StandOut Search’s Guide to Junior Year

StandOutSearch is a free database containing all internships, research opportunities, and summer programs for high school students.

Resources:

You can find internships, research programs, and other opportunities to apply to using the free StandOutSearch database, or apply to StandOut Connect to get directly matched with an opportunity in your area of interest!

Month by Month Timeline: 

August:

• Sign up to take SAT/ACT and brainstorm passion project ideas and/or look for school-year internships or research positions (interview professionals in your area of interest in your community about the problems they are facing to generate passion project ideas and find mentors)

September: 

• Create a deadline calendar with standardized test dates and internship or research deadlines

• Pick four core activities—Forbes found that most Ivy League admits focus deeply on just four extracurriculars

• Take the SAT/ACT

• Get in the habit of carving out consistent time throughout the school year for your project or professional experiences 

October: 

• Create milestone goals you would like to achieve with your passion project or other ECs

November: 

• Use the StandOut Search database to find all the summer internships & research positions you would like to apply to and put them on your calendar

December: 

• Start making your initial list of colleges and filling out summer program applications

January: 

• Meet with your HS counselor to make sure you are on track to fulfill the requirements for your target schools

February: 

• Create a study schedule for your AP exams (used College Board’s CED)

March: 

• Create a calendar for scholarship applications

April: 

• Start cold outreach for summer internships/research if you have not secured a position (check out the cold outreach guide in our bio)

May: 

• Take AP exams & request teacher recommendations

Summer: 

• Pursue an internship or research position, draft essays, and start or continue with your passion project

Full Guide:

Your third year of high school is when everything starts to come together. It’s the time to deepen your academics, refine your goals, and start making concrete moves toward college applications. By the end of junior year, you’ll want to have a clear sense of direction, strong credentials, and the beginnings of your application materials. Here’s how to make that happen:

1. Shape Your College List

This is the year to turn vague ideas into a focused list of schools.

• Do thorough research. Look into majors, campus culture, financial aid, athletics, and location. Don’t just think about prestige—consider fit.

• Aim for variety. Draft an initial list of about 8–12 colleges, including a mix of “reach,” “target,” and “likely” schools.

• Engage with campuses. Attend virtual tours, sign up for admissions newsletters, and, if possible, visit a few campuses in person. Taking notes as you go will make decision-making easier later.

2. Get Serious About Testing

Standardized exams may feel daunting, but with planning, they become manageable.

• Choose your path. Decide between the SAT and ACT (or confirm if your colleges are test-optional).

• Make a schedule. Register for test dates that leave room for a possible retake before senior year.

• Study smart. Use practice tests and prep guides to pinpoint weaknesses. Tools like the Bluebook app (for digital SAT practice) and the College Board’s prep resources can help you simulate the test environment.

• Refine over time. If your first score isn’t what you want, adjust your study plan and try again. Colleges often look at your best scores, so steady improvement pays off.

3. Build and Showcase Extracurricular Impact

Colleges don’t just want grades—they want evidence of who you are outside of class.

• Professional Development. Apply for internship and research programs related to your academic interests; these experiences deepen skills, expand your network, and prove to admissions that you can back up your goals with real-world experience. You can find opportunities to apply to using the free StandOutSearch database, or apply to StandOut Connect to get directly matched with an opportunity in your area of interest.

• Deepen involvement. Continue with sports, clubs, arts, or volunteering, but pick a few that truly matter to you. Forbes found that most Ivy League admits focus deeply on just four extracurriculars

• Step into leadership. Run for office in a club, organize a community event, or mentor younger students. Commitment and initiative matter more than sheer numbers. Try to add a new tradition, organization strategy, or expand the club to work with local schools.

• Create something new. If you see a gap, fill it. Maybe you design a mentorship program, launch a blog, or coordinate an environmental clean-up in your town. Projects like these highlight creativity, vision, and follow-through.

• Balance is key. You don’t need to do everything. Instead, show consistency and growth in the activities you care about most.

4. Draft Your College Essay

Don’t wait until senior year to start your personal statement.

• Brainstorm stories. Reflect on experiences that shaped your outlook—challenges overcome, passions developed, or defining moments.

• Get words on the page. Write a rough draft without worrying about perfection. The best essays sound authentic, not forced.

• Seek feedback. Share drafts with teachers, mentors, or counselors who can help refine your voice without rewriting your story.

• Iterate. Strong essays usually go through multiple revisions. Starting now gives you time to experiment and polish.

5. Secure Recommendations Early

Letters of recommendation carry weight, especially when they come from professional mentors and teachers who know you well.

• Identify recommenders. Think of two junior-year teachers (often one in math/science and one in English/history) who can speak to your character and abilities. We also strongly recommend getting a letter from your most recent internship or research mentor, as more schools (such as UT Austin) are increasingly advising that students provide a professional recommendation.

• Ask early. Approach them well before application season. Provide context—share your resume, extracurricular highlights, or even your essay draft.

• Stay in touch. Keep your recommenders updated on your goals and deadlines so they can tailor their letters to your story.

Extra Step: Long-Term Projects

If you want to stand out even more, junior year is an excellent time to develop an independent or community-based project.

• Plan with intention. Define clear goals and milestones.

• Collaborate. Partner with peers, organizations, or mentors to expand impact.

• Evaluate. Track results and reflect on outcomes—these can become powerful material for essays and interviews.

• Example: If environmental science is your passion, you might begin by holding awareness workshops at your school. Over time, this could evolve into a website with resources, or even a collaboration with local government to clean up a river near your high school.

Closing Note:

Junior year can feel like the busiest part of high school, but every step you take now reduces stress later. By focusing on internships, testing, extracurriculars, essays, and recommendations, you’ll position yourself to enter senior year with confidence and momentum.