How to Have an Excellent Second Semester as a Junior

How to Have an Excellent Second Semester as a Junior

The second semester of junior year is like the moment you pull back an arrow. With your eyes on the goal, you are preparing to launch into the start of the college application process with hopes of hitting the red mark: your dream school.The way you navigate your upcoming semester can set the trajectory for how the application process rolls out. Come senior year, you can expect to dash toward completing strong essays and activity lists while juggling rigorous courses and extracurricular activities.Kick this next semester off on the right foot, and you can set yourself up to land as close to your target as possible. In fact, you might even get a bullseye.Keep reading for more tips on how to best position yourself.

Dive Deep into Your Activities

Now is the time to think about how you can take your activities and academic interests to the next level. Colleges look for students who demonstrate leadership and commitment to their extracurricular pursuits, so seek out opportunities to step into positions with more responsibilities.This commonly looks like running for a board position in a club or becoming the captain of a sport, but do not limit yourself to pre-set options. You can also spearhead an initiative within an organization, start a new project, or even expand the impact of activities you have been doing. Take a risk and try something new.For those of you who have not explored your intellectual interests outside of the classroom, find opportunities to do so. Start a blog that discusses a niche aspect of an academic subject, or contact local professors about doing research in their labs. This will help you build a strong case for college essay prompts that ask about what you hope to study.Be intentional about the trajectory of your activities as a second semester junior. You will demonstrate to colleges that you are someone who does not plateau but continually finds ways for herself or himself to grow as a student and leader.

Court Your Colleges of Interest

You may have already begun this process, but you should start building your college list. Check in with your parents about scheduling college tours during spring break and consider whether you want to apply early action or early decision to any school.College fairs and presentations hosted by admissions officers in your region are also great ways to explore new options. You can search online for the dates of upcoming events. Some admissions presentations may not take place until the summer, but it’s good to get these on your radar early on so you do not miss registration deadlines.You can also connect with current students or alumni from your colleges of interest to learn more about their academic offerings and student culture. During these conversations, be sure to ask about what qualities make their college unique and what kinds of students would be a great fit. The raw data you gather now may serve as important material for “Why College” essays later on.

Consider Your Potential Teacher Recommenders

Typically, colleges ask applicants for recommendation letters from two teachers that teach core subjects (English, science, social studies, and foreign language).It’s usually ideal for teacher recommenders to be from your junior or senior year because they have the most current pulse of what you’re like as a student; in addition, they often are the ones instructing honors, higher level, and AP classes.At least one of your recommenders should be teaching a subject related to what you plan to study in college. So, if you are interested in chemistry, then an AP Chemistry teacher is best. If you want to major in anthropology, an instructor who teaches U.S. History could work. The subject does not have to be exactly the same but close enough for your teacher to talk about reasons why you would thrive studying a particular major.This semester, work on building stronger relationships with your teachers. You could volunteer to pass out papers in class, put in your best efforts on assignments, and look out for ways you can go above and beyond the syllabus. Before the end of your junior year, ask the teachers that you believe to be the best candidates to write your letters of recommendation.  

Prepare for a Productive Summer

Summer will be here before you know it, so plan out what you hope to accomplish beforehand. You should definitely get a head start on your college applications, but most students cannot dedicate all of their time to only writing essays, which make up the bulk of application work.Your summer will be most productive with a balance of different activities. Make progress on adding a unique spin to your extracurriculars, attend admissions events, draft college essays, and carve out time to spend with loved ones over the weekend.Once senior year arrives, you will be prepared to hit the ground running toward the finish line.The expert admissions consultants at Wise World Prep have helped hundreds of students maximize their potential of being admitted to their top choice colleges and universities. Over 20 years, we have successfully guided students through each stage of the application process – from choosing competitive high school courses to building an appropriate college list to drafting winning essays to writing persuasive update and appeals letters. We would be happy to answer your questions and partner with you to create a successful admissions roadmap.Ready to get started? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute conversation today!Want to stay informed? Subscribe to our newsletter.See what others are saying about us