Seniors! Time to start thinking about the future! No matter where you are on your journey, thinking about taking next steps of higher education, here are a few important tips.
Start early! Deadlines for most colleges are coming up soon! If you haven’t already, make a list of colleges to apply to and fill out your Common App. Many college tracks require essays, recommendation letters, test scores, and portfolios to try and stay as organized as possible for your application! Ask for recommendation letters at least a month in advance and only submit the scores that strengthen your application. FAFSA has been open since October so get on it ASAP. Check to see if the school requires specifics and submit it to all the schools you are applying to.
When building your college lists- be strategized. Start with your competitive schools, a little higher than what you’re up to par with but are still possible. Then throw in a few that are average with your scores, “match schools”. Make sure you have cushion for safety as well. Apply to schools that you’re very likely to get admitted too and that you’d be happy attending. It is important to remember that these applications don’t define you and that rejections happen all the time to amazing students, where you go matter less than what you do there.
Focus on what matters most- you. Colleges want to listen to YOU! Admissions officers want to know who you are and what you care about. Use your extracurriculars, activities, and leadership to show your traits, not just the things that look good on your resume. Your essays should sound like you, not what the college wants to hear. Don’t be broad, be to the point with what you are writing about. Reflect on what you’ve learned and why it matters. Colleges are looking for a hook that will reel them in and convince them that you are a perfect match for them.
Stay on top of it, stay organized, and remember everyone is on their own journey, keeping your academics strong and detailed responses help you stand out. The most important thing is to remember no application defines your future. You will find a college that is the right place for you to learn grow succeed
