Juniors! Before you fill out your bracket, spend a minute looking at the updated Common App essay prompts for 2026-27. Lots of students get knocked out in the early rounds of the essay process because they have nothing to write about. If that sounds like you, keep reading to see the to-do list I prescribe for juniors. Your Cinderella story awaits.

Is time really running out? Are you already behind? Nope. Breathe. Chill. Learn where your head should be in May and what you can do to prepare for your college essays as you wrap up junior year.