The 18 Things You Should Know
Junior Year in High School
(11th Grade)

Introduction

There’s a lot to do junior year . . . so get ready. If you plan to take an Early Admission option and apply to college in the fall of your senior year, you should know that the decision made on each of your applications will be based almost entirely on your record of achievement, both academic and non-academic, through junior year. If you decide to wait and apply in the winter or spring of your senior year, the first half of senior year will also be considered.

Academics

1. Meet with your advisor or guidance counselor to ensure that your course selection continues to be consistent with your college objectives.

By the start of junior year you should have a college list that is beyond the preliminary stage. This means (more…)

What makes a good writer?

It’s a question that appears to have some magical, formulaic answer. For better or for worse, it doesn’t. A Princeton graduate and accomplished writer, John McPhee (’53), gave the best answer to this question: “Perseverance.” Of writing, McPhee said, “You have to stay with it.” Great writing doesn’t simply happen; it takes time, struggle, and a willingness to accept that sometimes you won’t know where you’re headed.

When will I know when I’ve gotten there (to where my writing is “good”)?

As in any other pursuit (more…)

I am excited to announce the addition of two new Guest Experts: Seamus Malin and PK Kennedy.

Seamus, a former administrator at Harvard University, will join Fred and Don in sharing thoughts and insights on topics related to admissions and financial aid. PK, a current lecturer in the Princeton University Writing Program, will share her thoughts on becoming a better writer for college applications, standardized tests, and high school classes.

Both Seamus and PK are amazing people whose energy, wisdom and generosity will surely add to ePrep.com’s wealth of free resources. If you are motivated to learn about college planning and test preparation, you have come to the right place. At ePrep.com, we are committed to making expert advice available to everyone. And remember, an ePrep.com expert is not just someone who knows a lot about a given topic; an ePrep.com expert is someone who is able to communicate his or her mastery in ways that are easy to understand. I hope you come back to ePrep.com again and again to “Connect with an Expert.”

When you have a chance, please click on the bios of our two new guest experts for more details about their impressive backgrounds.

Quiz: What is Seamus widely known for aside from being a former high-ranking administrator at Harvard University? The answer is not in his bio. See if you can figure it out.