2025 College Prep Timeline – What Your HS Junior Needs to Know
A strong Junior year can make a huge difference in admissions
Dear Parents & Students
If you have a teen who is entering the second half of junior year, now is the time to start planning for college admissions. The next several months are crucial, and having a clear timeline can make all the difference.
At Tigerway, we guide students through every stage of the process to help them maximize their potential, especially on the SAT/ACT and in their HS Grades. Below is a 2025 college prep timeline to ensure your student stays on track:
Spring 2025 – Get Your College Profile Ready as much as possible
Take the Digital SAT or ACT (or plan for a summer/fall test date if not yet taken)
Begin researching colleges & building a balanced college list (reach, target, safety schools)
Explore summer activities (internships, research programs, community service, leadership roles)
Identify teachers for letters of recommendation – consider those who know your child’s strengths
Keep grades strong—junior year GPA is critical for admissions
Summer 2025 – College Apps & Test Prep Focus
College List Finalization & Visits – If possible, visit campuses to get a feel for different schools. If travel isn’t an option, take virtual tours and attend online admissions events.
College Essays & Personal Statement – Start early! Strong essays take time, and summer is the best time to draft and refine them without schoolwork distractions.
Test Prep & Retakes – If your child wants to improve their SAT/ACT score, plan at least 6+ months for preparation.
Extracurricular Strengthening – Leadership roles, independent projects, volunteering, or internships can enhance applications. Admissions officers value depth over breadth!
Scholarship & Financial Aid Research – Many private scholarships open over the summer; starting early can ease the financial burden.
Fall 2025 – The Application Crunch
📌 Finalizing & Submitting Early Applications – Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) applications are due in October/November. A strong EA/ED application boosts admission chances.
📌 Confirming Letters of Recommendation – Ensure teachers and counselors submit their letters before deadlines.
📌 Refining Essays & Applications – Work on supplemental essays unique to each school. Each response should be tailored to demonstrate a genuine interest in that institution.
📌 Taking (or Retaking) the SAT/ACT – If needed, plan for a final test date before applications are due.
📌 Demonstrating Interest – Many colleges track demonstrated interest through virtual info sessions, campus visits, and admissions officer interactions.
Junior Year is incredibly important to the college application process and a strong productive can boost admission chances. We’d love to talk to you about your teen’s college prep profile and see if we can help boost SAT scores or raise grades at school through academic tutoring.
-Team Tigerway
Talk to our team at Tigerway directly to discuss how our private coaches can help you with your academic subjects & PSAT/SAT Scores as well as shaping your college profile to best stand out.
Calvin Cheung, Director (617-749-8421, text today to book a call)
WeChat ID: CalvinGCheung
Sreya Ravi, Program Officer (774-432-7381, text to book a call)
Website (Many educational Blog Posts): www.tigerwayprep.com
If you only speak Cantonese or Chinese Mandarin, send me a message on WeChat ID: LarryCheungCFA.
We now have Private Coaches who can help with the following subjects:
SAT 1:1 Private Coaching
ACT 1:1 Private Coaching
Academic High School Courses Private Coaching: High School Algebra 2/Pre-Calculus/Calculus. High School Sciences Biology, Chemistry (Sciences are Limited availability, make sure to inquire early)
1:1 Private Coaching for Long-Term College Application Strategy (how to shape application story/extracurricular selection/common application and supplemental essay mentorship)