Rising Juniors - June Checklist

Senior friends graduating, finals approaching, the first days of summer and the last days of school all make it easy for rising juniors to get wrapped up in fun and festivities. However, June offers many opportunities for rising seniors to start and continue the college admissions process.

June is a tough month for juniors. With warmer weather, classes coming to an end and the opportunity to sleep past 7 a.m. can lull students into an early case of senioritis.

During these final days of classes, you are putting on the icing on a high school transcript that will soon make its way into the hands of college admissions officers in the Fall.

Make sure you finalize your senior schedule. Colleges are admitting students who are engaged in challenging courses, so make sure your senior year schedule is your most rigorous. Seek help from your teachers, counselors, parents and contact Lee Academia, if you need advice to create the best possible senior year schedule.

Have you asked for Teacher Recommendations yet? Do you know which teachers and how many to ask for a letter from?  Who knows you best? Ask these teachers (11th-12th grade teachers) who can describe your academic abilities and performance. If they hesitate, consider asking someone else.

Make summer plans. Colleges want to know how you spend your summers. Did you watch reruns of "The Walking Dead" or catch up on "Assassins Creed III"? This is not what you want to list on the extracurricular section of your college application. Need an idea or summer plan? Contact our experts.

Start writing your college essay! The college essay is a chance to introduce yourself to the admission committee. This is your opportunity to tell them who you are, what you value and what they would not know about you from the rest of your application. The five new Common Application essay prompts are now available and are a good place to begin thinking about what you will write. Lee Academia is offering their summer College Essay workshops

Are you thinking about pursuing the arts or playing a sport in college? If so, your application process may include a few additional components.

If you are an athlete, use this time to create an athletic résumé and collect highlight film footage. Artists should find out what their prospective colleges require and use this time to prepare an art portfolio or, if applicable, select a piece to perform for auditions.

Visit college campuses this summer. Contact Lee Academia to find out how to start, and what you need to do while you're visiting colleges this summer.

Now is the time to talk to your family about paying for your college education. Don’t be scared away by the listed cost of attendance. With financial aid, the most expensive institution can often become the most affordable.

Relax this summer. The fall will be very busy, and you want to make sure you return to school ready for all that senior year will require of you. Summer is a great time to move forward with the college admission process, but it is also an important time to recharge and spend time with family and friends.

Make time for yourself and the activities you enjoy. Senior year will be here in no time, so enjoy your time off, and be ready to start strong in the fall!