College Admissions Planning for Juniors: What the Class of 2028 Should Be Doing Right Now
By Lee Norwood | Founder, Annapolis College Consulting & College Sharks
Junior parents, this one’s for you!
If you have a high school junior, chances are you’ve started hearing the college admissions chatter. Seniors are submitting applications, parents are comparing college lists, and suddenly you’re wondering:
Are we behind? Should we be doing more? When are we supposed to start this whole college thing?
First, some good news: You’re not behind. But now is the time to get moving.
At Annapolis College Consulting, we believe successful college admissions planning isn’t about doing everything at once. It’s about knowing WHAT to do, WHEN to do it, and WHY it matters. And we work with families across the country. Check out our new WILMINGTON, NC office here.
Junior year is one of the most important years in the college admissions process. The decisions students make now can influence their college options, scholarship opportunities, and ultimately where they spend the next four years.
So, Class of 2028, here’s your roadmap for taking a bite out of college admissions!
1. Junior Year Grades Matter. A LOT.
Let’s start with the obvious: academics.
Your student’s junior-year grades are incredibly important. When students apply to college in the fall of senior year, junior year is typically the most recent complete academic year colleges have to evaluate.
Admissions officers will be looking at:
- Overall GPA and academic trends
- Strength and rigor of coursework
- Performance in classes related to a potential college major
- Grades earned in honors, AP, IB, or dual-enrollment courses
- Senior-year course selections
Here’s something parents sometimes overlook: Colleges aren’t just looking at the GPA. They’re looking at how your student earned it.
A student taking challenging courses and performing well demonstrates academic readiness. But taking every available AP class and struggling isn’t necessarily the best strategy either. It’s about finding the right balance.
Our College Sharks Tip: Junior year is also the perfect time to develop stronger relationships with teachers. Many students will ask junior-year teachers to write their college recommendation letters next spring.
Show up. Participate. Ask questions. Give teachers something meaningful to say beyond “great student.”
2. It’s Time to Get Serious About the SAT and ACT
Yes, testing is still part of the college admissions conversation!
With many colleges reinstating standardized testing requirements, families need to understand the testing policies of the schools their students may be considering.
And remember, even at test-optional colleges, strong SAT or ACT scores can sometimes strengthen an application or open doors to merit scholarship opportunities.
Our advice? Test early, test strategically, and leave room for improvement.
Here’s what juniors should be doing now:
- Review PSAT scores and identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Consider diagnostic SAT and ACT tests to determine which exam is the better fit.
- Develop a realistic test preparation plan.
- Register for a spring SAT or ACT.
- Leave time for a second attempt, if needed.
We generally encourage students to complete their first official SAT or ACT during the spring of junior year.
Why?
Because the last thing we want is a senior trying to finish college essays, submit applications, and prepare for standardized tests all at the same time.
Less stress in senior year starts with better planning in junior year.
3. Start Building a SMART College List
Here’s where things get interesting.
One of the biggest mistakes families make is starting their college search with a list of famous schools rather than a clear understanding of what their student actually wants.
Just because a college has a recognizable name doesn’t mean it’s the right fit.
At Annapolis College Consulting, we focus on finding the best-fit colleges academically, socially, geographically, and financially.
That means asking questions such as:
- Does your student want a large university or a smaller college?
- Urban campus, college town, or somewhere in between?
- Close to home or across the country?
- What academic programs or potential majors are available?
- What does campus life look like?
- What is the actual cost of attendance?
- Does the college offer merit scholarships?
- Is admission realistic based on your student’s academic profile?
And parents, let’s talk about money.
A college your family cannot reasonably afford isn’t a great fit, no matter how beautiful the campus is.
Understanding college costs, financial aid, and merit scholarship opportunities needs to happen BEFORE your student falls in love with a school.
We recommend that juniors begin researching colleges now and develop a balanced preliminary college list that includes likely, target, and reach schools.
The list will evolve. That’s normal.
But starting early allows students to explore their options without the pressure of application deadlines.
4. Extracurricular Activities: It’s About IMPACT, Not Quantity
Let’s bust one of the biggest college admissions myths.
