STANDARDIZED TESTS
The best advice anyone can give a high school junior is to complete ALL standardized tests by the end of their junior year. Countless students before you made the mistake of talking letting the tests linger over the summer.
GRADES & CLASSES
Everyone has heard that one�s junior year grades are the most important and it�s true. Nothing is more significant than how a student performs during his or her junior year. Why? By the time students reach their junior year in high school they have settled into a routine and matured to the point that colleges can ascertain how they will perform in college. The courses are more demanding and colleges want to see how students handle the pressure. Also, the classes students take speak volumes about their level of motivation and extent of their intellectual curiosity.
TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS
In high school students do not want others to consider them the �teacher�s pet�. But guess what? The teacher�s pet secures the best college recommendations. In many cases a student genuinely possesses an interest in a class and pursues that curiosity outside the classroom. Other times, students fake a deeper interest just to impress a teacher; this is not an advisable course to take. Students should pursue academic areas that interest them to the fullest extent possible. If a student shares an intellectual interest with a teacher, naturally the more the teacher will consider the student a �good student�, a �dedicated student� and �a student who always goes beyond what is expected.� On the flip side, the students who huddle in the back of the room and barely speak to teachers all year will find themselves in a rather stressful place when it�s time to request teacher recommendations. Ultimately, let�s face it: if a high school teacher cannot vouch for you, why would a college want you in their classrooms? What can you offer to the discussion?
ACTIVITIES
The way in which students spend their time outside the classroom serves as a testimony to their moral fiber. Students often assume that involvement in as many activities as humanly possible renders the ticket into college. Wrong! This misnomer pervades the high school student�s brain, but the inaccuracy of this type of thinking can lead to a student�s downfall (at least as far as gaining admission into college). French philosopher Denis Diderot said, �Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.� When beginning the junior year, students should assess their activities and reflect on whether or not the activities in which they participate offer a depiction of their interests and passions.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR OPPORTUNITIES
This adage stands true for students during any year of high school � or any time in one�s life for that matter. College opens up a new world for most people and opportunities to try new things abound. Since past behavior is the best indicator of future behavior, admissions officers look for students who step out of their comfort zone and seek new experiences. Students who choose to ignore opportunities do not appeal to admissions officers.
For more details on the hints above and other information contact Ellen Richards via her site, WWW.ELLENED.COM
