Welcome to the “52 Weeks to College” Series

Welcome to the last half of your junior year!

It’s time to kick it up a notch when it comes to all things college related.

We know, we know. You probably already feel stressed and overwhelmed, so how do you kick it up a notch and not lose your mind?

It’s all about pacing and breaking things down into smaller chunks, and that’s what our 52 Weeks to College series will help you do.

From now through the end of the calendar year, we’ll be posting every week with specific to-dos to get done that week and all kinds of pro tips and tricks to help you knock out that list in the most efficient and effective way.

The important thing is to stay on track with your weekly to-dos, and that way, when the time comes, you’ll be submitting your best college applications with a minimum of drama or last-minute cramming.

Most weeks you’ll be able to polish off the items on your list with 1-2 hours focused on college stuff and a little bit of extra effort directed at things you are already doing. We promise this is doable.

If you are working with your school counselor or an independent counselor or a mentor, you can always adapt this schedule as needed.

See you next week, when the work begins! 💪

P.S. This series is mainly aimed at students applying to so-called “selective” colleges in the United States. In this context, “selective” means that their admissions rates are less than 50% (meaning, fewer than 50% of applicants get in), and those colleges practice a “holistic” admissions process. “Holistic” in this context means that admissions officers will look at an applicant as a whole person, and not just your grades or test scores. Those numbers will still matter, but they will be placed into the context of the rest of your life — your background, your achievements outside of the classroom, your opportunities, your challenges. And you’ll also be submitting other application components like essays, recommendations, and activities lists. Learn more about holistic admissions in this short video.

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