The most wonderful time of the year for the college conversation: Juniors

Julie Murphy, M.A., Founder, Waverly Educational Consulting 

December 20, 2021

The fall semester is winding down, and before you know it, your student will be heading into their senior year. While you have extra time with your student over their upcoming holiday breaks, it’s a good idea to discuss where your student is in the college search process. Here are a few questions to get the conversation started. 

Have you taken standardized tests? 

• Make sure your student knows if and which standardized tests are necessary at their potential schools. While testing policies remain in flux, generally, a score that reflects your student’s ability will increase their likelihood of acceptance at their best fit colleges. If your student hasn’t taken any tests yet, make sure that they, and test preparation if needed, are part of the plan. 

Have you made a list of colleges and universities to which you plan to apply? 

• If your student hasn’t started to build their list yet, encourage them to first spend some time writing down their goals and what they want out of college. Encourage them to cast a wide net of colleges at the beginning, and then dedicate quality time to researching schools and narrowing down their list based on their priorities. 

What colleges do you want to visit?

• There is no replacement for your student setting foot on a campus that they may call home for 4+ years. Spring break and days off school are good times to visit. Consider open houses that allow your student  to explore many areas of the university, or check out virtual visit options before committing time and money to in-person visits.

Are your grades reflective of your ability, and if not, how can we get you some help?

• Junior year grades are a very important component of the college application, and it’s not too late to help your student improve. Encourage your student to seek help from teachers, tutors, or counselors to build strategies for learning to the best of their ability.

What does your extracurricular involvement look like for the coming year? 

• We recommend quality over quantity. Now is a great time to evaluate in which activities they will deepen their involvement (e.g. leadership roles). If your student is not interested in activities within the high school, encourage them to participate in the broader community in ways that are meaningful to them.

How can we be best prepared for the year ahead? 

• The college search and application process can be daunting with plenty of deadlines, visits, to-do lists, and more. Staying organized and creating a system that works for both you and your student is key. Check out our supply list for the college search for recommendations and best practices on how to set your student up for success.