# Advising Interactive Worksheet: The Third Year

**Source**: https://advising.stanford.edu/current-students/advising-resource-toolkit/third-year
**Parent**: https://advising.stanford.edu/current-students/advising-resource-toolkit

## The Post-Middle Quarters: 91 – 135 Units (or so)

During your Junior Year, you may find yourself at a crossroads and trying to figure out how to both complete the remaining quarters you have at Stanford and be ready for your next steps after Stanford. By the beginning of junior year, you will likely have already declared your major or are in the final stages of declaring your major. You may also be reconsidering your chosen major from sophomore year, or thinking about adding a minor, or thinking about other co-curricular endeavors.

In your advising conversations with your Academic Advisors, you can discuss with them how to think more deeply about your chosen major – how to enrich your knowledge and understanding of it, and to consider how each of your other activities enhance your understanding of your major (and vice versa).

You may also want to spend some time during this year to explore:

- **Working on undergraduate research**

  Investigate becoming involved as part of a lab on campus or conducting independent research under the tutelage of a research advisor.
- **Preparing to write an honors thesis or senior project**

  Meet with research advisors or seek out prospective research advisors.
- **Thinking about and applying to study abroad or performing service**

  Explore off-campus opportunities with BOSP or service quarters with the Haas Center.
- **Applying to summer internships and summer research positions.**

  Look for opportunities at Stanford, or elsewhere, to gain work experience or deepen your understanding of a field/topic.
- **Thinking about graduate school**

  Compare graduate programs (elsewhere or here via coterminal programs) with faculty input.\
  Also learn about their timelines, requirements, and application processes.
- **Meeting with major advisors**

  Seek insights from faculty of your academic plans for junior and senior years.
- **Meeting with pre-professional advisors**

  Discuss timelines for medical school or law school tests and applications. Also discuss personal statements, letters of recommendation, and volunteer experiences.
- **Reaching out to Stanford Career Education**

  Connect with Stanford alumni for informational interviews and to help you figure out what different paths are available to you going forward.

[Download our Interactive Worksheet](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mjk_qg6w2fOLd8XwCRSU-ct0c6jUraFX/view?usp=sharing)

### *Academic Advising is a planning process that helps students to approach their education in an organized and meaningful way…*

\
—National Academic Advising Association

### See Also

- [How do I get started in research?](https://advising.stanford.edu/current-students/advising-student-handbook/start-research)
- [How do I pursue my own independent project?](https://advising.stanford.edu/current-students/advising-student-handbook/independent-project)
- [Planning for an Honors Program](https://advising.stanford.edu/current-students/advising-student-handbook/planning-honors)
- [Beyond Undergrad](https://advising.stanford.edu/beyond-undergrad)

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