Junior/Year 12 To-Do List

For juniors /grade 12 students, maximizing your important second semester is critical. We hope that you're focused on your academics, and are beginning to think seriously about college selection, applications, summer plans, and test prep. To keep you organized and ease the process, we have created tasks for you to complete over the next few months and into the summer. We hope this helps you manage your time and priorities.

JANUARY

• Meet with your Ivy Options counselor to discuss how to maximize your time in the next few weeks and months, including completing the University Preferences Survey, going over your preliminary university list, and summer planning.

• Stay on top of your classes and excel. Study hard, seek extra assistance if you need to get your grades up, and stay focused on schoolwork. This term’s grades are usually very important in shaping your predicted scores for A Levels or IB, especially if you are planning to apply to Early Action and Early Decision options.

• If you haven't done so already, sign up and practice for SAT/ACT spring tests. Ivy Options offers free SAT/ACT diagnostics to help you determine which test is right for you, as well as one-on-one tutoring to help maximize your scores. Contact valery@ivyoptions.com to schedule or for more information.

FEBRUARY

• If you haven’t done so already, meet with your school counselor to discuss your university application plan and to make sure you are on the right track to meet all graduation and university requirements.

• Create or continue to add to your resume everything you’ve accomplished in high school to date. Make regular updates as events occur.

• Open a Common App account and start filling in personal details and add universities of interest

• Keep your eyes open for college nights, college fairs, presentations and information sessions. These are great for meeting admissions representatives without traveling!

MARCH

• Watch the Common App Personal Statement Essay Brainstorming and/or UCAS Personal Statement Essay Brainstorming webinars and discuss them with your counselor. These are essential workshops to get you started on your personal statements.

• Finalize summer academic, internship and/or work plans. Please be mindful of application deadlines. If you need help with summer planning, please contact your Ivy Options counselor as soon as possible.

• Register online for June/July ACT/SAT exams. Spaces fill up quickly, so don’t wait until the last minute!

• Review your online persona. Google yourself to see what comes up, and examine your social media posts. Consider updating or deleting content that might not be viewed favorably by college admissions officers.

APRIL

• Watch the webinars on Common App and University of California and work with your counselor to make sure you have a standout list of activities

• Organize your university application related materials in your Ivy Options folder and include the following: SAT and ACT logins and passwords, high school and community awards, transcripts, university brochures, and other application details as you get them. Please keep your Ivy Options counselor and this folder updated regularly.

• Now is the time to approach teachers, preferably current ones, who can write you stellar letters of recommendation. Ideally, letters should be from instructors in different core academic areas, i.e. math and English. If you know that a teacher is leaving this summer, please make sure that his/her letter is on file with your high school counseling office.

• If you know that your high school counselor will be leaving this summer, please make sure you have your counselor write a letter of recommendation and have it on file so that your new counselor has the needed information.

• Plan and register for your summer campus tours if you will be traveling or attending summer internships or college credit courses.

• FINALIZE your resume and your university list. Create a timeline for your applications according to set deadlines with your Ivy Options advisor.

MAY

• Stay positive and focused. Study hard and end the year with strong grades. Time management is crucial especially if you are sitting for your AP or mock IB exams.

• If you’re applying to the US, prioritize your Common App Personal Statement and supplemental essays for Early Decision/Early Action schools. If you’re applying to the UK Oxbridge or medicine/veterinary/dentistry prioritize your UCAS personal statement. You should have at least rough drafts written before the end of the school year.

• Attend any interesting college visits and interact with the admissions representatives. Demonstrated interest is considered favorably by many universities. Stay tuned to your high school counseling office announcements and to Ivy Options communications.

JUNE

• Work on your college essays. If you’re applying to the US, prioritize your Common App Personal Statement and supplemental essays for Early Decision/Early Action schools. If you’re applying to the UK Oxbridge or medicine/veterinary/dentistry prioritize your UCAS personal statement. You should have at least rough drafts written before the end of the school year. You will thank yourself in the autumn when you’re in full application mode. Work through edits with your Ivy Options advisor and continue to research your universities for those all-important "Why?" supplemental essays.

• Share your summer travel plans with us! Using the summer of your senior year wisely will ensure you get a head start on your fall applications and avoid any unnecessary stress at the start of your senior year.

SUMMER

• Excel and take on responsibilities in your job, internship, research, or other summer activity.

• Continue to work on your college essays. Work through edits with your Ivy Options advisor. Fall gets really busy, so capitalize on the quieter times!

• Read, read, read…. a variety of books and articles, especially related to your field of interest. Attend workshops, exhibitions and talks.

• If you need to retake your ACT/SAT test(s), plan and register online for the test(s) and contact Ivy Options for private tutoring if needed.