College Essay Resources:
What are colleges looking for in essays?
unique stories, genuine stories!
talk about your past struggles and how you grew from these experiences
remember, how will you benefit from the college, and how will the college benefit from you?
How to write a great college essay
brainstorm, write down thoughts, speak them, talking with your teachers!
be authentic
focus on deeper themes and meanings that can captivate your reader
it doesn't always have to be emotional
look at some examples
accumulate strong extracurriculars and try to get officer positions
SAT and ACT scores can be helpful so try your best!
aim for a high GPA, grade point average, and class rank
AP and honors classes are preferred
show commitment in your desired field
volunteer! helping out is always good to show colleges you care
challenge yourself!
How important is your college essay?
GA Futures:
Did you know that GA Futures is a great resource for you? You already have an account (as does every HS student in the state of GA) - you just need to activate it! GA Futures is the place to go for information about the HOPE and Zell scholarships as well as being the Dual Enrollment platform for the state.
When activating your account, please make sure that you enter your official name/info (just as it appears on your school records) so that your account will link to your transcript information that is already loaded on the site. An easy way to verify you have successfully linked your account is to check your HOPE GPA. If you get an error message, then you either did not enter your SSN or you did not put in your official name or info. Your HOPE GPA gets updated each semester on this site!
Junior year is challenging, but you have pushed through and are on the second half of it the year. Continue to keep up the study skills you have learned and ask for help from your teachers and peers as you need it! T
Finish well academically
Start thinking about your goals after graduation as well as what environment you want to be in
Explore trade programs, universities, colleges and maybe think about touring some of those places in person or virtually
Outside of that you will take the SAT for free at the school on March 18th, and from then on is a great time to work on your SAT score. You can also work on your test scores throughout the summer. Summer is also a great time to look into college application writing prompts and start working on your essays, but dont worry college applications will not open for you until at least August 1st of your senior year, so there is not need to work on those now. Other than that, look at your summer as an opportunity to further sulidify your interest in careers by interning or shadowing in those fields.
As a sophomore, work on developing and enhancing interests
Start getting involved in activities and more extracurriculars
As you get more involved, keep track on what your interests are and start to accumulate more for those
In clubs that spark your interests, apply for officer positions; They're fun and can move you higher up!
Work on skills for future: soft skills, test taking, communications, teamwork, leadership, etc.
Join clubs that align with your interests and convey what your passionate about for colleges
Be prepared with college plans and majors in 11th grade
Go easy with classes in Senior year so you put less stress on yourself
Now that you are a semester into high school, it is time to start looking at your goals for all of high school and taking small steps in that direction!
Remember...
High school is a marathon, not a sprint, making small adjustments at a time helps you grow
Be confident in the work you do
Make small achievable goals to start working on those places you want to work on
You don't need to change everything all at once, but think of something small you could adjust to help yourself grow towards your goals!
ASK FOR HELP! If you are stuck on a topic don't be afraid to ask your teachers, they will be more than willing to help.
Brainstorm future career ideas and align interests with your choices
Consider where you want to study: In state, out of state, abroad, etc.
Choose a preferable environment whether it's a small town or big city or in a certain area.
Be open to try new things to figure out what you like and dislike
Communication is key and it's important to voice your thoughts and feelings to other people from time to time
Make "I" statements and come up with your values and point of views
Don't be judgmental of others and be your best self
Occasionally, ask people how they're doing to keep up with them and to understand their struggles
Respect other people's boundaries and don't push their limits
Reflect on yourself at the end of a day and find ways to improve for the next day
Be prepared for ups and downs in relationships, but also be prepared to work through it