<p>Ryan,
just as Guy said, stay ahead of the deadlines. Since you are a junior in hs, you still have time to work on scoring well on ACT and/or SAT. Take both! You may do better on one over the other.<br>
You can send introduction letters to your Congressman’s and Senator’s offices now, however I personally would wait until after the 2011 Applicants deadline has past. There is a chance your letter may not get the attention is deserves while the 2011 files are still active. If you stay at it, you can be done with all your stuff before your senior year starts. At least that is a goal to strive for. I have shared this approach before. You want to enjoy your senior year. Once classes start next fall, you will have more on your plate. Start practicing the AFT skills. Work hard at Track and consider running XC in the fall. The altitude at the AFA will affect your breathing and stamina. Work on endurance more so than speed.<br>
Last but not least, remember to thank your parent(s) for the years of guidance. I doubt you give your parent’s any problems. None the less, we love to hear our kids appreciate us. ;)</p>