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It can be hard to know what you're "supposed" to do to prepare for college. Below are some best practices for applying to college, broken up year-by year. There may be more or less to be done depending on your specific situation; always feel free to meet with your college advisor to discuss in greater details!
It can be hard to know what you're "supposed" to do to prepare for college. Below are some best practices for applying to college, broken up year-by year. There may be more or less to be done depending on your specific situation; always feel free to meet with your college advisor to discuss in greater details!
In ninth grade, what should I do?
In ninth grade, what should I do?
At this point, think of high school as a blank canvas. You are carrying over the habits and skills that you developed in middle school, but middle school itself is over...the record is essentially wiped clean. You will be creating a new high school profile, and getting that started well is your main objective as a freshman. For now, the best way to prepare for college is to be a good high schooler.
At this point, think of high school as a blank canvas. You are carrying over the habits and skills that you developed in middle school, but middle school itself is over...the record is essentially wiped clean. You will be creating a new high school profile, and getting that started well is your main objective as a freshman. For now, the best way to prepare for college is to be a good high schooler.
Try new things. Now is the time for exploration! Join a new club, try out for a sport you've never played, find a new activity over the summer. You don't have to stick with everything you try, but the best way to find that hidden talent is to find it early. It's harder to become a leader on the team if you join senior year.
Find one class you can care more about.
Maybe you're a student who naturally loves your classes! Is there one that you can learn more about outside of school hours? Perhaps find some books in the library?
Maybe you're not someone who instinctively likes being in a classroom. I'm not going to tell you that you need to love every class. Instead, is there just one subject that you care more about? Perhaps a setting outside of school that makes history seem more useful? Try to do well in all classes, but find one or two to actually enjoy.
Get to know some teachers well. By the end of high school, you will have had many different adults educate you in a classroom setting. They aren't doing this job for the money...they are doing it to get to know you. Identify a few teachers that you want to build a relationship with beyond having them hand a test back to you every few weeks. Who knows...you might ask that person to write you a letter of recommendation in a few years.
Work hard in classes. This is the first year that colleges will consider when looking at your transcript. Unlike middle school, these grades can start to have a real impact on your options. If you would like to go to college one day, especially if you would like to go to a selective school, you're starting to pave the path to get there.
Don't worry about college yet. This can seem contradictory to all of the points above, but it's not. Colleges are looking for students who authentically enjoy learning, engaging in their activities, and have strong academic potential. Don't try to "play the game" by doing volunteer work if you don't enjoy it. College admissions will see through the fake resume.
In tenth grade, what should I do?
In tenth grade, what should I do?
As a tenth grader, your canvas is no longer empty; your high school story has started. You still have more important steps to come, but this year works as an important transition step. Will you continue the themes from ninth grade? Are there kinks that need to be worked out? You could potentially start considering college this year, but owning high school is still your primary job.
As a tenth grader, your canvas is no longer empty; your high school story has started. You still have more important steps to come, but this year works as an important transition step. Will you continue the themes from ninth grade? Are there kinks that need to be worked out? You could potentially start considering college this year, but owning high school is still your primary job.
Continue the path to mastery. High school tends to be quite a bit harder than middle school. Keep working towards being the best student you can be, which means continuing some things from freshman year and leaving other practices behind. If your grades weren't as high as you had hoped last year, now can be a chance to demonstrate growth and potential.
Explore a focus. Similar to ninth grade, try to identify a class or activity that you can care more about. This doesn't mean limit yourself to a single interest, but consider if there is a class that you're more excited to attend than others. If you have a new teacher in that subject than you had last year but feel equally excited about the content, that can be a sign that you've found something special.
Get involved. Find another new activity/club to be involved in, but don't drop what you tried last year. Colleges will like to see that you have continued involvement in at least one area, and that can often lead to leadership positions later in high school. Start talking with your peers who hold these roles about what they did to become the captain, how the experience has been, and what they have learned through being a leader.
Make a plan for the summer. Summers are precious; there's no denying it. But two months going by with nothing to show for it isn't a great look, especially as you get further into high school. You can be a camp counselor, work at the drive-through window, baby sit for your neighbor. It doesn't have to be that impressive, but do something!
Read books. You don't have to love them, but standardized tests are coming for you next year. Reading is a great, accessible, and dare I say ~fun~ way to expand your vocabulary.
Consider researching colleges. This is not a requirement in most cases; if you aren't naturally interested, wait another year. But if you are excited by the idea of college, it's a normal time to start visiting campuses. Here in Virginia we are within an hour drive of about a dozen well-established schools; go visit one and see what campus is like! You can also go introduce yourself to your college advisor to get ideas on what action items there might be for a sophomore.
In eleventh grade, what should I do?
In eleventh grade, what should I do?
While you will have more tangible things to do next year, many experts consider junior year just as important in your college application process. Not only are the grades you earn this year a major part of your application, but this is a chance for you to prepare. Building a college list, brainstorming essays, and learning the college landscape all tee you up for a smooth application season.
