The Ultimate Junior Year Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before Senior Year
Chicago and Naperville High School Senior Photographer
10 Things Every Junior Should Do Before Senior Year Starts
Junior year is no joke—between the academics, extracurriculars, and looming college decisions, it's a busy season of life. But as summer approaches, it’s also the perfect time to pause, regroup, and set yourself up for a successful (and way less stressful) senior year. Whether you're a high school junior or a parent looking to help guide your teen through these exciting milestones, here are 10 smart and simple things you can do right now to get ahead.
1. Start Touring Colleges
Even if you're not 100% sure what you want to study, getting on campuses helps you figure out what environment feels right. Use spring break, long weekends, or summer vacation to visit schools—even local ones!
2. Create a College + Career Folder
Gather all your test scores, transcripts, awards, and activities in one place. Whether it's a digital folder or a binder, this will save you major stress when it's time to fill out applications.
Helpful Tip: If you’d rather go digital, try using Scoir, RaiseMe, or CollegeBoard’s BigFuture to keep everything organized in one place. These platforms let you store your test scores, resumes, awards, and even explore college matches and scholarship opportunities. It’s like having a college planning assistant in your pocket—and it can seriously reduce stress when senior year kicks in.
3. Organize Volunteer Hours
Many colleges (and scholarships!) look for community involvement. If you've volunteered, make sure you're tracking your hours and asking for references. Haven’t started yet? Now's the time!
4. Update Your Resume
Yes, teens should have a resume! Include your GPA, leadership roles, jobs, sports, clubs, awards, and special skills. It’s great to have on hand for internships, jobs, and applications.
5. Prep for Senior Portraits
Senior photos are a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Start thinking about the look you want—classic, editorial, natural? Summer is the best time to book your session before school and sport commitments gets hectic. (Psst: Booking early means better dates and better weather!)
6. Nail Down Test Prep
If you still need to take the ACT or SAT, make a plan now. Sign up for a prep course, download practice apps, or set a study schedule to boost your confidence and scores
Online ACT/SAT Prep.
1. Magoosh ACT Prep
A highly rated, self-paced platform with video lessons, practice questions, and a 7-day money-back guarantee.
– Ideal for juniors who want flexible, on-the-go studying.
2. Kaplan Online ACT Prep
Officially partnered with ACT, offering live online classes, on-demand tutorials, and score improvement guarantees.
Local Chicago-Area Test Prep
The Krupnick Approach (Chicago SAT Prep)
Highly-reviewed tutoring focused on SAT/ACT improvement. They’ve helped students increase their scores significantly through personalized instruction.
2. University of Chicago’s "Whatever It Takes" (FREE SAT & ACT Prep)
A free weekend program led by UChicago students to help local teens prepare for standardized exams — no cost, high impact.
7. Research Scholarships
Start a list of scholarships you’re eligible for. Many open applications early senior year, so knowing deadlines and requirements ahead of time is gold. Check out Scholarship Owl or Scholly to help you find scholarships, big or small. Every little bit helps!
8. Line Up Letters of Recommendation
Think about which teachers, coaches, or mentors might write you a great recommendation. Give them a heads-up and let them know what you're aiming for. Remember, all of the juniors are looking for recommendation letters so you want to get ahead of the game so that the teachers are still fresh and willing to write a glowing recommendation.
9. Clean Up Your Social Media
Colleges do check. Now is a great time to refresh your online presence—highlight achievements, remove anything questionable, and maybe even start a professional LinkedIn profile.
10. Dream a Little
Senior year isn’t just about planning—it’s about celebrating. What do you want to remember about this time? Start jotting down your senior bucket list and the memories you want to make.
As a mom of three, I remember just how stressful junior year felt for each of my kids. There were late nights, deadlines, and so much pressure to figure everything out—but in hindsight, everything works out the way it’s meant to. I do wish we had taken more time to slow down, laugh, and create meaningful memories together. If I could go back, I’d remind myself that those little in-between moments are just as important as the big ones.
So while you’re checking off college visits and scholarship deadlines, make time for things that matter most—family dinners, spontaneous ice cream runs, heart-to-hearts in the car. These are the moments that stick. The planning will fall into place, but the memories you make now will last a lifetime.
How you choose to remember this season matters—and booking your senior portrait session with Alicia’s Photography, Naperville’s top senior photographer, is one of those meaningful choices you won’t regret. It’s a chance to press pause and celebrate who you are in this exact moment. In between the to-do lists and college prep, make time for something joyful, memorable, and uniquely you. Let’s make senior year unforgettable—starting now.
With love and gratitude,
Alicia Staley Johnson
Alicia’s Photography
Chicago and Naperville