Macy College Consulting

Junior Checklist
📋 JUNIORS: Your college prep checklist for this spring

If you're a high school junior, now is the time to lay the groundwork. Here's what you should be doing right now:

✅ Take the SAT or ACT (and plan a retake if needed)
✅ Research 8–12 schools across reach, match, and safety categories
✅ Start a list of activities + impact for your application activities section
✅ Ask one teacher NOW if they'd write you a strong letter of rec — before senior year rush
✅ Visit campuses or do virtual tours for your top schools
✅ Begin brainstorming essay topics
✅ Talk to a counselor (hi, that's us! 👋) about your unique strengths

The students who feel least stressed senior year are the ones who started early. Save this post and bookmark it for later!

Need a personalized plan? Message us to set up a free 30-minute consultation. 🎓

❌ MYTH: "You need a 4.0 GPA to get into a good college."
✅ FACT: Colleges evaluate the whole student.

We hear this one all the time — and it stops students from even applying to schools they'd love.

Here's what admissions teams actually look at:
• Grade trends (improving over time matters!)
• Rigor of your coursework vs. what's available at your school
• Meaningful extracurriculars — depth over breadth
• Letters of recommendation
• Your personal statement
• Demonstrated interest in the school

A 3.4 GPA with a compelling story, strong upward momentum, and a clear passion can outshine a 3.9 with no context behind it.

Don't count yourself out before you even start. We help students build applications that show who they really are — not just their transcript.

What college myth have YOU heard? Share it below — we'll bust it! 👇

Your college essay isn't a resume — it's a conversation. 🎓

Admissions officers read thousands of essays about awards, GPAs, and leadership roles. What actually stands out? Specificity and voice.

Instead of writing "I am a dedicated student who loves science," try: "At 2 a.m. on a Tuesday, I was still running the same titration for the fifth time because I needed to understand why it kept failing."

That's a story. That's a person.

Your achievements matter — but HOW you tell your story is what separates a good application from a great one. That's exactly what we help students find.

Drop a 🙋 in the comments if you want our free "Essay Hook" worksheet!

College decisions are rolling in — and our students are opening great news. Proud of each one! Where were they accepted? Princeton, Stanford, UCLA, Purdue, Amherst, University of Georgia, University of Virginia, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of Wisconsin, and many more! Congrats Class of 2026!

Ladies and Gentlemen! Macy College Consulting is proud to announce a new addition to our team!

Emily Lamont will be working with us to provide exceptional essay writing for the college application process. You know you've found a good one when her former students (who are now adults) are still in touch about the impact she's made.

Emily comes to us with a background as a high school English teacher, executive function coach, and overall wonderful woman. Welcome, Emily! We couldn't be happier to have you!

1 week until deadlines, but who's counting?

Nice words keep the engine of progress moving!
"Dear Amy, I am Sarah's grandmother and I would like to thank you for all you have done for her. We had the opportunity of reading her essays and sharing her happiness when she received her first acceptance letter. It’s hard to know what Sarah is thinking but you helped her express herself and be proud of the person she is. You captured the “Sarah” we know and love. I believe the guidance and help you gave her will help her throughout her life and give her the confidence she needs to succeed. I am grateful you came into her life.
Thank you."

"My gratitude is long overdue! Thank you so much for all your help with applications. We avoided many fights and much frustration because of your meetings, and your vigilance of her work. You made the work fun with your peppy personality, all while being firm enough with her-which is what she needed. A little pressure 😊!

I am very thankful to you for all your help!"

Hey, Seniors! Free Colorado applications days!

Colorado Free Application Day$ will be October 19 - October 21, 2021! | Higher Education 2021 Free Application Day$: In 2021, Colorado's "Free Application Day" is growing to become "Free Application Day$"! The fourth-annual state-wide initative will be held Tuesday, October 19 - Thursday, October 21, 2021. More details to come in the fall. 2020 Colorado Free Application Day Results:

Colorado no longer requires colleges to use the ACT/SAT as a part of the admissions process. Huge news, indeed!

Law Lifts SAT, ACT Requirement at Public Colorado Colleges Public colleges and universities in Colorado are no longer required to consider SAT or ACT scores for first-time freshmen during the admissions process under a newly signed law.

Might your book club need a great list of new reads? Check out the required reading for UC Berkeley students this summer!

Here is Berkeley’s Summer Reading List for New Students:

UC Berkeley Summer Reading List Check out the list from UC Berkeley. A selection of great books chosen by Cal faculty.