With the first semester well under way, over the next few weeks, I will discuss what college-bound high school juniors can do to set themselves up for a positive, efficient, strategic, and relatively stress-free college application process.
As high school seniors take a collective sigh of relief—college applications submitted—they are asking themselves questions such as: Why didn’t they start preparing sooner? Why didn’t they make small choices during junior year—or sooner—that would have made the process easier, more fulfilling, and less stressful?
While strong grades and high standardized test scores are important, make no mistake, they are not enough. According to the Personal Qualities Project, “After controlling for high school grades and SAT scores, follow-though in high school extracurriculars predicted graduating from college with academic honors better than any variable.” This work has been built upon by others, including, Angela Duckworth.
Colleges want to see that there is more to students—that they are critical thinkers and that much of their free time was used in meaningful ways (FYI: for college applications, binge streaming & hanging out with friends ≠ meaningful). As a result, application questions and essay topics designed to quantify AND qualify an applicant’s personal experiences involving leadership roles, job(s), sports, clubs, teams, and volunteering abound. Experiences need not be numerous, but they should be indicative of depth and follow-through. It’s not about signing up; it’s about commitment.
To avoid frustration and disappointment, I recommend that college-bound juniors conduct a College Application Readiness Audit and ask themselves what they can do to feel prepared to successfully tackle college applications during the summer and fall 2022.
College Application Readiness Audit for the Class of 2023
- Am I taking the most challenging classes that I can succeed in?
- Do I participate in school activities?
- Am I socially aware (i.e., do I volunteer)?
- Do I seek out leadership opportunities?
- When I pause to think about who I am, am I satisfied?
- Does my resume paint an accurate picture of what I have done?
- Can I write about myself and my experiences in a meaningful and authentic way?
- Do I have a standardized test plan and goal?
- Have I thought about careers that are potentially good fits for me?
- Do I have a short list of good fit schools I plan to apply to?
For additional questions regarding what high school students can do to ensure a strategic and efficient college application process, feel free to reach out at kathy@fineeducationalsolutions.com
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