10 Things Rising Seniors Can Work on this Summer

You’ve made it to the end of junior year – congratulations! Your summer plans may include a part-time job, travel, or just some much deserved rest and relaxation. While taking a break is important, the summer between junior and senior year is also one of the best times to get a head start on the college application process.

Feeling unsure where to begin? Here are 10 action items rising seniors can tackle over the summer. A little effort now can save you a lot of stress in the fall. Trust me; your future self will thank you!

1. Continue Your College Research

Use the summer to explore colleges more deeply. Schedule campus visits and information sessions (in person or virtual) and spend time on college websites. Create a spreadsheet to track important data about schools you’re considering, including application deadlines, majors of interest, location, campus culture, and clubs or organizations that interest you.

2. Estimate College Costs

Assessing your family’s ability to pay for college is an important part of the decision process. Use each college’s Net Price Calculator to estimate financial aid eligibility. You can also spend time researching and applying for scholarships throughout the summer.

3. Narrow Down Your College List

Aim to finalize a balanced list of 7–10 colleges. We encourage students to include schools with a range of selectivity, which we categorize into three groups based on admission predictions: 

• Probable: schools where your admission is very likely
• Possible: schools where you have about a 50/50 chance at admission
• Reach (optional): more selective schools with lower acceptance rates

4. Decide on Your Deadline Strategy

For each of the colleges you are considering, decide if you're applying early action, early decision, or regular admission. You can also see if the school has priority deadlines for particular majors, scholarships, or honors programs.

5. Create Application Accounts

Create your application accounts early and start filling out basic information this summer, so you're in a great place when senior year begins. Many college applications can't be submitted until August, but you can complete a good portion of them before then.

6. Start Your Activity List

College applications will ask for a detailed list of your extracurricular activities from the last few school years and summers. Create your list now while everything is fresh in your mind, including brief descriptions that highlight your involvement, leadership, and impact.

7. Work on Your College Essay

Try to have your main college essay complete, or close to complete, by the start of senior year. Whether you’re writing the Common App Personal Statement or UC Personal Insight Questions, give yourself time to brainstorm, draft, and revise. Remember, many colleges also require supplemental essays, so finishing your main essay early frees up time in the fall.

8. Complete Your Final Standardized Test

Plan to take your last SAT or ACT either this summer or, if necessary, in early fall. If you’re applying early action or early decision, double check testing deadlines to ensure your scores arrive on time. 

9. Schedule College Interviews

Some colleges offer interviews, either in person or virtually, for rising seniors. These may be informational or evaluative, and they’re a great way to learn more about a school while demonstrating interest.

10. Stay on Top of Your Email

Last, but not least, get in the habit of checking email regularly. Colleges may reach out with app fee waivers, updates about their essay prompts, or invitations to admission events. Check your spam folder to ensure no important emails are caught there.