College Planning Tips for Juniors and Seniors

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Alexander Oddo in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

 

 

Preparing for college can be overwhelming for high school students. Planning a rigorous course load, focusing on a “spike” and making your extracurricular activities stand out are all important factors to consider. In this Livestream, advisor Alex Oddo dives into the importance of planning a challenging course load for junior year, the concept of a “spike” and effective ways to make your extracurriculars stand out to colleges. With the right planning and preparation, you can make your college application stand out and increase your chances of acceptance.

 

Academics

 

Junior year is an important time for high school students as they prepare for college. It is the time when students can showcase their academic performance to colleges, as junior year is considered to be the most up-to-date representation of a student’s academic abilities. This is why it is crucial to plan a rigorous course load for junior year and strive to do the best academically during this time.

 

When it comes to planning your course load, it is important to consider the options available at your school. If your school offers all honors classes, it may be worth taking as many as you can, as well as an Advanced Placement (AP) class or a dual enrollment class if that is an option. However, if your school offers a wide range of AP classes, it may be beneficial to take four to five AP classes per year, both as a junior and a senior. It is also important to keep in mind that you want to balance the number of classes you take between your junior and senior years, so you don’t get overwhelmed.

 

One important thing to consider when planning your course load is to focus on taking more rigorous classes during your junior year. Senior year is often a busy time, as you will be preparing for college applications and applying for scholarships. Junior year is a good time to focus on the more difficult classes, as you will have more time to devote to them.

 

Another important factor to consider when planning your academic trajectory is the concept of a “spike.” A spike refers to a demonstrated interest in a specific field, such as math or science. Colleges often look for students who have both a well-rounded education and a specific area of interest or “spike.” For example, if you have an interest in becoming a zoo biologist, you should take classes and extracurricular activities that align with that interest, such as AP biology or an ecologists club. This shows colleges that you have a genuine interest in the field, and it will help to strengthen your application.

 

When planning your junior year, it’s important to think about the classes and extracurricular activities that will help to demonstrate your spike and align with your intended major in college. As you take these classes, strive to do your best academically, as it will help you to stand out to colleges.

 

It’s important to remember that senior year still matters and colleges don’t want to see that you have senioritis and your grades dropped. So make sure to keep up the good work throughout high school, not only junior year.

 

Extracurriculars

 

Extracurricular activities play an important role in the college admissions process, and it’s important to think about how you can make your extracurriculars stand out. One way to do this is to strive for leadership roles and deep involvement in a few activities. This shows that you are dedicated and passionate about your pursuits. It’s also important to have a mix of activities that fit into different “tiers” of extracurriculars. 

 

One way to categorize extracurricular activities is by using four main tiers. 

• Tier four activities are the most participatory and anyone can do them. Examples include low-stakes volunteer roles. 
• Tier three activities demonstrate extra responsibility or leadership, such as being a captain of a sports team or the secretary of a debate team. These roles are common but still show good leadership and involvement.
• Tier two activities are more impressive achievements that are not one-of-a-kind but still demonstrate talent and commitment. Examples include playing in a state orchestra or serving as student body president. 
• Tier one activities are the rarest and unique, such as being a nationally ranked athlete or qualifying for an international math olympiad.

 

It’s important to have a mix of activities across these different tiers on your application. Ideally, it’s best to have at least one tier two activity and ideally, one tier one. Additionally, it’s good to have at least one casual hobby or tier four activity to show that you can have fun and are well-rounded. 

 

Another important aspect of extracurriculars is demonstrating a particular interest or passion. Your application should show a big-picture interest or dream that you are working towards, such as computer science or using automation to clear litter from streets. It’s important to have one or two extracurricular activities that highlight this interest and demonstrate that you are deeply involved in them and have shown leadership.

 

In addition to activities that demonstrate your interests, it’s also valuable to have extracurriculars that show service or community engagement. However, it’s important to make sure that these activities are not cliche, and instead are unique or related to your overall big picture dream. It’s also beneficial to strive for activities that have a tangible impact, such as starting a project. 

 

Internships & Job Shadowing

Internships and job shadowing are valuable experiences for high school students to gain practical skills, learn about different industries, and explore career options. As a senior, it’s important to focus on summer internships, which tend to be the most well-regarded and offer the best learning experiences. Summer internships are also often paid opportunities, making them more financially accessible for students. While it is possible to do internships during the school year, it may be more difficult to juggle due to the constraints of the school day and schedule.

 

To find internships as a senior, it’s a good idea to start by looking at key national programs and resources like CollegeVine, which has resources for high school students. Additionally, reaching out to local businesses and organizations, such as non-profits and government agencies, can also provide internship opportunities, although these may be unpaid. When applying for internships, it’s important to showcase your interests and skills and demonstrate your intellectual curiosity, ambition, and maturity. 

 

In addition to internships, job shadowing is also a valuable experience for high school students. Job shadowing can demonstrate your interest in a particular career field, give you a better perspective on whether that field is right for you, and showcase your intellectual curiosity, ambition, and maturity to colleges. It also helps to have an “academic spike” or a specific theme running through your application that showcases your unique passions and interests.

