Junior year, season by season.

A calm, two-page checklist for parents of high-school juniors. It covers fall, winter, spring and the summer before senior year, and keeps one idea front and center: your student owns the work, and you support the logistics.

• Building a balanced college list (reach, match, likely)
• Comparing net price, not sticker price
• Checking each college's current testing policy at the source
• Asking for recommendations early and politely
• Brainstorming essay ideas without writing the essay

General planning information, not a guarantee of admission or financial aid. Please also talk with your school counselor.