Hi Scholars,
One of the most common questions that I receive from high school freshmen is: “Ms. Susy, what should I accomplish each year in order to prepare for college?” I tell them that the best time to start preparing for college is during the commencement of freshmen year. Unfortunately, this transitional period can be nerve-wracking for many incoming high school students who are being challenged for the first time in their lives to begin thinking about their post-high school education and long-term goals.
Of course, the four-year journey of high school will help prepare students for college, but more importantly, it will help prepare them for life. The effort and commitment directed toward this process will determine students’ overall success within the unique world of college admissions.
Here are a few tips that high school students can use to better prepare:
Summer programs help establish self-esteem, advocacy and leadership skills for students entering the 9th grade. Even more, participation in a summer program can boost your academic resume and demonstrate to college admissions committees that you are committed to learning and developing by seeking out these opportunities.
Extra-curricular activities are especially valuable because they help you master the art of balance. Mastering the art of balance is a skill that will always carry its weight in gold in both the academic and professional worlds. Gaining skill with time management right now can significantly improve the likelihood of academic success in college.
It is important to encourage students to take practice SAT and ACT exams! The practice exams will give you the opportunity to experience a lengthy college entrance exam. Also, the results will allow you to practice sections that might need improvement before taking the actual SAT/ACT.
One of the biggest mistakes a high school student can make is to postpone applying for or researching scholarships that they may be eligible for. It is important to understand that many scholarships are competitive and require early preparation. Therefore, do not wait until senior year to apply for scholarships! Instead, make it your goal to apply to at least one or two scholarships during your sophomore year.
The perfect time to take the ACT/SAT is during your junior year because:
• The benefits of early preparation
• Extra time to re-test, if necessary
• Using your scores to better determine which colleges and scholarships you might be competitive for
“What is a personal statement?” you may ask. A personal statement is an approximately 600 to 1,000-word essay about your interests, achievements and the challenges and successes you have experienced throughout your life. The personal statement is required for admission into most private colleges. This is the perfect opportunity for you to show colleges who you are beyond academics and extracurricular achievements.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an electronic form that is prepared annually by current and prospective college students in the United States to determine their eligibility for student financial aid need. The federal government provides 3 main forms of support to pay for a post-secondary education: grants, work-study and student loans.
Student loans are taken by a student to pay for educational expenses, usually at a low interest rate that is subsidized by the federal government. Seniors, it is important to research the different student loans that are offered for educational expenses. Each student loan has different interest rate and repayment criteria.
The name of the game is “EARLY” when it comes to submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)!
One of the top priorities for the commencement of senior year is to request 2 letters of recommendation from administrators, counselors, coaches or teachers who have known you for 2 or more years. The letters of recommendation will be used for college and scholarship applications which will allow readers to get to know you on a more academic level.
You should start college applications as soon as possible because each college has its own deadline for early and regular admissions decisions, as well as merit scholarship consideration. Remember that the name of the game when it comes to college admissions: “EARLY.”
Although these tips can be helpful, it is still important that you reach out to your high school counselors and even college admissions staff to obtain the level of information and clarity needed to make your college admissions process less stressful and more successful!
While this blueprint is a terrific resource for high school students, what about the overwhelmed students who need more structure and guidance in the process? As we all know, many high school students tend to focus only on short-term goals when making college decisions—often without ever having been exposed to a variety of options that may be better aligned to both short-term and long-term goals. For the students out there who need a partner to help keep them accountable, focused, organized, and driven, check out the one on one services that can start helping your students reduce their anxiety level immediately!
