Junior Year Timeline
With our flexible timeline, it’s never too late! No matter where you are in your high school career, you can take control of your future.
With our flexible timeline, it’s never too late! No matter where you are in your high school career, you can take control of your future.
DISCLAIMER: We encourage everyone to try their best in classes, make meaningful connections, as well as explore themselves and their interests. If you haven’t followed this timeline completely, do not become discouraged! Try to pick up wherever on the timeline that you’re able to. Don’t forget to have fun!
August
August
Goal: standardized test practice
- Sign up to take the SAT/ACT and brainstorm passion project ideas.
- Look for school-year internships or research positions
- Learn about NHS (National Honor Society) and prepare to take the PSAT with that in mind.
Goal: standardized test practice
- Sign up to take the SAT/ACT and brainstorm passion project ideas.
- Look for school-year internships or research positions
- Learn about NHS (National Honor Society) and prepare to take the PSAT with that in mind.
September
September
Goal: prepare for junior year’s rigor (hardest year!)
- Take the SAT/ACT and get in the habit of carving out consistent time throughout the school year for your project or professional experiences. Studying routinely should also be a habit by now.
- Take the most rigorous junior classes you can handle, but make sure they align with your future university major.
Goal: prepare for junior year’s rigor (hardest year!)
- Take the SAT/ACT and get in the habit of carving out consistent time throughout the school year for your project or professional experiences. Studying routinely should also be a habit by now.
- Take the most rigorous junior classes you can handle, but make sure they align with your future university major.
October
October
Goal: time management of activities
- Create milestone goals you would like to achieve with your passion project/other extracurriculars. Don’t be too harsh on yourself, goals are supposed to be realistic!!
- Take the PSAT. Take the SAT/ACT if your scores are not where you want them to be.
Goal: time management of activities
- Create milestone goals you would like to achieve with your passion project/other extracurriculars. Don’t be too harsh on yourself, goals are supposed to be realistic!!
- Take the PSAT. Take the SAT/ACT if your scores are not where you want them to be.
November
November
Goal: summer program
- Use the StandOut Search database to find all the summer internships & research positions you would like to apply to and put them on your calendar (Some of these programs have Early Decision so watch out for those deadlines!)
- Continue participating in extracurriculars and activities that your school offers
Goal: summer program
- Use the StandOut Search database to find all the summer internships & research positions you would like to apply to and put them on your calendar (Some of these programs have Early Decision so watch out for those deadlines!)
- Continue participating in extracurriculars and activities that your school offers
December
December
Goal: check-in with yourself on your well-being
- Start making your initial list of colleges and filling out summer program applications (see Areas of Interest section for programs)
- Continue participating in extracurriculars that your school offers
- Make sure your GPA is in a good place
Goal: check-in with yourself on your well-being
- Start making your initial list of colleges and filling out summer program applications (see Areas of Interest section for programs)
- Continue participating in extracurriculars that your school offers
- Make sure your GPA is in a good place
January & Febuary
January & Febuary
Goal: continue developing interests/skills.
- Meet with your HS counselor to make sure you are on track to fulfill the requirements for your target schools
- Begin researching potential colleges that you want to visit
- Create a study schedule for your AP exams
- Continue participating in extracurriculars & activities that your school offers
Goal: continue developing interests/skills.
- Meet with your HS counselor to make sure you are on track to fulfill the requirements for your target schools
- Begin researching potential colleges that you want to visit
- Create a study schedule for your AP exams
- Continue participating in extracurriculars & activities that your school offers
March & April
March & April
Goal: study for exams!
- Create a calendar for scholarship applications (apps)
- Create a calendar for scholarship applications
- Start cold outreach for summer internships/research if you have not secured a position
- Study for AP Exams and final exams
Goal: study for exams!
- Create a calendar for scholarship applications (apps)
- Create a calendar for scholarship applications
- Start cold outreach for summer internships/research if you have not secured a position
- Study for AP Exams and final exams
May
May
Goal: visit colleges!
- Study for and take AP Exams & and final exams
- Take AP exams & request teacher recommendations
- Visit colleges on your list
Goal: visit colleges!
- Study for and take AP Exams & and final exams
- Take AP exams & request teacher recommendations
- Visit colleges on your list
Summer Break (June, July, August, September)
Summer Break (June, July, August, September)
Goal: prepare for summer opportunities and senior year.
- Pursue an internship or research position, draft application essays, and start or continue with your passion project participating over break.
- Start your internship or research position and take the time to expand or build out your passion project
- Visit colleges on your list
Goal: prepare for summer opportunities and senior year.
- Pursue an internship or research position, draft application essays, and start or continue with your passion project participating over break.
- Start your internship or research position and take the time to expand or build out your passion project
- Visit colleges on your list
