too. (Many colleges will accept either; the list of schools that accept only the Coalition App is very small and keeps dwindling.)

- Gather samples of your academic work and put together a portfolio (if you are an artist or maker). ****Most of you would not need samples of academic work or a portfolio because only a few colleges and programs require them, but you may as well keep them on hand. We’ll have more about what makes for the best academic samples in a future blog post.

Anna Ivey is one of the founders of Inline. An experienced admissions consultant and a frequently cited media expert on the topic of college admissions, she is also co-author of the college admissions bible How to Prepare a Standout College Application. Learn more about Anna's background here.
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