This week, The Choice is publishing our monthly Counselor’s Calendar, which is intended to keep students on track during the college admissions process.
 
This installment focuses on juniors. (Seniors, your May checklist was published on Monday.) We’ve asked Rick Hazelton, the director of college counseling at the The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn., for admissions advice for the class of 2014. — Tanya Abrams
 
Juniors, here is your college admissions checklist for May:

Do not catch senioritis! At this stage, seniors have different priorities than you have, and while their energy around their college options, graduation, prom and other events may seem exciting, they can be a distraction.
 
Stay focused. Finish strong in your classes and final exams. The successful completion of your junior year will propel you into a rewarding college application process.

Get Organized
 
Begin a spreadsheet to keep track of college application deadlines, application types (early action, early decision, rolling, regular), testing requirements, supplements, and supplementary materials (art portfolios, dance and theater DVDs, among other things).
Prepare for A.P. Exams and Subject Tests
 
Many colleges require SAT Subject Tests, and strong Advanced Placement scores can enhance your applications.
 
Consult with your teachers and guidance counselors about the ideal time to take subject tests. I tell students that the May and June SAT dates are the ideal times to take subject tests in chemistry, biology, physics, American history and world history.

Plan Your Schedule and Request Recommendations
 
A “light” senior year schedule can weaken your college application. Build a senior year course schedule with appropriate rigor and depth in honors, A.P. and International Baccalaureate courses.
 
Before your junior year ends, request recommendations from current teachers who can write with credibility about your academic engagement and curiosity (even if you did not receive an “A” in the class).

Start Thinking About Your Essay
 
Self-reflective writing is difficult for many students; it takes thought to write essays that reflect your genuine self.
 
The worst advice for the college essay is “write a college essay.” If you sit down to write for a nameless, faceless and highly judgmental admissions reader, your essay will not capture who you are and what you believe.
 
Take the nameless admissions reader out of the equation for a moment and respond to a simple question: What do you value?
 
Share an anecdote of that value in action. Think about voice and audience. “Voice” may be hard to define; if what you write would be perceived as honest and genuine by those who know you best, then you have come a long way in capturing your voice.
 
In order to prepare for the new Common Application essay prompts, your response to this question should not exceed 650 words. The underlying themes of the 2013-14 essay prompts have your values as their core themes.

Visit Colleges This Summer
 
The campus visit presents a good opportunity for you to drill down, to reflect on your interests and goals. As you visit colleges this summer, determine if your prospective colleges support your goals and complement your interests.
 
If you are committed to community service, a talented artist, scientist or athlete, research various colleges’ programs and e-mail the directors of these programs to schedule a meeting during your visit.
 
Don’t be bashful. Most professors and coaches like hearing from you. If your “thing” is quantum physics, then rest assured there is some lonely professor eager to hear from a kindred spirit.
 
Meeting with individual professors and coaches will give you a more nuanced understanding of the school. It will also allow you to demonstrate a more refined interest in that school when you must write supplemental essays as part of your college application.

Evaluate Your Finances With Your Parents
 
Have frank conversations with your parents about what your family can afford. Use net price calculators, which are available on college Web sites, to get an idea of what you and your parents will be expected to pay for college.
 
Private tuition may seem high, but resist letting sticker shock keep you from applying to certain schools. Allow the financial aid process to play out.
 
Consider in-state public options and explore merit scholarships at various colleges. Fastweb.com is a great resource for national scholarship sources. Many local organizations — religious, ethnic and cultural organizations, community foundations, Dollars for Scholars, unions and professional guilds — also have scholarships. Remember Wayne Gretzky’s advice: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”
 
To further contribute to the cost of your education, plan on having a summer job at the end of high school through your college years.

Plan for Summer Jobs and Enrichment
 
Use your time well during the summer. Doing something that is consistent with your interests and passions is the key. If you love science, then a summer engineering program or research opportunity at a college or university would complement your talents considerably. If you are committed to service, consider some local, national or international organizations (hospitals, shelters and other nonprofit organizations) to which you can devote your time.
 
Remember a few things:
“Typical” summer jobs are valued and respected in the college admissions process.

Choose substance over glitz. Doing actual work for a small company or charity is better than making photocopies at a large law firm or investment bank.

Local service is as valuable as service abroad, especially when service abroad may cost you thousands of dollars.