Find Rigor and Balance

Junior year is the last full year of classes and grades that you will submit to colleges when you apply next fall. As Junior year begins, consider the types and difficulty of the classes you are adding to your schedule.

• Do you have the option to take Honors, AP, or Dual Enrollment?
• Have you added classes that will challenge you?
• Is your schedule balanced so that you are set up for success?

You will want to have challenging classes on your schedule to demonstrate that you are ready for the rigor of college. However, be mindful to find balance so that you have set yourself up for success. Overloading yourself to the point that you are unwell or cannot perform well is not the best option. Choose a schedule that is both rigorous and balanced.

Not sure where to start? Ask your school counselor or a teacher who knows you well for suggestions!

Mini Habits for Teens (2021)

By: Kate Gladdin

What are Habits?

"Our habits can take effort to put into place initially but once we've repeated a specific action enough times, it becomes a memorized pattern of behavior in our brain that we do almost effortlessly. ... The key thing to understand about habits is that they don't just happen. They're built through repetition of the same specific behavior over and over." (p. 3)

Did you know? You can borrow a copy of this book and many others related to college admissions, essay writing, personal growth, and more from the Crosby Scholars Resource Center! Contact us or stop by our office to learn more.

Today's Mini Habit

Prioritizing The Top 3

"[Prioritize] the top three things you must get done that day. You'll determine these based on due dates and importance in relation to our goals. You'll pick things so it doesn't overwhelm your brain with too many tasks and gives you a clear focus that feels achievable and actionable. This helps you build momentum and feel like you've had a successful day!" (p. 60)

You're invited to enter our Community Service Summer Sweepstakes!

Complete your Crosby Scholars Community Service requirement by September 1, 2023, to be entered in a raffle to win a $50 gift card! Remember, the requirement for Juniors is 5 total hours.

Community Service Opportunities Webpage

Need ideas for local community service? We keep a list of open community service opportunities on our website. You can find projects to complete from home or opportunities to serve in the community. Click here for more info.

You will be required to attend 2 (two) Academies during Junior Year. The first will be a Junior Academy this Fall. The second will be a Think Like a Senior session in the Spring. Dates and times for the Junior Academy will be available at the beginning of the school year.

Thinking About Your Activities...

On college applications, you will be asked about your activities. With the Common App, you can list up to 10 activities. It's time to start thinking about those you will list. Is it easy to think of what to list? Great! Do you feel like you need to add some more? That's okay...Now's the time to act!

As you plan your Junior year, think beyond sports, student council, and honor societies. While these are all great things to list on your college applications, you also want to list unique activities that showcase your skills, leadership, and individual accomplishments.

Why is leadership experience important? College Raptor shares, "Colleges aim to not only educate their students and hand them a diploma but guide them to become leaders in their various fields. Those who have already displayed leadership qualities are showcasing exactly what colleges are looking for in the next generation."

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