Course selection, grades, and academic planning
No room for slipping
Review first progress reports - no room for slipping now
Maintain grades through end
Maintain strong grades through end of year as final junior grades are important
Junior grades critical
Junior year grades are weighted most heavily by admissions officers
Maintain strong grades
Maintain strong grades
Avoid senioritis scheduling
Avoid senioritis scheduling as colleges rescind offers for dropped rigor
Verify A-G track
Verify you're on track to complete A-G requirements with 11 courses by end of junior year
Maintain rigorous course load
Maintain rigorous course load as colleges see second semester grades
Course registration begins
Course registration for senior year begins
Critical semester finish
Strong finish to first semester - final junior year first semester grades are critical
Review final transcript
Review final transcript for accuracy
Final exams preparation
Final exams preparation
Strong semester finish
Focus on strong semester finish as these grades appear on applications
Verify senior schedule rigor
Obtain senior year schedule and verify rigor maintained
Strong second semester start
Strong start to second semester
Continue challenging courseload
Continue challenging AP/IB/Honors courseload
Select senior year courses
Select senior year courses and maintain or increase rigor
Execute rigorous schedule
Execute your most rigorous academic schedule
Complete remaining A-G
Ensure any remaining A-G requirements will be completed
Extracurriculars, leadership, and community involvement
Document summer accomplishments
Document summer accomplishments
Update activities with junior achievements
Update activities list with all junior year achievements
Peak leadership year
Peak leadership year - hold significant positions
Execute passion projects
Execute passion projects with tangible outcomes
Continue meaningful summer activity
Continue meaningful summer activity like research job project or program
Document activities meticulously
Document all activities meticulously
Build arts portfolio / audition prep (visual, music, dance, theater, film)
Arts applicants have a parallel admissions timeline. Portfolio reviews, pre-screens, and auditions begin October-December of senior year. Junior year is when portfolio work gets built.
College applications and submissions
UC Application opens
August 1: UC Application opens - create account and begin completing sections noting cannot submit until October 1
Common Application opens
August 1: Common Application opens - create account and begin filling out activities section and demographics
Coalition Application opens
Coalition Application opens if using
Request transcript sends
Request that school sends transcripts when applications open
Personal statements and supplemental essays
Complete personal statement draft
Complete first draft of personal statement
Note supplemental requirements
Note supplemental essay requirements for each school
Begin UC PIQs
Begin drafting UC Personal Insight Questions choosing 4 of 8 prompts with 350 words maximum each being direct and specific
Plan essay writing schedule
Plan essay writing schedule for summer
Begin early school supplements
Begin supplemental essays for early schools as prompts are released in August
Research supplemental prompts
Research supplemental essay requirements as most schools post new prompts in August
Complete PIQ first drafts
Complete first drafts of 4 PIQs
Identify meaningful experiences
Identify 3-5 meaningful experiences that reveal your character
Review UC PIQ prompts
Review UC Personal Insight Question prompts covering leadership creativity talent educational opportunity challenge academic passion community contribution and uniqueness
Begin serious essay brainstorming
Begin serious brainstorming for personal essay
Begin Common App essay
Begin drafting Common App personal statement with 650 words max covering prompts about background obstacles questioning beliefs gratitude personal growth deep interest or topic of choice
Get essay feedback
Have 2-3 trusted readers review including teacher counselor family member
FAFSA, CSS Profile, and scholarships
Use net price calculators
Use net price calculators for top schools
FAFSA opens
October 1: FAFSA typically opens - create FSA IDs if not done
CSS Profile opens
October 1: CSS Profile opens - research which schools require it
Cal Grant Priority Deadline
March 2 2026: Cal Grant Priority Deadline - FAFSA or California Dream Act Application must be submitted and GPA verification must be submitted by school
Confirm Cal Grant GPA submission
Confirm GPA will be submitted to California Student Aid Commission for Cal Grant
Review family finances
Review family finances and begin gathering tax documents needed for FAFSA/CSS Profile
Attend financial aid workshops
Attend financial aid workshops like Cash for College in California
Research QuestBridge National College Match
QuestBridge matches high-achieving, low-income students with 52 partner colleges offering full 4-year scholarships. Junior spring is when to learn about and prepare for the September deadline.
