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• This semester will likely be your hardest semester. Pace yourself. Stay organized and schedule all of your activities down to the minute.

• This is the very last semester that will go on your transcript before applying to college. Make every homework assignment, quiz, and test count! This semester's grades are very important. 

• Avoid procrastinating by scheduling in down time. Study in 50-minute chunks, then take a 10-minute break. While studying, stay away or turn off all distractions. Don't even keep your phone in the same room -- checking a quick text isn't all that quick when you consider the time it takes to refocus every time you switch your concentration from your phone's screen to your notes.

• When you study, focus on quality, not quantity. An efficient 50-minute study session is so much more effective than a 3-hour marathon that's constantly interrupted by texts, Snapchat, and your favorite songs coming up on your playlist.

• Work with a tutor to prepare for the ACT and SAT. The scores on these tests are so important, they make up AT LEAST a third of your college application. The time that you invest into studying will pay off thousands of times over! 

• Prioritize your time and effort. Spend the most time and the earliest time completing the tasks that are the most important to your academic success. Cut activities from your schedule if you're feeling overwhelmed.

• Prepare for AP exams by working with a tutor, spending time with your teacher afterschool, and working from a prep book. 

• Research research or internship opportunities for the summer. 

• Start making a short list of colleges you might like to apply to. Don't waste a lot of time thoroughly researching these schools now, though -- you'll have more time during the summer!

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