Finding Colleges and Preparing for Your Future

On February 4th, juniors, sophomores, and freshman were called down to the auditorium for scheduling. Lasting approximately forty minutes, our school counselors, a Cortland admissions officer, and Boces teachers came to discuss with students about how their decisions in high school will affect their future careers.

Despite the surplus of information given to students, all of it was important to ensure that you are taking advantage of the resources Homer offers. But if you missed it, here is a summary:

1. Do not be afraid of taking an Honors of AP class- schools see that you are pushing yourself and will be more inclined to accept you, even if your grades will not be as easy as regular courses.
2. Reach out to colleges; they want to see that you have an interest to them. Do this through campus visits, information sessions, or simply by emailing them.
3. It is not too early to look at colleges. Until you have visited the colleges, it is difficult to gage your interest. Using tools such as Naviance or CollegeBoard may help you find schools that, on paper, are appealing. Then visit the schools to gain perspective on the lives of the students on campus.
4. Take advantage of all college visits. Even if you may not like the college, you will have grasped a greater understanding of what types of colleges appeal to you. Consider size, school spirit, location, academics, the town, the social life, and alumni relations when searching for a college.
5. Study for the SAT or ACT early. It is recommended that people take both before doing any preparations, and after scoring focus on the test that you have done better on. Colleges generally usually do not care which you choose to do, but check to make sure that they will take the test you plant to prepare for.
6. Also, consider taking Subject SATs. Research how many your colleges require you to take, if any. If so, you may want to take if after you have finished the class that correlates with it. Whether it may be Chemistry, World History, or Physics, ensure that it tailors to your interests, as it shows colleges your scholastic focus.

However, maintaining your grades and participating in your extracurricular activities is essential to admittance to colleges. Be sure to ask any councillors if you have any questions.