What should you do before you start your junior year in high school?

The summer before you become a junior in high school will be important.  The summer after your junior year will be filled with visiting colleges, preapring for standardized tests and working on college applications.  So being productive the summer before becoming a junior will help you aviod a lot of stress.

It will be easy to spend your entire summer having fun with friends.  It is a good idea to get involved in something your passionate about.  Volunteer at a nonprofit organization, a food pantry, a cause, start a business or job shadow in a career that you might be interested in.  There are are no real good or bad ideas.  The important thing is do something your interested in and do your best.

During the summer you could start visiting local colleges to get a feel for what kind of schools you like and don't like.  Try to visit different kind of schools. Big schools, small liberal arts colleges, schools in the city and schools out in the country.  This research will help you narrow what kind of schools you like.  Keep notes when you visit.  The notes will help you when your filling out college applications.  

Also consider preparing for all of the upcoming standardized tests.  Take a class to get an idea of the kind of questions that will be on the ACT, PSAT, SAT and SAT subject tests.  

Whatever you do, follow what interests you, research and be ready for a great junior year!