Attention Juniors: Time is Running Out to Impress Colleges

August 9, 2002

Attention high school juniors! If your plans include graduating and entering college, this is your most important year. If you haven't taken time to plan a strategy for being accepted into a competitive college, now is the time to get going.

While grades nine through 12 are each critical, "blossoming in the senior year can be too late," says Mindy H. Rose, assistant director of admission at the University of Richmond. "The admission committee will have made a decision in early March, before a significant turn-around can be demonstrated."

Even if you have carefully planned a strategy and attained excellent grades, there are still many things you can do during your junior year to help improve your chances of acceptance at the college of your choice.

"Demonstrate some sort of academic passion," says Rose. She also suggests showing a commitment to a particular activity, talent or issue, which then can be revealed to admission committees through the application essay. For colleges that don't give personal interviews, the essay is even more important, Rose says. "A particularly compelling or intellectually spirited essay can bring statistically marginal students into an admit category, and poorly developed or error-ridden essays can remove an otherwise competitive student from an admit range."

Rose offers these tips for high school juniors and others preparing for college:

Demonstrate consistent high performance in the five core areas: math, science, English, history and foreign language.
Take advantage of the toughest courses your high school has to offer.
If grades are below par, work hard to show an upward trend.
Show an unusual commitment to achievement outside the classroom.
Use early decision if you know a certain school is your number one choice.
Visit all colleges on your short list while classes are in full swing.
Seek others' opinions, but ultimately select an institution that marries its strengths and personality with yours.