Monthly Action Plan

05 Monthly Action Plan

This calendar outlines a practical month‑by‑month sequence to help you steadily build your academic profile and environmental science focus during the remainder of sophomore year and into the start of junior year. Each step is designed to move one piece of the strategy forward while keeping the workload manageable.

Month Key Actions Target Outcome
March
  • Review the available junior‑year math and lab science courses offered at your high school and identify the most rigorous sequence that fits your schedule (see Academic Profile Analysis).
  • Schedule a meeting with your counselor to confirm prerequisites and understand how course selection works at your school.
  • Begin keeping a short weekly log of environmental observations in your area or nearby natural spaces.
 Clear understanding of next year’s academic options and early groundwork for a future environmental project.
April
  • Narrow your junior‑year course plan to the strongest math and lab science combination available (see Academic Profile Analysis).
  • Ask teachers or your counselor about the level of rigor and workload expectations for those courses.
  • Start sketching possible ideas for an environmental data collection project connected to a local ecosystem or farm setting (see Spike Project).
 A tentative course schedule and the beginnings of a project concept tied to environmental science.
May
  • Finalize and submit your junior‑year course selections, prioritizing the most rigorous math and lab science options offered at your high school (see Academic Profile Analysis).
  • Outline the structure of your environmental data project: what you will measure, how often you will collect data, and how you will record it (see Spike Project).
  • Set up a simple tracking system (spreadsheet or notebook) to prepare for summer data collection.
 Confirmed academic schedule for junior year and a clearly defined environmental project plan.
June
  • Launch your environmental data collection project in a local ecosystem or farm setting and begin recording observations consistently (see Spike Project).
  • Establish a weekly data collection routine so results accumulate over time.
  • Save all measurements, notes, and observations in a structured format that can later be analyzed.
 A real dataset begins forming, giving your environmental interests tangible evidence and continuity.
July
  • Continue regular data collection for your environmental project and track patterns that begin to appear (see Spike Project).
  • Begin targeted SAT preparation focused primarily on math and problem‑solving skills (see Testing Strategy).
  • Identify the specific math topics that require improvement and practice them consistently.
 Project momentum continues while your quantitative skills strengthen through structured practice.
August
  • Maintain the environmental data collection routine and organize the dataset so it remains easy to interpret (see Spike Project).
  • Continue SAT math practice with timed sections and review of problem‑solving strategies (see Testing Strategy).
  • Prepare a short summary of what you have measured so far in your project.
 A well‑organized dataset and measurable academic preparation before the school year begins.
September
  • Compile measurable outcomes from your environmental project and other activities so they can eventually be used in applications (see Extracurricular Strategy).
  • Document specific metrics such as frequency of data collection, duration of work, or any observed trends.
  • Store these notes in a running “activities record” that can later support essays (see Essay Strategy).
 A clear record of what you actually accomplished, making it easier to describe impact later.
October
  • Continue your environmental project during the fall season and note any seasonal changes in the data.
  • Update your activity record with new results or insights as they appear (see Extracurricular Strategy).
  • Reflect briefly on what the data suggests about the ecosystem you are observing.
 Seasonal data strengthens the depth of the project and expands the evidence you can later reference.
November
  • Organize your environmental data into a simple summary format such as graphs, charts, or written observations.
  • Update your activity log so you capture measurable details while they are still fresh (see Extracurricular Strategy).
  • Note potential story angles that could eventually become essay material (see Essay Strategy).
 Your project results become easier to interpret and later communicate in applications.
December
  • Review your environmental project progress and identify areas to continue expanding during the next semester.
  • Maintain your activities record with updated metrics and reflections (see Extracurricular Strategy).
  • Check that all data, summaries, and notes are stored in a single organized folder for long‑term use.
 A complete, organized foundation that can continue developing throughout junior year.

By following this sequence, you steadily strengthen three key pieces of your future application: rigorous academics, sustained environmental engagement, and clear documentation of measurable results. Each month builds small progress that compounds over the next two years as you move toward applying to schools such as Middlebury College, the University of Colorado Boulder, and Colorado College.

Testing Strategy →