Embedded Files
Brea Campbell, Staff Writer
September 19, 2023
Between 2018 and 2019, approximately 4.23 million high school seniors applied for college. Many only know one thing: where they want to apply to. The new pandemic hitting high schoolers is the wave of confusion they face when applying to colleges. Because of this, they lack incentives to apply, and many often procrastinate and miss opportunities to better their applications and even receive financial aid. Before senior year, students who plan on applying to colleges should set up a timeline for their college application process. Here is an outline of how you should prepare to set up the next stages of your life.
Your Junior Year
Your Junior Year
Most students don’t even know what they want to major in at this time, let alone what college they want to attend- and that’s perfectly fine! Your Junior year is when you really should start preparing. Study for your exams hard because this is your “make or break” year.
One thing you should do is find the schools you want to apply to. Have a top school, one that you are aiming the highest for. Decide whether you want to apply in-state, out-of-state, or both. Find out acceptance rates, tuition costs, living and other fees needed, the size and layout of the campuses, the different programs they offer, and the areas they are in. This will help you determine your top schools and your “safe” schools.
Even though most schools now are test-optional, plan to take your ACT and/or SAT and really work hard to achieve the best score you can. You want to get these out of the way so you can take them as many times as you need to before submitting your applications. You really do want to achieve the best score possible, which doesn’t always mean a 1600 or a 36. It means the highest score you can get. Research the scores recommended for what schools you want to apply to and aim for the middle 50%. Check out SAT and ACT books from the library to prepare for your tests. Another way to prepare is Khan Academy, which has amazing SAT prep.
Maintaining your grades is the best thing you can do at this time. This is one of your final chances to raise your GPA and get more credits. DO NOT slack off. You should also be adding in extracurriculars to your resume and get involved in programs on and off campus.
Summer Between Junior & Senior Year
Summer Between Junior & Senior Year
The major thing you should be doing between your two final years of high school is planning your personal essay for college. Think about what you want to write, and start creating your rough draft. When picking out your essay topic, avoid being too niche. Some essay topics are considered “basic,” and university Admission Officers advise students to avoid specific topics. I asked the Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Miami, Gabriela Nahous, a few questions. One of these questions was what she considers basic and does not recommend to applying students.
Nahous responded with, “The most common essay topics I have read usually have something to do with COVID, a sports injury, or divorce.” Now, Nahous advises students wishing to write about these topics and says, “if they’d like to write about these subjects to make sure to illustrate why the experience was meaningful to them.”
Another question I asked Nahous is what she advises students to do before their senior year. She responded very kindly and said to do whatever makes you happy, “whether you enter a summer program, volunteer, work, or travel.” She doesn’t want teenagers to miss out on being young adults and thinks that they should enjoy themselves while preparing for Senior year.
Speaking of traveling, remember those college tours you planned Junior year? Why not take the time to go in the summer and make a vacation out of it? Some major things to take into consideration when at these schools are:
The academics- See if the school has a good program for what you want to major in, and talk to staff members on campus!
The layout- You might not want to walk 30-45 minutes to class every morning, so see if the campus you are at is walkable, or if they provide reliable transportation.
The student life- See if you can talk to your tour guides and ask what they do as students on campus. Make sure you can imagine yourself living and thriving in this place.
Senior Year!
Senior Year!
You did it! You made it to your last year of high school, and this is where it gets serious. Start writing and finalizing your college essay, and finalize your resume. Make sure you have all of the deadlines for your schools in your calendar so you don’t miss your chance to submit your application.
At the very beginning of Senior year, you want to register for Common App, a website through which students can apply to colleges. You want to get this done now because there are many questions you need to answer before you start applying, such as family life and demographic questions.
Ask adult figures in your life to start writing your recommendation letters so you can submit them. Try to avoid asking parents or siblings; instead, ask your teachers, boss, or principal. You also want to speak to your guidance counselor about sending your transcripts to your schools and asking the College Board to send your test scores.
Make sure you finish strong. Once you send in your applications, all you have to do is wait for your acceptance letters. In the meantime, make sure to keep your grades up, as colleges can still see your transcript even after you apply. Finish High School on a good note, and get excited for the start of the rest of your life.
Page updated
Report abuse