College research, visits, and strategic planning
Prepare selective summer apps
Prepare applications for selective summer programs
Ask for recommendations
CRITICAL: Ask 2 teachers for letters of recommendation choosing teachers who know you well with ideally one STEM and one humanities from junior year
Provide recommender materials
Provide all requested materials to recommenders
Collect awards documentation
Collect any awards recognition or documentation
Confirm summer plans
Confirm summer plans as this is the last summer before applications
Develop recommender relationships
Develop strong relationships with 2-3 teachers who will be future recommenders
Identify counselor process
Identify counselor recommendation process at your school
Thank recommenders
Thank recommenders before school ends
Prepare brag sheet
Prepare brag sheet with resume activity list college list intended majors specific class contribution examples and talking points
Note application requirements
Note application requirements for each school
Confirm recommendation agreements
Confirm teachers have agreed to write recommendations
Identify ED/EA schools
Identify schools with Early Decision/Early Action you might use
Meet counselor on timeline
Meet with counselor to review application timeline
Last summer before apps
This is your LAST summer before applications - make it count
Submit RSI application
Submit RSI application typically due early January
Identify recommender teachers
Identify teachers who will write strong recommendation letters
Submit TASS and other apps
Submit applications for TASS Telluride mid-January Governor's Schools pre-college programs and research positions
NCAA Eligibility Center registration (athletes only)
Division I and II athletes MUST register with the NCAA Eligibility Center by the start of junior year. Core-course tracking and test-score registration happen here.
Refine college list
Refine college list based on visits and research
Meet admissions reps
Meet with college admissions representatives visiting your school
Finalize junior college list
Finalize junior year college list
Take notes on visits
Take notes photos and record impressions for essays
Explore demonstrated interest
Begin exploring demonstrated interest requirements for each school
Research UC campus programs
Research specific UC campus programs and cultures
Plan spring break visits
Plan spring break college visits
Check demonstrated interest
Check if schools track demonstrated interest
Cold-email professors
Begin cold-emailing professors for research opportunities
Sit in on classes
Sit in on classes and talk to current students if possible
Attend college presentations
Begin attending college presentations at your school
Attend college fairs
Attend college fairs
Categorize schools
Categorize schools: Reach 6-8 Target 4-6 Safety 2-4
Create structured college list
Create structured college list with school counselor
Deep dive research
Deep dive research on top choice schools
Research ED vs EA
Research Early Decision binding vs Early Action non-binding options
Visit colleges spring break
Visit colleges during spring break
Schedule spring visits
Schedule spring college visits during school breaks
Narrow college list
Narrow college list to 10-15 schools
Research competitive summer programs
Research most competitive summer programs with December-March deadlines like RSI Telluride and Governor's Schools
Register for tours
Register for campus tours and information sessions
Research BS/MD combined programs
40+ U.S. combined bachelor's-to-medical-school programs exist. Most have separate applications due November 1. If pre-med, research them now - you cannot apply late.
Understand CA community college transfer pathway (TAG, IGETC, ADT)
The CA community college to UC/CSU transfer path is a legitimate, cost-effective college route - not a fallback. Understand TAG agreements, IGETC, and Associate Degrees for Transfer.
SAT, ACT, PSAT, and AP exam preparation
Continue intensive prep
Continue intensive preparation
Register for March SAT
Register for SAT March 14 2026 or ACT February 14 2026
Take March SAT
Take SAT March 14 2026 - most important SAT date for juniors
SAT December option
SAT offered December 6 2025
National Merit notification
National Merit Semifinalists notified if applicable
Take PSAT/NMSQT
Take PSAT/NMSQT mid-October - qualifies for National Merit Scholarship
Continue SAT/ACT prep
Continue SAT/ACT preparation
ACT February option
ACT offered February 14 2026
Register for PSAT/NMSQT
Register for PSAT/NMSQT in October as THIS ONE COUNTS for National Merit Scholarship
Plan testing calendar
Plan testing calendar including PSAT in October SAT in March May or June ACT in February April June and AP Exams in May
Complete testing goal
Goal: Complete testing by end of junior year
Finish testing before senior year
Ideally finish testing by August before senior year
AP registration due
AP registration typically due mid-November for May exams
Take AP practice exams
Take AP practice exams to prepare for May
Begin intensive AP review
Begin intensive AP exam review
Analyze National Merit status
Analyze PSAT scores and National Merit status with Commended around 208 and Semifinalist state-specific around 221 for California
Register for spring SAT
Register for spring SAT March or ACT February/April
Take April ACT
Take ACT if preferred April 4 2026
SAT November option
SAT November 8 2025 date available if ready
Final SAT attempt
Take final SAT August 23 2025 or ACT if needed
Take June ACT if needed
Take ACT June 13 2026 if needed
Analyze PSAT results
Analyze PSAT results released late December/early January and adjust prep accordingly
Intensive test prep begins
Intensive SAT/ACT prep begins now if not already done
Take AP Exams
Take AP Exams May 4-15 2026
Retake SAT if needed
Take SAT May 2 2026 if retaking
Continue SAT/ACT prep - February focus
Continue SAT/ACT prep if needed
Take June SAT if needed
Take SAT June 6 2026 if needed