How Juniors Can Maximize Winter Break

Four ways to take advantage of time off

How Juniors Can Maximize Winter Break

Our team believes in the power of preparedness and planning ahead. For juniors, this comes down to some simple steps they can take over winter break that can get them on track for college planning and senior year. And the best part? They won’t even need to leave the house.

    1. Volunteer, virtually. Community service is an important aspect of the college application. In fact, according to one recent survey, for over 50% of college admissions officers, it can act as a tie-breaker between similarly talented applicants. If you can make the time to volunteer in person, awesome! If not, there are plenty of ways to volunteer virtually.
    2. Visit colleges from home. Even if you can’t squeeze an on-campus visit into your busy holiday schedule, there’s no reason why students can’t start “visiting” colleges from home! Colleges have significantly developed their virtual offerings and most now offer virtual tours, info sessions, and more. Now is also a good time for students to connect with older students attending schools they may be interested in and do website “deep dives” to learn more about organizations, clubs, and extracurricular options. Our college admissions team has put together a complete “virtual visit” plan here
    3. Start test prep. Did you know that much of the content covered on the ACT and SAT is linked to what students learn up through junior year? With a school routine now in place and new content fresh in their minds, now’s the perfect time to develop your child’s test prep strategy. Our team can help you understand your options and get started.
    4. Recharge. While the above suggestions are concrete ways for juniors to get a head start on the new year, taking the time to rest now will also set them up for success down the road. This year has been hard on everyone, so be sure to encourage time for self-care, too, whatever that looks like for your child. There’s no doubt that they’ve earned it!

Have specific questions about your child’s junior year? Our team is here to help. Contact us for personalized recommendations.

Private Prep