 

The amount of hours required for job shadowing is open-ended and not as important as the fact that you’re doing it. Colleges understand the logistical challenges of scheduling job shadowing as a high school student and will appreciate the effort and dedication shown by even a few hours of job shadowing a week. It’s also important to note that job shadowing is often an unpaid opportunity, but the value of gaining insight and experience in a specific field outweighs the lack of monetary compensation.

 

Overall, internships and job shadowing provide valuable opportunities for high school students to gain practical skills, learn about different industries, and explore career options. As a senior, it’s important to focus on summer internships and national programs, as well as reach out to local businesses and organizations for potential internship and job shadowing opportunities. These experiences will not only prepare you for the next step in your education or career but also showcase your interests, skills, and maturity to colleges and potential employers. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: Why is junior year so important for college preparation? 

 

A: Junior year is important for college preparation because it is the time when students can showcase their academic performance to colleges. Junior year is considered to be the most up-to-date representation of a student’s academic abilities, which is why it is crucial to plan a rigorous course load and strive to do the best academically during this time.

 

Q: What should I consider when planning my course load for junior year?

 

A: When planning your course load, consider the options available at your school. If your school offers all honors classes, it may be worth taking as many as you can, as well as an Advanced Placement (AP) class or a dual enrollment class if that is an option. However, if your school offers a wide range of AP classes, it may be beneficial to take four to five AP classes per year, both as a junior and a senior. It’s important to keep in mind that you want to balance the number of classes you take between your junior and senior years, so you don’t get overwhelmed.

 

Q: Why is it important to focus on more rigorous classes during junior year?

 

A: Senior year is often a busy time, as you will be preparing for college applications and applying for scholarships. Junior year is a good time to focus on the more difficult classes, as you will have more time to devote to them.

 

Q: What is a “spike” and why is it important for college preparation?

 

A: A spike refers to a demonstrated interest in a specific field, such as math or science. Colleges often look for students who have both a well-rounded education and a specific area of interest or “spike.” For example, if you have an interest in becoming a zoo biologist, you should take classes and extracurricular activities that align with that interest, such as AP biology or an ecologists club. This shows colleges that you have a genuine interest in the field and helps to strengthen your application.

 

Q: Does senior year still matter even if junior year is more important?

 

A: Senior year still matters and colleges don’t want to see that you have senioritis and your grades dropped. So make sure to keep up the good work throughout high school, not only junior year. 

 

Q: What is the importance of extracurriculars in the college admissions process?

 

A: Extracurricular activities play an important role in the college admissions process as they demonstrate a student’s dedication and passion beyond their academic achievements. They can also give admissions committees insight into a student’s interests and potential contributions to the college community.

 

Q: How can I make my extracurriculars stand out?

 

A: One way to make your extracurriculars stand out is to strive for leadership roles and deep involvement in a few activities. This shows that you are dedicated and passionate about your pursuits. Additionally, having a mix of activities that fit into different “tiers” of extracurriculars can also make your application stand out.

 

Q: What are the four tiers of extracurricular activities?

 

A: The four main tiers of extracurricular activities include:

• Tier four activities, which are the most participatory and anyone can do them. Examples include low-stakes volunteer roles.
• Tier three activities, which demonstrate extra responsibility or leadership, such as being a captain of a sports team or the secretary of a debate team.
• Tier two activities, which are more impressive achievements that are not one-of-a-kind, but still demonstrate talent and commitment. Examples include playing in a state orchestra or serving as student body president.
• Tier one activities, which are the most rare and unique, such as being a nationally ranked athlete or qualifying for an international math olympiad.

 

Q: How many extracurricular activities should I have on my application?

 

A: It’s important to have a mix of activities across the different tiers on your application. Ideally, it’s best to have at least one tier two activity and ideally, one tier one. Additionally, it’s good to have at least one casual hobby or tier four activity to show that you are well-rounded.

 

Q: How can I show a particular interest or passion in my extracurriculars?

 

A: It’s important to have one or two extracurricular activities that highlight your particular interest or passion and demonstrate that you are deeply involved in them and have shown leadership. This gives admissions committees insight into your big picture aspirations and interests.

 

Q: How important is community service in extracurriculars?

 

A: Extracurriculars that demonstrate service or community engagement are valuable as they show a student’s ability to contribute positively to the community and society. However, it’s important to make sure that these activities are not cliche and instead unique or related to your overall big picture dream. Additionally it’s beneficial to strive for activities that have a tangible impact.

 

Q: Where can I find internships as a senior?

 

A: You can start by looking at key national programs and resources like CollegeVine, which has resources for high school students. Additionally, reaching out to local businesses and organizations, such as non-profits and government agencies, can also provide internship opportunities.

 

Q: Are summer internships paid or unpaid?

 

A: Summer internships are often paid opportunities. This makes them more financially accessible for students, but it’s also important to note that unpaid internships may offer other valuable experiences as well.

 

Q: What are the benefits of job shadowing?

 

A: Job shadowing can demonstrate your interest in a particular career field, give you a better perspective on whether that field is right for you, and showcase your intellectual curiosity, ambition, and maturity to colleges. It also helps to have an “academic spike” or a specific theme running through your application that showcases your unique passions and interests.

 

Q: How many hours of job shadowing is considered good or preferred?

 

A: With job shadowing, there is no set amount of hours that is considered good or preferred. The important thing is simply that you’re doing it. Even a few hours a week can demonstrate your dedication and effort to colleges.