Many people speak of your junior year of high school as the most important year of all. And to a point, we agree. But don't let this panic you. It simply means that you have a bit more work to do.
The college admissions process begins in earnest this year, then heats up during your senior year. You need to spend a lot of time this year trying to figure out what you want to do with your life and where you want to apply to college. During your senior year, you'll follow through with those plans by filing all the paperwork and presenting yourself to the colleges you've chosen along the way.
Before you start the year, let's go over a basic schedule. The PSAT is offered nationwide every October. Most high schools participate in the program—if yours does, take the test. Colleges don't require it, but if you do well on the exam, you can qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. So while you don't want to blow it off, you don't want to obsess over it: it's not that important.
In the spring, you'll take the SAT (usually in March, April/May, or June). You should also seriously consider taking some SAT Subject Tests as well, since you'll need to submit two or three Subject Test scores if you plan to apply to highly selective and some selective colleges. If you plan to take the ACT (either in place of or alongside the SAT) you should take that in the spring as well.
Do you have to take these tests in the spring of your junior year? No. Should you? Absolutely. If you wait until your senior year, your options are a lot more limited. Plus, you'll have the added stress of starting your college applications at the same time and without knowing your test scores. This is not a wise idea. Take them in the spring and, if you're not happy with the results, retake them in the fall.
What you should be doing in:
