Dear Rocky,

I’m nervous about what I need to do to prepare for college? Any tips?

Sincerely,

Stressed Junior

Dear Stressed Junior,

I am a senior this year and if I could go back and talk to myself as a junior, I’d say don’t wait around thinking you have plenty of time. Junior year is when things really start to matter.

The biggest thing is your grades. Colleges pay a lot of attention to junior year, so try to stay on top of your work. It’s okay to challenge yourself, just make sure you can handle it. Don’t fall into the habit of putting things off, because that catches up to you fast.

You should also start thinking about the ACT. I waited longer than I should have, and it just made things more stressful. Even doing a little prep here and there helps more than you think.

Another thing, I didn’t realize was how important activities are. You don’t have to do everything, but stick with a few things you actually care about. Whether it’s a sport, a club, or even a job, it shows who you are outside of class.

Start looking at colleges too. You don’t need to have it all figured out, but it helps to get an idea of what you might want. It makes senior year a lot less overwhelming. I didn’t know what I was even going to do after high school till my senior year. 

Honestly, just try to stay organized and don’t wait until the last minute for everything. Apply for as many scholarships as possible, even if you think you won’t get it. Senior year comes fast, and you’ll be glad you did some of the work early.

Sincerely,

Rocky