College Selection Should Begin in Grade 9
Starting late on the road to college sometimes has a way of keeping you from where you want to be down the road. Granted, the “To Do” list is daunting and every step of it is as important as the one before it, but if you break it down over the course of your high school years, you should avoid feeling overwhelmed in your senior year. So, as soon as you settle into that freshman locker, start implementing the following plan.
1. Your freshman year. This is when you’ll start gathering experiences to draw from when creating your resume. There’s no time like the present to get involved in an extracurricular activity. There are many options out there, so don’t despair if you’re not into sports or music. Student government, art and writing clubs, as well as science fairs and volunteering in your community are all great ways to demonstrate a willingness to broaden your horizons. This is also the year to get a reading list from your guidance counselor and make sure that you spent the next four years picking off the titles that are recommended by colleges.
2. Tenth grade: Yes, you will likely get your driver’s license this year, but there’s certainly more to be done. In October, you’ll need to sign up for your PSAT test. Another thing to do is move up the ranks a bit within your extracurricular activities. You’ll want to be able to show some leadership tendencies not only on your resume, but you need to give advisors/coaches/leaders something to discuss if you ask them to write a letter of recommendation for you. This is also the year to start compiling names of colleges and universities that you are interested in, you can narrow them down later.
3. Eleventh grade: It’s time to think about what you’d like to major in. You don’t have to know exactly, but having a general idea would help you focus in on certain colleges that have a strong program to offer you. You’ll also take your PSAT, your ACT and SAT this year. You probably have heard of some students waiting until their senior year, but what if their scores aren’t high enough? Taking a first round of tests in your junior year allow you time to raise the scores if necessary. Now that you’re just two years off from starting college, you should acquainted yourself with various scholarships, grants and financial aid programs that could help augment your budget. Research the FAFSA to get started.
4. Twelve grade. You’ve almost finished high school, and hopefully you’ve kept up with your timeline. By now you should have a good idea of the handful of colleges that would be a good fit for you so that you can arrange campus visits. Start the financial aid application process after your parents have filed their tax returns. All that’s left at this point is the application process. Your guidance counselor will help explain all components of it, be sure to check in often so that you don’t fall behind.
Before you know it you’ll be wearing that cap and gown and packing up to leave home for the very first time. If you’ve done your work during high school, you (and your family) can be confident that you’re off to a good fit for your academic growth.
Alan Greene is an education columnist who concentrates on online degree programs, and online colleges offering graduate programs.