As high school juniors start the final quarter of the school year and college is no longer a far-off dream, but an imminent reality, here are 10 action steps aspiring college grads can, actually, make that SHOULD take now.
Number 1: Make a list
This summer is the time for college visits and writing as many application essays as possible, not working on an initial list.
While it’s too early to ‘check it twice,’ now is a good time to make a list that includes 10-12 colleges. A solid initial list should include schools that are good fits (click here to figure that out) and schools that are safetys, fits, and reaches. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box at this early stage of the process.
Number 2: Explore your interests
It is both common and perfectly acceptable to have no clue what you want to study in college or what career you plan to pursue. That said, spending some time delving into your interests and personality will help you better identify the best schools for you.
Number 3: Make an ACT/SAT plan
As the pandemic truly seems to be releasing its stranglehold on our lives, the reality is that some or all of the schools you may want to apply to may require a standardized test score. Although many schools will accept a fall score for early applications, since there are only four ACT and SAT tests currently scheduled between now and then, now is the time to make and execute a plan. Click here for information on which test to take.
Number 4: Check out Common App/Coalition essay topics
The 2021-2022 Common and Coalition application essay prompts are available: use them!
From my experience, the best college essays are those that are authentic and deep. Since most of the topics require students to delve deep on topics they may never even have thought about, why not preview the questions now to create opportunity for meaningful reflection?
Number 5: Consider spring break campus visits
COVID-19 put the kibosh on in-person campus visits for months, but that is starting to change. Take some time over spring break to explore colleges you are interested in. You don’t have to go far. Even spending time on a campus that you don’t end up loving will provide you with useful information for creating that list.
Number 6: Participate in virtual information sessions
A silver-lining of the pandemic in college admission is that colleges have been forced to reimagine their marketing and access strategies. During the last year or so, I have attended more than 50 virtual information sessions, and while all are not created equal, all of them provided me with useful information. Take the schools on your initial list and try to schedule as many virtual information sessions as you can between now and the end of the school year. I promise, this is a worthwhile use of time!
Number 7: Draft a resume
While all schools do not require or even make space for a resume on the application, if even one school on your list wants one, you will need to create one. Importantly, resumes are a great way to showcase who you are and what you are about for potential recommenders.
Number 8: Make a list of extracurriculars
Colleges are all about holistic review. Bottom line: you are more than the sum of your GPA and test scores and colleges are very interested in this side of you. Creating a list now will help ensure that nothing is overlooked, give you an opportunity to consider all you have done, and will expedite the tedious data entry aspect of your applications.
Number 9: Plan your summer
Don’t just sit around, do something that will promote personal growth and by extension increase the quality of your college applications. Ideas include: get a job, volunteer, shadow a professional, connect with a college faculty member, get in shape, take an online class, spend some time on Duo Lingo, etc.
Number 10: Value yourself
It is easy to get caught up in what may at times feel like a sense of mass hysteria over college applications. Remember, you are way more than the sum of your grades and test scores and it is less about where you go to college and more about what you do while you are there. Spend some time thinking about who you are and what you want, and from there start working on a plan to get there.
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