Colleges are not looking for students who belong to 15 clubs.
They’re looking for students who demonstrate genuine interests, initiative, commitment, and meaningful involvement.
Junior year is the time to take extracurricular activities to the next level.
Think about it this way:
Rather than joining another club, could your student take on a leadership role in an existing organization?
Instead of simply accumulating community service hours, could they identify a problem and help develop a solution?
Could an interest in business become a small entrepreneurial venture?
Could a passion for science lead to research, job shadowing, or a summer experience?
The goal isn’t to manufacture an impressive resume.
It’s to build an authentic story that demonstrates who your student is, what matters to them, and how they contribute to their community.
Colleges want to understand what students might bring to their campuses.
And trust us, genuine involvement is far more compelling than a long list of activities with little substance.
5. Don’t Overlook Senior-Year Course Selection
Believe it or not, senior-year planning starts during junior year.
Most high schools begin discussing course selections during the winter or early spring.
And yes, colleges care about the classes students plan to take as seniors.
Senior year is not the time to coast.
Admissions officers want to see that students continue challenging themselves academically.
For example:
A prospective engineering student should pay careful attention to advanced math and science coursework.
Students considering business may benefit from calculus, statistics, economics, or relevant electives.
Aspiring nursing and pre-med students should have a strong foundation in laboratory sciences.
And students pursuing the humanities should continue developing their writing, analytical, and critical-thinking skills.
There is no one-size-fits-all senior schedule.
The right courses depend on the student, their academic strengths, their goals, and the colleges they’re considering.
That’s why course selection should be part of a larger college admissions strategy rather than a last-minute decision.
6. Start Visiting Colleges (Yes, Even If You Don’t Know Where You Want to Go!)
One of our favorite pieces of advice for juniors?
Get on a college campus & START LOCAL~ If you are in Wilmington, NC, why not tour Davidson College, Elon University, Wake Forest, or compare pre-dental programs at ECU and High Point. If you’re in the Baltimore-Annapolis area, you can go to Philly, Baltimore or DC to check out all different types of schools from Johns Hopkins to Drexel. GO BEYOND THE USUAL SUSPECTS and don’t overlook the school right next door.
You don’t need a finalized college list to start exploring. In fact, visiting colleges early can help students figure out what they DON’T want, which is just as valuable.
We recommend starting with a few different types of schools:
- A large public university
- A small liberal arts college
- An urban campus
- A traditional college-town campus
Schedule official campus tours and information sessions whenever possible.
Don’t just drive through, snap a picture, and call it a visit.
Walk around. Talk to students. Eat in the dining hall. Explore the surrounding community.
Can your student picture themselves there?
That’s the question we’re trying to answer.
And remember, demonstrated interest matters at some colleges, so understanding how individual institutions evaluate student engagement can also be part of a smart admissions strategy.
College Sharks Tip: Spring break of junior year can be an excellent time for college visits. Just be sure to reserve official tours early because popular dates fill quickly!
7. Start Thinking About Summer NOW
Want to know one of the most overlooked opportunities in college admissions planning?
The summer between junior and senior year.
This is a valuable time for students to explore interests, gain experience, develop independence, and prepare for the college application process.
But here’s the important part:
Your student does NOT need an expensive summer program at an Ivy League university to impress admissions officers.
A meaningful summer might include:
A part-time job that demonstrates responsibility and maturity.
Volunteering with an organization connected to a student’s interests.
Conducting research or pursuing an independent project.
Attending an academic enrichment program.
Participating in a meaningful internship.
Or even launching a small business.
What matters is how students spend their time, what they learn, and how those experiences shape their interests and goals.
And yes, summer is also when we encourage rising seniors to get a head start on their college essays and applications.
A productive summer can make senior year significantly less stressful.
8. Parents: Start Talking About the MONEY
This is the conversation too many families postpone.
And it’s one of the most important.
The cost of college continues to be a major consideration for families, but understanding financial aid and merit scholarship opportunities can make a tremendous difference.
At Annapolis College Consulting, we’re big believers in finding colleges that offer both a great education and a strong return on investment.
