With all the talk about senior to-do-lists and the excitement around the college offers and graduation, it’s easy to forget about the juniors. When it comes right down to it, this should be when juniors amp up their game in anticipation of the fall and senior year. It’s time to start now!

Here are my top 10 activities for college-bound juniors:

1. Research colleges–If your junior hasn’t started already, it’s time to get down and dirty and start researching colleges. Make a list of “have tos” and start there. Use sites like CollegeData.com to narrow down the choices and look at some of the statistics about each of the colleges that interest them.
2. Visit campuses–Even if you haven’t tied down your choices, visit some college campuses. Spring is a great time to visit colleges, and if you can’t travel far, find one in your neck of the woods and check it out. You would be surprised at how visits tend to shape the choice.
3. Take the SAT/ACT–Spring SAT and ACT tests are just around the corner. Register and take them now. If your student isn’t pleased with the scores, that will leave them time to study over the summer and retake them early in the fall before your student begins their college applications.
4. Choose the right classes for next year–It’s time to start surveying the courses for next year. Encourage your student to take as many AP classes as they can handle and consider dual credit courses as well. College look positively on students who take strenuous course loads. And the added bonus it these classes can help your student get credit for college level courses—saving you tons of money in the long run.
5. Search for scholarships–Junior year is the time to focus, focus, focus on scholarship searches. Most of the scholarship s for seniors already have applications available for next year. Budget some time each day for your student to do the searches, and it’s perfectly acceptable for you to help. Remember, however, to help motivate them to search when you have the money talk with them about college expenses and student debt.
6. Connect with your high school counselor–The high school counselor will be responsible for some of the application process and you want them to know your student when they are sending letters of recommendation and transcripts to the colleges. I often say this and some counselors have disagreed, but the squeaky wheel gets the oil and your student needs to be squeaky to the point of annoyance.
7. Keep your grades up–Junior year is the grades that EA and ED college choices will see when you apply. It’s the most important year for your student as far as grades are concerned. Waiting until senior year to buckle down will not have much effect on the GPA.
8. Get organized–Organization is the key to surviving senior year communication and deadlines. Set aside a landing zone for college related work and information, create a college calendar, and get an email for college communication only (firstnamlastname@gmail.com).
9. Attend information sessions when campuses send representatives–Colleges will send representatives to high schools during the spring to connect with students. Make sure your student stays in contact with the counselor so they will know when those sessions occur—and encourage them to attend.
10. Stay involved–Whatever your student is doing now as far as extracurricular activities, don’t stop. Colleges like to see consistency and commitment. Giving up before senior year won’t paint a positive picture. It may be hard as the new school year begins, but it’s critical for the big picture.

Junior year is when parents start having conversations with their students about career goals, college choices, course choices and financing the college education. Start now and you won’t be caught overwhelmed when school begins in the fall.