High school juniors are now in full swing with college prep and their college search. February and March are busy months for researching colleges and scheduling campus visits as early as possible.
College is also on the radar of parents in earlier grades. With the ever-increasing competition, as evidenced by the continually decreasing acceptance rates at colleges, more and more families are beginning the college prep journey in sophomore year. The extra time is a true bonus on every level, and it can – and should – be used to the student’s advantage.
Here are the steps that high school students can take right now to ease the pressure, and boost applications later.
ELEVENTH GRADE:
Spend time on college websites learning about academic programs and student organizations. Read student blogs and/or blogs under the “Admissions” section. (Learn to evaluate majors/minors and academic programs at Building the College List, Part 2.)
Use spring break to visit college campuses, but confirm that schools are in session. You want to speak with students and professors and sit in on a class if possible.
Make sure to register for the March SAT or the April ACT.
Register for AP exams (given by the College Board in May) if you are eligible.
Look for a summer internship in an area that interests you. Ask your guidance counselor for suggestions or visit www.teenlife.com for ideas.
Try your best to improve upon grades this semester. You want your final grades for junior year to be as strong as possible.
Write out a list of activities, honors, leadership position and jobs. This will serve as the foundation for your student resume for college applications.
Check out local college fairs this spring on www.nacacnet.org.
TENTH GRADE:
Focus on schoolwork. Colleges want to see an upward trend in grades throughout high school.
Concentrate your time on one or two extra-curricular activities that you are most passionate about.
Consider a summer program that enriches your extra-curricular interests and investigate internships and classes.
Speak with your school counselor or contact an outside tutor to assess your PSAT or ACT Aspire results. Plan to start test prep this summer for the SAT or ACT in fall of junior year.
Begin test prep now for the SAT subject test you plan to take this June. [Many sophomores take one of the History SAT subject tests or the Chemistry SAT.]
There is a huge advantage to getting a head start on college visits. Start a preliminary college list and visit campuses this spring. [See blogposts from November 28 and January 9 for details on building a college list]
If you do visit colleges this spring, take careful notes and make sure to send an email thank you to the college official who spoke at the information session and to the student tour guide (yes, get the student’s email address at the end of the tour!!)
NINTH GRADE:
Visit your guidance counselor to discuss next year’s course selection. You want to take the most advanced classes available at your school, but only if you feel confident that you can handle the academic rigor. Discuss which AP or IB (HL) classes might be appropriate for you.
Stay focused on schoolwork. Freshman grades will appear on your high school transcript so aim to finish the year on an upswing.
Participate in after-school activities and clubs. Find the one that interests you most and stick with it.
Volunteer for community service events in and out of school.
Talk to your teachers about possibly taking an SAT subject test this June. It’s best to take these as soon as you complete a course so that the subject matter is fresh in your mind. [Most 9th graders are taking biology now and many do take the SAT Biology exam.]
If you do plan to take a subject test, make sure to enlist some test prep at least three months before the test. Also, register with the College Board in due time.
Franca Rawitz, founder of ReadySetCollegeNYC, has been successfully guiding students on their college journey for the past ten years. Through personalized guidance and continuous support, Franca empowers students to take control of their journey and to achieve success in a sensible and strategic way. Partnering closely with families, she allays parent concerns and student anxieties by organizing and overseeing the entire admissions process. Students pursuing a broad range of academic interests have benefited from her expert guidance and personal touch.