It’s Time to start
August is here, and school is about to start, whether in person or virtual. Are you doing the right things to optimize your chances of attending the college of your dreams? Regardless of whether you are a freshman or a senior, there are things you need to do NOW to prepare for college.
Seniors
- Start a calendar and use it to track deadlines. A missed deadline is an automatic rejection! (Here’s a blog post about An Easy Way to Manage Your Time When Applying to College).
- Login to the Common App. Start completing the basic information (name, DOB, etc.- the easy stuff!) if you did not already do this in your junior year.
- Look at schools you may want to apply to and review their requirements within the Common App.
- Review application deadlines for the schools you want to apply and put these dates on your calendar.
- Start looking at scholarship opportunities and add the deadlines to your calendar.
- Register for the SAT and ACT if you need to take or retake either. (Remember COVID-19 impacts these tests, so do your research!)
- Meet with your high school counselor or education consultant and let him/her know your needs and plans. Most high school counselors publish a weekly or monthly update about local scholarships, test dates, etc. Make sure you know how to access this information and how frequently it is published.
- Update your activities and awards list by adding any summer experiences.
- Be Healthy- physically and mentally! It’s important to take care of yourself and ASK FOR HELP when you need it. Stress and overwhelm lead to quick burnout and feeling hopeless.
Juniors
- Brainstorm a list of schools you want to investigate. Include as many possibilities as you can think of. The idea is to look at options- the more schools you look at, the more you learn.
- Create a Common App account and start becoming familiar with how it works.
- Prepare for the PSAT and PreACT by studying. There are numerous online resources for how to practice and prepare.
- Excel in your classes. The best thing you can do in your junior year is to continue to make good grades.
- Be a contributing member of the school community. Build relationships and get involved. As a junior, don’t just be a member of the chess club or marching band, be a leader!
- Meet with your high school counselor or education consultant and let him/her know your needs and plans. Review your course plan of classes and begin talking about interests and possible schools that might be a good fit.
- Most high school counselors publish a weekly or monthly update about local scholarships, test dates, etc. As a junior, it can be helpful to read this so you have an idea of what to expect in your Senior year. Make it a habit to check this once a month.
- Update your activities and awards list by adding any summer experiences.
- Be Healthy- physically and mentally! It’s important to take care of yourself and ASK FOR HELP when you need it. Stress and overwhelm lead to quick burnout and feeling hopeless.
Sophomores
- Grades matter! How you do academically as a sophomore impacts what you can take as a junior and senior. It is crucial to excel in the classroom.
- Be involved in the school community. Join clubs, participate in athletics, and get to know the adults around you. (Remember, several of these adults will most likely be writing Recommendation Letters for you in your senior year).
- Meet with your counselor. Plan or update your anticipated classes for your junior and senior years. Talk about your interests and ways to be involved at school or in the broader community.
- Update your activities and awards list by adding any summer experiences.
- Be Healthy- physically and mentally! It’s important to take care of yourself and ASK FOR HELP when you need it. Stress and overwhelm lead to quick burnout and feeling hopeless.
Freshmen
- Focus on having a successful first year of high school. Freshman year grades impact what classes you can take as a sophomore. It is essential to have a strong freshman year academically.
- Get involved in the school community. Try new things and meet new people. Start building relationships with students and teachers.
- Take elective courses you think might interest you. Freshman year is a great time to explore new things. It’s also an excellent time to take a foreign language.
- Meet with your high school counselor and introduce yourself. Together you should create a tentative plan for all of your high school classes.
- Start an activities and awards list that you will continuously update for all four years of high school. When it is time to apply to college as a senior, you don’t want to try to remember everything you did over four years!
- Be Healthy- physically and mentally! It’s important to take care of yourself and ASK FOR HELP when you need it. Stress and overwhelm lead to quick burnout and feeling hopeless.
Contact Us
The college admissions process does not have to be overwhelming. Unraveled Futures can guide you through the entire college application and scholarship process. Whether you are a freshman just starting or a senior knee-deep in college applications, Unraveled Future meets you where you are and offers services tailored to meet your specific needs. Let us help you take the next step toward college.
Susan is an Education Consultant who is passionate about helping high school students take the next step toward higher education. She has over 10 years of experience in public education and is a certified School Counselor and National Certified Counselor. She also has two years of professional editing and documentation experience.
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