That means understanding the difference between:
Need-based financial aid: Money awarded based on a family’s demonstrated financial need.
Merit scholarships: Money awarded based on academic achievement, talent, leadership, or other qualifications.
Sticker price vs. actual cost: The published cost of attendance isn’t necessarily what your family will pay.
Here’s something many parents don’t realize:
Some colleges are far more generous with merit scholarships than others.
And a student may receive significantly different financial aid and scholarship offers from colleges that appear similar on paper.
Building a college list with financial fit in mind can save families tens of thousands of dollars.
Our advice: Have the money conversation BEFORE the applications go out, not after the acceptance letters arrive.
9. What Juniors DON’T Need to Worry About Yet
We’ve given you quite a bit to think about. We are here to help all students, whether you attend a private school or a public high school.
Panicking.
Comparing your student to everyone else’s child.
Obsessing over Ivy League acceptance rates.
Forcing your teenager to declare a lifelong career path at 16 or 17.
Or turning every family dinner into an interrogation about college.
Junior year is about exploration, planning, and building a strong foundation.
Your student doesn’t need to have everything figured out.
They DO need a plan. And ideally, they need someone other than Mom or Dad helping them stay accountable.
Because sometimes the best way to protect your relationship with your teenager is to let someone else manage the college to-do list!
The Bottom Line: Junior Year Is When Smart College Planning Begins
The college admissions process has become increasingly complex.
Between changing testing requirements, competitive admissions, college essays, financial aid, merit scholarships, and application deadlines, it’s easy for families to feel overwhelmed.
But here’s what we tell our students:
College admissions is a process, not a single event.
Students who begin planning during junior year have more time to explore colleges, strengthen their applications, understand their options, and make thoughtful decisions.
And parents? You get to spend less time nagging and more time enjoying your teenager’s final years at home.
That’s a win in our book.
Frequently Asked Questions About College Planning for Juniors
When should high school juniors start preparing for college?
Junior year is an ideal time to begin structured college admissions planning. Students should focus on grades, course selection, standardized testing, extracurricular activities, college research, and financial planning.
When should juniors take the SAT or ACT?
Many students benefit from taking their first official SAT or ACT during the spring of junior year. This provides time for additional preparation and retesting before senior-year college application deadlines.
How many colleges should a junior have on their list?
During junior year, students can begin exploring a preliminary list of approximately 15–20 colleges. By senior year, the goal is to narrow that list to a manageable, balanced group of schools that fit academically, socially, geographically, and financially.
Should high school juniors start writing college essays?
Most juniors do not need to begin their Common Application personal statement in the fall. Spring of junior year is a good time for brainstorming, with drafting often beginning during the summer before senior year.
Is hiring a college admissions consultant worth it?
An experienced independent college counselor can help families navigate admissions requirements, identify appropriate colleges, establish timelines, evaluate scholarship opportunities, and reduce stress. The value depends on the family’s needs and the services provided.
Ready to Take a Bite Out of College Admissions?
At Annapolis College Consulting, we help students and families navigate the college admissions process with clarity, strategy, and confidence.
Our experienced college admissions counselors work with students to develop personalized college plans, build balanced college lists, identify merit scholarship opportunities, and create applications that authentically showcase their strengths.
With offices in Annapolis, Maryland, and Wilmington, North Carolina, we work with families nationwide through personalized, one-on-one college consulting.
Looking for a more flexible option? Our College Sharks virtual membership gives families access to bite-sized college planning videos, timelines, tools, and resources designed to help students stay on track without feeling overwhelmed. Now only $29/month.
Whether you’re just beginning the college search or ready for a comprehensive admissions strategy, we’re here to help.
Because every student deserves a college counselor.
Annapolis College Consulting
Guidance. Strategy. Results.
🌐 www.annapoliscollegeconsulting.com
College Sharks
Take a Bite Out of College Admissions!
Written by Lee Norwood, Founder of Annapolis College Consulting and College Sharks with some guidance from College Match PointDownload our FREE 2-year PLANNING CALENDAR
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