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Finding the Perfect College
2013 and above: It's time to start thinking about the characteristics in a college you would want to attend. Pretend that you could create the perfect college; what type of school would be just right for you. As yourself:
- Where is this college located? (city, state or geographic location)
- What types of students go there? (religious, race or gender affiliations)
- What classes would you take?
- What type of social activities would be offered? (sports, clubs or off campus activities)
- How large is the college?
Once you answer these questions, enter these characteristics into the Discover Program to help you develop a list of colleges to research in more detail. Getting started early in identifying colleges you may be interested in attending will help take a lot of stress off you during your junior and senior years.
2012: Start your admissions applications as early as possible!
We know this is easier said than done; especially if you are involved in a fall sport or club. Set aside a little time each week to work on your admission applications. At this point you should:
- Have your college list finalized; knowing when your application is due (be sure to look at scholarship deadlines that may be earlier than the regular admission deadline).
- Have signed up for an upcoming SAT/ACT if you have not already taken it or are not satisfied with your scores
- Have already requested your teacher recommendations.
- If you have not completed one of these three steps; you need to set a side extra time to catch up! You do not want to be scrambling to get everything done last minute.
REMINDER: The deadline to register for the October 22nd ACT is September 16th; that is THIS Friday! If you plan to take this test, register today to avoid late fees.
Determining Your Priorities and More
2013 and above: As the new school year begins, it is important to manage your time wisely. Determine Your Priorities. You can’t do everything at once. Establish the importance of each item. Then set realistic goals that are attainable. Learn that It's Okay to Say No. If your friend asks you to go to a movie on a Thursday night and you have a test the next morning, realize that it's okay to say no. Keep your short- and long-term priorities in mind. Developing good time management skills now will allow them to become your normal habits and will help you succeed when you reach college.
2012: Many students have asked, What should I include in the “additional information” section of my college application? The answer is that many students leave this section blank or use it to provide straightforward information about something on their transcript that might raise a question, such as "I didn't take the second semester of French IV because it met at the same time as BC Calculus." You can also use this section to clarify points on your application that may not be clear and do not have room to fully explain. Simply type “see additional information section” into the explanation to direct the admissions officer to a more detailed explanation. This section is also the appropriate place to explain any blemishes on your high school record; academically or behaviorally.
REMINDER: The deadline to register for the October 1st SAT is This Friday, September 9th. Also, The ACT October 22nd test registration is September 16th; only a week away! If you plan to take either of these tests, register today to avoid late fees.
Keep a journal of memorable experiences.
Write down how you feel in the moment and how you think each experience impacts has or will change your life. Flip back to past journal entries and add to them if you feel the experience made a significant impact on you. The entries do not need to be long, but can help you your senior year when you are trying to come up with ideas for your college essays. Most college essays have a topic that requires you to write about a person or experience that has had a major impact on your life. You may look back through your journal and find your essay has already been written!
The most common question our Education Service Councilors receive this time of year is "Where and how do I start my college essay?!". If this is a question you have, it may be comforting to know that you are not alone; most high school seniors have trouble starting their college essay.
Here are 5 tips to help you start writing.
1. Don't start at the beginning.
Write any random potential anecdotes, details, or ideas as they come to you. You can work on connecting them later. It's possible (and highly likely) you will write the most effective sentences of your essay only after a great detail of free-writing. Feel free to use any format that works for you in the brainstorming stage - it can be bullet points, an outline, or just a word or two. Your goal is just to get as much down on paper as possible.
2. Ask a friend to interview you.
Find someone you know and trust to ask you several questions about your passions, experiences, hobbies, authors, TV shows, etc. This is much more effective than the broad (and scary!) question: "What do you want to do with your life?" After having this focused interview, your "interviewer" will be able to give you extended feedback on your interests, strengths, and weaknesses. This will be helpful in figuring out your essay topic.
3. Use writing prompts.
Filling in the blanks can help you overcome writer's block. Ex. "I like ____ because it makes me feel ____." "A global issue that excites me is _____ because ______." "I enjoy learning about ____ because ______."
4. Browse your first-choice college's website.
Since you're probably passionate about your first-choice school, looking over its website may help you figure out themes to discuss in your essay.
5. Make a list of your passions.
You'll notice the idea of passion comes up a few times here. That's because passion is necessary for engaging writing. If you don't enjoy what you're writing, the admissions officers probably won't either. On the other hand, if you're clearly excited about whatever it is you have to discuss, it's more likely the admissions officers will be, too.
REMINDER: The deadline to register for the October 1st SAT is Friday, September 9th. That is less than 2 weeks away!If you plan to take this test, register today to avoid late fees.
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