Forget Junior Year Jitters—Here’s Your College Search Game Plan

Junior Year: Make Your List, Find Your Fit

In your junior year, the college search generally means figuring out what you like, what you don’t, and what kind of environment makes you feel at home. You might have some idea of which colleges you want to apply to, or feel a bit overwhelmed by the variety of options. That’s OK! However big or small your list is now, there’s one pretty reliable way to figure out which schools deserve your attention.

Explore, Virtually and In-Person 

You can read all about what makes a college different, but nothing compares to experiencing the campus for yourself. Visiting will help you figure out whether you can picture yourself there and take you one step closer to making your college dreams a reality. At NYU, your visit to our campuses in New York City, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai will be led by student ambassadors—current students who can answer your questions and tell you exactly what life is really like as a Violet. 

Campus Visit Tips

Start with a virtual tour. Can’t wait to experience NYU’s campus in person? While you count down to your visit, get a head start by exploring NYU on a virtual tour. As you go, write down any questions you’d like to bring to your in-person visit. 

Book your NYU tour early. Tours are popular and fill up fast. Make sure to register well ahead of time. Tours are typically offered on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. 

Prepare for your tour. Think about what you’d like to get out of your campus visit and make a list of questions you want answered. Not sure where to start? Consider these prompts:

• What are you most excited to explore on campus? 
• Is there a specific academic program you’d like to learn more about? 
• What are your interests beyond academics? 
• Is there a particular club, sport, or other extracurricular activity you’d like to find out about?

Record your observations. Each college will be different, but your campus visits will still eventually start to blur together. Take some time shortly after your tour to reflect on what you thought and felt during your visit. Record any advice that stood out or questions you still have. When you’re back home, these reflections will go a long way to help recall your experience and make a decision about where you want to study.

Other Junior Year Tips

Testing, testing . . . one, two, three: We know that access to and performance on standardized testing aren’t the sole markers of your academic accomplishments—that’s why NYU has one of the most flexible testing policies of any university. We accept examinations and qualifications from around the world to fulfill our requirements. 

Of course, the ACT and SAT are still the tests we get asked about most. You aren’t required to submit scores from either of these—but doing so may give you an edge, especially if you think you will perform well. 

If you’re considering submitting scores, junior year is a great time to take the exams. That way, you can retake the tests in your senior year if you’d like to improve your score. 

For the creatives: If you’re interested in a major in an artistic discipline—like studio arts, performing arts, or music—it’s never too early to think about your selections. You don’t need to have a finished portfolio yet, but junior year is a great time to start collecting or planning the work that will become part of your final application.

Keep us updated: You’re already learning a lot about the colleges and universities that might be the right place for you, and there’s only going to be more as your senior year approaches. We’re thrilled NYU is on your list, and we’ll be in your inbox, too.

We’re really not trying to spam you. We want to share the things you’ll actually care about—details that will help you make an informed decision about whether this is a school you should apply to. So take a moment now (and whenever your interests change) to let us know what you’re searching for at bit.ly/update-nyu-info.