Summer is here, and while I encourage you to enjoy some rest and relaxation, there are many things you can do during the summer months, regardless of where you are in high school, that will make your college application season much less stressful.
Incoming freshmen and sophomores
College may seem a long way off, but it will be here before you know it. Taking some important steps now can help you be ready when the time comes - much sooner than you think.
- Start thinking about what you enjoy and what you are interested in. Take notes on what you're reading, where you head to in a book or magazine store, where your internet searches take you. In conversations, what makes you sit up and listen more closely? What are you doing when you lose track of time? You certainly don't need to decide on a career or a major now, but noticing what you enjoy will help you decide on a direction when you get to college.
- Start casually looking at colleges. Maybe check out websites like Big Future, College Greenlight, Colleges that Change Lives, and others to get ideas of what's out there. Talk to your friends about their college plans; see what they're looking at. Ask adults in your life about their college experiences. Start making your long list of colleges - jot down any college that sounds interesting to you. You'll dig a little deeper later.
- If possible, start visiting some colleges. Start with the ones close by. Even if you're not necessarily interested in that particular college, starting some visits now can help you notice what's important to you (Does the huge campus make you feel stressed? Do the sporting and social activities sound like fun? Does the layout and architecture of the campus depress you - or possibly inspire you?)
- Get a job. Summer work experience helps you build job skills, a successful work history shows responsibility, and gives you something to put on your college and scholarship applications.
- Or find a volunteer or internship opportunity. Colleges and scholarship committees are not just interested in your grades - they're interested in how you spend your time outside of school, how you interact with your community. Try to find something you're interested in and stick with it over time - colleges like to see that you have interests that you dedicate time to, not just a laundry list of random activities you do to pad your application.
Incoming juniors
It's time to ramp up your college preparations. Yes, do take time to relax and enjoy the summer, but to make senior year less stressful, work on the following:
- Start researching majors and careers. The College Board Website is good for this. The California Career Zone website is another good one.
- Get serious about your college search. The following websites can help: Big Future, College Greenlight, Colleges that Change Lives. College Scorecard is another good one, with information on average net cost, graduation rate, and post-graduation salary, as well as data on student debt loads, for almost 4,000 colleges in the US. Talk to your friends about their college plans; see what they're looking at. Ask adults in your life about their college experiences. Throughout your junior year, you should continue adding to your long list of possible colleges.
- If you haven't already done so, create an account at raise.me. On this website, you create an account and enter information about your academic and extracurricular activities. You can earn micrsoscholarships at almost 300 participating colleges and universities, and more are being added constantly.
- Get a job or internship, or volunteer. See above for why this is important.
- If at all possible, visit colleges you may be interested in.
- Start thinking about when to take the SAT or ACT. Many private colleges are moving away from this test requirement, but many schools (both private and public) still require it, so start getting ready.
- When you get back to school, make an appointment with your counselor. Junior year is an important time for planning; deadlines come up fast in senior year, so it's important to be ready.
Incoming seniors
You guys have some serious work to do this summer. Once school starts, you'll be hit with a whirlwind of deadlines, on top of your senior year academics, so a little preparation now can go a long way to reduce your stress later. Some suggestions for your summer preparations:
- Continue researching majors and careers
- Narrow down your long list to your short list of colleges you plan to apply to. I recommend applying to between 4 and 10 schools - by the end of the summer you should aim to have a pretty good idea of what those schools will be.
- If at all possible, visit the colleges on your short list.
- Check out the applications for these colleges and start crafting your essays. If the colleges you're applying to use the Common App, you can see the essay prompts now, and even start working on your applications.
- Start working on your scholarship search.
- Decide who you will ask for letters of recommendation, and contact those people as soon as school is back in session. You're much more likely to get a good letter if you give your teachers and counselor some time.
- As soon as school starts, make an appointment with your counselor.
- If you haven't already done so, sign up to take the SAT or ACT. Your counselor may be able to provide you with a fee waiver if your family can't afford the testing fee.
- Get a job or internship, or complete some volunteer work. Colleges and scholarship committees are not just interested in your grades - they're interested in how you spend your time outside of school, how you interact with your community.
- Remember to include work experience and extensive family obligations (such as caring for siblings, grandparents, etc) on your application. Some students may not think that working at a fast food restaurant or doing house and yardwork for grandpa is something that colleges are interested in, but more and more colleges are realizing that some students may not have time for volunteer community service because they need to work or care for family members, and it turns out they do take this into account.
Finally, take a hike, go the beach or lake, and spend some quiet time thinking about your bright future!