While you will have more tangible things to do next year, many experts consider junior year just as important in your college application process. Not only are the grades you earn this year a major part of your application, but this is a chance for you to prepare. Building a college list, brainstorming essays, and learning the college landscape all tee you up for a smooth application season.
Lock in academically. Ideally, you have been striving to do well with your grades for all of high school. Junior year is arguably the most important year of all. If you have been knocking it out of the park since a freshman, can you keep up the momentum in more difficult classes? If it took a bit longer for you to master study skills, can you demonstrate that you're ready for college? Because senior year grades will be in process when you apply, this is the last year that colleges may be able to consider for admission...so make it count!
Up the challenge. More AP and Advanced courses will become available in the second half of high school. Prove that you are taking advantage of the opportunities you are provided. For some of you, that might mean maxing out on these classes. For others, it might mean choosing only one or two subjects to push yourself. Better to only take one or two challenging classes than to take them all with unimpressive grades.
Shed some weight to dial in. Now is the time you want to start really showing commitment to a few activities, including being selected for leadership opportunities. If that means saying no to a few activities, that's okay. You can still join new clubs if you find a new interest, but it's better to use these final years to specialize in what you have previously been investing in.
Attend college rep visits. In the fall, many colleges will send admissions representatives to come meet high schoolers. This is an easy way to learn about what colleges have to offer, what differences there are, and what specific colleges care about for admissions. Some schools keep track of who comes to these meetings, which can make them more likely to accept you!
Prepare for standardized tests. It has become common practice for colleges to make submitting test scores optional, but it is still recommended that you take either the SAT or ACT. These tests can demonstrate your academic potential and earn you scholarships. Spring of junior year is a common time to take these tests, so it's not too early to pick up a test prep book or start tutoring.
Meaningful summer plans. Last year, you just needed to do something. This year, it would be great for you to do something you care about. It doesn't have to be an internship on Wall Street, but it should be something that shows initiative, focus, and an eagerness to be involved.
Visit colleges. It's hard to really know what you think of a school without seeing it in-person. Take a week over summer or some time during spring break to explore some colleges, especially if you've started to identify a few that might be a good match.
Meet with your college advisor. In the spring, Covenant requires all juniors to enroll in a College and Career Readiness class, so some of this will happen naturally. This naturally starts to create more interest and questions, so it's a good time to set up individual meetings with your college advisor.
And more... The College and Career Readiness class will cover other important items, such as requesting letters of recommendation from teachers. This course will be a time to create checklists and grow in awareness of what needs to be done.
In twelfth grade, what should I do?
In twelfth grade, what should I do?
This is it...the year that applications actually happen! You should be fully focused on both high school and college at this point, which can be a challenging balance to strike. You have much to do in completing applications and ultimately making a decision, but it's also incredibly important that you continue to invest in your high school community and finish strong academically.
This is it...the year that applications actually happen! You should be fully focused on both high school and college at this point, which can be a challenging balance to strike. You have much to do in completing applications and ultimately making a decision, but it's also incredibly important that you continue to invest in your high school community and finish strong academically.
Take ownership. Your parents, teachers, and college advisor are all incredible resources that are eager to help you. However, remember that at the end of the day, you are the one applying to college. Tracking deadlines, submitting documents, selecting what schools to apply to, and discovering scholarships are ultimately your responsibility.
Don't let college own you. The college admission process is flawed. There are parts of you that colleges won't have time to learn. Some students won't get admitted to schools that they should have been, while others will get in even if they were underqualified. While you need to take ownership of the process, never forget that you are in no way defined or represented by what college you do or don't get an offer from.
Communicate with college advising throughout the year. Make sure your advisor knows the latest update on your college application process. This is as true in August as it is in November, but it is also essential in the spring when you begin to hear back from colleges.
Finalize your college list. Part of junior year involved creating a list of around 10 potential college matches. Reexamine that list, and decide if anything needs to be edited.
Continue to take challenging classes. While junior year may be the most recent grades that are shared with colleges during application season, they will have access to seeing what classes you are enrolled in senior year. They will certainly care about how much you are challenging yourself, so don't let senioritis creep in! A final transcript will also be shared with the college you ultimately enroll in, so those grades in May are relevant as well.
Use SCOIR, Common App, and email. Each of these have unique roles in your college admission, but it is imperative that you use them weekly (if not daily). Make sure you understand what you are meant to do with each of them.
Attend college rep visits. As a junior, you attend these to learn about colleges in general. As a senior, you are more likely to earn credit for demonstrated interest (if tracked by the college) or learn about scholarship opportunities. You never know if you'll get an application fee waiver or discover a college that you'll eventually apply to.
Be aware of deadlines. Colleges have unique deadlines that can span from September to February, and can change year-to-year. Explore your options and find a way to stay organized.
Apply. Write that essay. Write all of those extra essays. All that jazz.
Research scholarships. There are so many different ways to earn money to help pay for college, but they require work and are specific to you and the colleges on your list. Complete the FAFSA and CSS profile, and reach out to college admissions teams to learn about your options.
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