Can you apply to college as a junior in high school? If college has been on your mind lately, you might be wondering if you can start the application process early. The short answer is yes! But the bigger question you might actually be asking is, should you?
Absolutely. You’re already on the right track if you are asking yourself, “Can you apply to college as a junior?” Let us show you why applying early is a smart move.
1. It Puts You Ahead of Schedule.
Applying for colleges necessitates setting aside time. You need transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, and other important documents that take time to gather and send to colleges. Even with tools like Common App, the process requires effort. Applying as a junior gives you plenty of time to gather everything you need. Plus, most colleges don’t require you to reapply as a senior, so why wait?
Can you apply to college as a junior if you don’t have all the necessary documents yet, like a final transcript? You sure can! College application portals are built for you to come back to make updates and add those necessary documents whenever you receive them.
2. It Shows Colleges You Take Initiative.
You’ve probably heard this one before.
Colleges value initiative. Applying early signals that you’re motivated, organized, and prepared. While early application alone won’t guarantee admission, it helps you stand out and gives you extra time to craft your best application—those essays and applications deserve your best work!
3. It Reduces Senior Year Stress.
Senior year is packed with responsibilities like AP exams, extracurriculars, and graduation prep. If you apply in your junior year, you’ll have one less thing to worry about by the time you are a senior. So when those acceptance letters start rolling in, you’ll have plenty of time to consider your options without rushing into a decision.
4. It Allows You More Time to Figure out the Financials.
(And More Time to Find Scholarships)
Can you apply to college as a junior if you don’t have all your financials sorted out? Well, one benefit of applying as early as junior year to colleges is extra time to explore scholarships and financial aid, both from the colleges you are applying to and externally. Many scholarships have early deadlines, and some are only available to students who apply before their senior year. Ultimately, the earlier you start, the more opportunities you can secure.
5. It Gives You First Pick for Housing and Classes
When you are tempted to procrastinate, think of all the first-come, first-serve opportunities you can get by applying early! Students who apply and deposit earlier rather than later often have first pick for things like:
- housing preferences
- classes
- extracurricular opportunities
6. It Allows for More Personalized Attention from Admissions.
When you apply as early as junior year, you don’t just have early access to acceptance, resources, and scholarships, you also have personal attention from colleges’ admissions teams. Applying as a junior gives you more time to ask them questions, get aid information, and get to know your counselor who, the more they know you, the more they can help!
7. It Eases the Adjustment from High School to College.
With your college plans set early, you can focus on preparing for the transition from high school to college. From learning about campus life to planning your move, you’ll have extra time to adjust and feel confident about your next step, saving yourself a ton of stress.
8. There's No Downside!
Applying early takes some effort (though no more than applying later), but in the end, it can’t hurt! Remember:
- Most colleges have application waiver codes if you know where to look, so an application won’t have to cost you.
- If you don’t end up deciding to go to a particular school, an application isn’t a promise.
- You won’t have to re-apply to that school senior year if you don’t want to make a decision until then.
Can You Apply to College as a Junior?
Yes, and you can do it today!
If you’re ready to take the the next step, add Cairn University to your list of college applications. Our biblical core curriculum, invested faculty, ideal location, and many other factors make it the perfect place for you!
