Five Things for High School Seniors To Do Now
For high school seniors, college application deadlines are just around the corner. Here are five things to do now, to be ready for fall application deadlines.
1. Finalize the college list and know the due dates. Generally, I recommend that students apply to no more than nine colleges, including stretch, match and safe schools. College application deadlines vary, and some schools have application due dates as early as October. For each school on your final college list, decide whether to apply early decision, early action or regular decision. Record the application and financial aid due dates.
2. Schedule Fall tests. If you haven’t taken the SAT or ACT, or want to take them again, check that the scores will be available by the college due dates, and then register. October is often the last test date that will be scored in time.
3. Schedule college visits. Many colleges use “enthusiasm to attend” as one of their admissions criteria. Visiting is an excellent way to demonstrate your enthusiasm and to learn more about the college. If possible, schedule an interview when you visit. You may be able visit some colleges that are in session, before high school resumes.
4. Get teacher recommendations. If you did not ask teachers for recommendations in the Spring, do it as soon as school starts. Notify your guidance counselor if you will be applying to schools early admission, since they also need to prepare a recommendation and get other materials ready for your applications.
5. Finish applications, including essays early. Your applications are critical and should be treated as such. Your essays will take time to write and revise. Plan enough time to revise each essay three or four times. Make sure to proofread your applications, including essays carefully.
What else would you add to this list?
Linda Sadlouskos
12:17 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Very helpful! I wish I had such an organized list when I was going through this. I did some things early, but having never gone through process in this era, I didn't think about others. It's hard to believe that I just applied to each of the colleges from which I earned degrees (A.A. and B.A.), was accepted without fuss, attended each, and graduated from both! Without a second thought.
Rana Slosberg
1:56 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Glad to be of help. Students, especially the oldest child in the family, often don't know what to expect. The application process has changed since their parents applied to college. Things are even more confusing for students who have parents who did not attend college or who attended college outside of the United States.
anothermadisonmom
2:11 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Great list........But dont' forget the finanical aspect. Many scholarship opportunites have very early application deadlines and varying application requirements.
Rana Slosberg
5:40 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
Keeping up with deadlines is critical. Often the high school guidance office provides a list of available local scholarships and due dates. Make sure to get your scholarship applications in on time.
For most students, the bulk of their financial aid comes through the college, as need-based and/or merit aid.
Maurice Saunders
9:06 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Rana,
Can you explain what you mean about applying to "stretch, match and safe schools"?
Thanks.
Josh
9:20 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
A "safe" school would be one that you should easily get into and attend. A match would be one that fits your criteria well and you've got a decent shot to being accepted. And a "stretch" is a school that you really want to attend, but might be low on the criteria (grades, SAT scores).
PJ_Wolf
9:18 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Maurice, this means:
Stretch - no prayer in hell, but perhaps the committee is feeling charitable today
Match - most likely to be accepted based on your grades and resume
Safe - everyone gets in (i.e. community college)
Maurice Saunders
9:58 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
Josh & PJ_Wolf - Thanks for the explanations.
Rana Slosberg
5:48 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
A good way to tell whether a school is safe, a match, or a stretch is to use the scattergrams in Naviance, which shows the GPAs and test scores of students from your high school who were accepted or denied admission to particular colleges. Grades, test scores, and the percent of students the college accepts are key elements in deciding whether the school is a stretch, match or safe school.
The safe school(s) should include at least one school that meets all three of the following criteria: (1) the student can get definitely get into the school, (2) the family can afford the school, even if the student does not get financial aid, and (3) the student would be happy attending the school.
clyde donovan
3:17 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
Don't go to a stretch school. Find some place that fits you. Don't go to Ohio State if you're a small-school person. Don't go away if you you like living at home. Go to a nearby community or state college instead. Don't go to West Virgina University if you can't hold your liquor.
If you can't figure out what you want to do with your life, major in business. Everything has something - in some way - to do with business.
Rana Slosberg
11:08 am on Monday, August 27, 2012
Your stretch schools should fit you as well.