The year that matters the most
Tests, hardest classes, and the teachers who write about you.
What to do now
Make sure you have a solid first choice of either the SAT or ACT. Most schools accept either, and picking one now can help you focus your prep. Do both if you really want to, but the only real reason to do both would be because you got a low or unsatisfactory score on your first choice.
Additionally, the PSAT in October is what qualifies students for National Merit — the NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is an annual U.S. academic competition that recognizes high school students for exceptional standardized test scores, and awards college undergraduate scholarships. Colleges love to brag about how many National Merit scholars they have.
Ask for your recommendation letters now, in the spring of junior year. By fall of your senior year, teachers will be drowning in requests and are less likely to write high quality letters then.
Finally, start your college list now. Research a variety of schools based on size, location, majors, and cost to build a preliminary list.
The summer before senior year is valuable too. It's the best window to visit colleges if you can, and getting a head start on your essays then will save you from writing them under pressure once senior year actually starts.
What most people get wrong
So many students think that 11th grade is the time to pile on tons of challenging classes. However, more often than not, this actually harms students, since they can't actually handle that many classes at once. An overloaded schedule doesn't help anyone — course rigor does matter, but not enough that you should sacrifice your grades and well-being.
It's also worth naming honestly: junior year is genuinely the most stressful one for most students. That's not a reason to do less, but it is a reason to take care of yourself along the way — burning out in March doesn't help your April grades.
What counts
Grades! Junior year grades are the most considered and weigh more than any other year. As a result, don't pile on so many rigorous courses just to look impressive — simply choose some to challenge yourself, but also some that you'll be successful in.
Tests and deadlines
- October PSAT/NMSQT qualifies you for National Merit
- SAT or ACT in the spring
- AP exams in May