April College Checklist for Juniors This installment focuses on juniors. Seniors, your April checklist was published on Monday. We've asked Laura Schroeder, the director of college counseling at the John Cooper School in The Woodlands, Tex., for admissions advice for the class of 2014. - Tanya Abrams Spring has arrived, and with it the end of the school year. Before your summer begins, juniors, it is important to lay the groundwork for an organized application process in the fall. Juniors, here is your college admissions checklist for April: Maintain Your Focus You have heard repeatedly that your junior grades are important, and they are. They give colleges a final glimpse of a full year of your academic work. Finish the school year successfully by staying focused in your classes. Plan Your Senior Curriculum While your senior year course of study should be your most rigorous combination of courses in high school, that doesn't necessarily mean that you should take all of your school's most demanding classes. Generally, schools like to see that you have taken a wide range of core subjects; specialization occurs in college, not in high school. Many public universities have specific core requirements for admission (like four years of math, science and English), while highly selective universities expect to see that you've challenged yourself as much as possible within your high school's curriculum. If you are unsure of what you should take, speak to your guidance counselor or a teacher, as he or she can also help you weigh the demands of your courses with your extracurricular activities and other responsibilities. Remember, too, that college applications require a significant amount of work, often the equivalent of taking another highly rigorous course. And regardless of what you've heard, your senior grades do matter. Colleges request your midyear grades and expect you to maintain your current level of work. Keep Track of Testing Deadlines Revisit the testing timeline you developed in January and determine if it still works for you. If you take the SAT or the ACT this spring, you'll likely take one of the tests a second time in the fall, which gives you a brief break from testing. Don't forget to look at whether any of the schools on your list consider scores from SAT Subject Tests. While only a handful of colleges require these tests, most students take them in May or June. Make sure you plan ahead and register for the tests accordingly. Initiate Family Conversations During one of the weekly college meetings you read about last month, initiate an open discussion with your family about considerations that may affect your college search. Maybe you're envisioning going to college 2,000 miles from home, but your parents are thinking differently. Perhaps finances are a bigger factor than you realized. Having this conversation with your family now gives you time to consider this important information and still develop a list of schools that meets your needs. Refine Your College List Combine the information you have discussed with your family with your own research from college visits, books or Web sites, and begin editing your college list. As you eliminate schools, make note of your reasons for doing so; they may help you determine what you're really looking for in a school. On the other hand, if you really love a school, consider why you're drawn to it and look for schools that have similar qualities. While doing so, pay attention to each school's acceptance rate and average G.P.A. and test scores so that your list includes a broad range of colleges. Wrap Up Your Summer Plans The way you spend your free time reflects your character. That said, you don't have to travel the world or plan a huge service project to impress a college admission officer. Do something that is important to you. Find a job to help pay for your college costs, shadow some professionals in your area, or volunteer. Most important, embrace the opportunity to learn more about yourself. Be Proactive About the Process This is just the beginning. Right now you are taking the steps to ensure you have options when your application results come back next year. You don't need to know now where you'll go to college or even exactly where you're going to apply. Spend time thinking and researching. As you do so, be open to your family's thoughts and expect that your ideas may shift throughout the coming year. Being nervous is natural, but with careful planning now, you'll be pleased with your options next spring. These next few months set the tone for your application process. While it's easy to put off tasks like researching colleges and having family discussions, completing these responsibilities now will ensure your process goes smoothly. Devote time each week to your college process, but be careful not to let it be your only focus. As you proceed, you'll find yourself feeling more confident and excited about the next phase of your life.