High School Juniors: Here's Your Summer Checklist... Regards Tim Lear, Director of College Counseling at The Pingry School

Although it's important for juniors to prepare for final exams and end the year on a strong academic note, it's also critical to finalize summer plans in anticipation of a busy, application-filled fall.  With that in mind, here are five questions for rising seniors to ask themselves as summer nears:

1.  What are you doing this summer?  This is at once a straightforward and complicated question, especially for tired juniors who just want to relax after a busy year.   Whether you choose to read by a pool, work at the mall, or conduct research in a lab, how you spend your summer vacation matters and can help you to stand out in an increasingly crowded applicant field.  Be intentional and be yourself, whatever you decide to do, and resist following your friends' lead.  The independence you demonstrate now will both foreshadow how you handle the college process and, perhaps, help you to answer an interview question or college essay down the road.

2. Which college campuses do you intend to visit?  While college guidebooks and websites are helpful, and it's always nice to visit a campus during the year when class is in session, it's a mistake to wait until the fall to see some schools in person.  Most colleges offer campus tours throughout the summer, and many will schedule admission interviews, so take advantage of your "free" time to continue building your college list.

3. Did you remember to ask two teachers if they would write you a recommendation letter in the fall?  Before you complete your last final exam, take the time to thank two of your junior teachers and ask if they would write a recommendation on your behalf. But before you ask, sit down and do your own writing, pulling together some highlights from the year.  What unit or assignment or lab stands out to you?  How did that teacher's style or set of expectations change the way you approach a particular subject?  Don't automatically pick your favorite teachers, or the ones where you earned the highest grades, as your most demanding teacher may have witnessed the most growth throughout the year.  Try to find two complementary teachers, as the right mix often leads to the most complimentary letters.

4.  Where do you stand with your standardized testing?  Although some schools are test optional (for a complete list, visit www.fairtest.org) many require or strongly recommend that students submit a host of test scores.  If you didn't do particularly well on the SAT, have you thought about switching to the ACT?  What are the standardized testing requirements at your top schools?  And what sort of preparation are you doing (a group class, one-on-one tutoring, online prep) to be as competitive as possible.

5.  When is the best time to start brainstorming college essay topics?  Once your final exams are done, spend some time on the Common Application website, setting up your account and, most importantly, reading through the essay topics.  While not every college accepts the Common Application, many do, and though some colleges will ask you to answer supplemental essay questions, the Common Application is a great place to start.  Don't rush it, as your first draft will likely be forgettable, but don't procrastinate, either, as the fall (with its attending deadlines and choices) will be here before you know it. Good luck!

Juniors and Seniors are you ready to jumpstart your college preparation this summer?  Sign up today for one of the Reach programs led by Tim Lear, Director of College Counseling at The Pingry School, and begin to establish the foundation for your application process.

Weekly Session dates for the Reach Program held at Pingry’s Basking Ridge Campus are as follows:

Session One: June 30 – July 2

Session Two: July 9 – 11

Session Three: July 23- July 25

Session Four: July 30 – August 1

To register, please visit this link:  https://register.capturepoint.com/pingry.  For information on Pingry’s Big Blue Summer camps and programs, please contact Mark Facciani, Director of Summer and Auxiliary Programs at mfacciani@ pingry.org or at 647-5555, extension 1463.