While one student clicks submit on their computer, confirming their submission of their college applications, another questions whether they even want to attend college. A junior might feel overwhelmed with the idea of college prep, while a freshman full of excitement takes a first step into a club that will end up on their college application years later.
Each grade has different steps to prepare them for the college admissions process throughout high school.
Feeling overwhelmed is completely normal according to Counselor Jerrah Smith, “Take it one step at a time. If you are feeling overwhelmed, you are not alone, everyone feels this way with the college process,” Smith said.
With freshmen, the thing to do is to “get involved,” according to the counselors. Joining clubs, sports, and extracurriculars is an excellent way to ensure that opportunities will be available in the future.
Freshman year is about doing small things that can lead to success later.
Counselor Jaime Brown believes it’s important to “get involved because a lot of schools want to see what you are doing outside of the classroom, so they can see you as a whole person and not just as a person in school,” Brown said.
Starting college prep young can save a lot of time later in high school. “I wish I would’ve started earlier. Go small; you shouldn’t be curing cancer in freshman year, but join clubs you find fun and spend time doing things that might set you up later,” senior Kai Powell said.
Sophomore year is about continuing to lock in extracurriculars and focusing on getting good grades. Reach out to teachers if you need help. Students can also take the PSAT, a practice test for the SAT, a college entrance exam taken junior or senior year.
Another thing to consider is how, where, and when you will fulfill your community service requirements.
Junior year, the preparation ramps up. Students start looking into possible colleges and consider what is important when picking a college. Touring universities is an excellent way to explore students’ likes and dislikes, so they can make prepared choices. Things to think about are “ living in a city versus a small town, or going to a big school versus a small school. These are all really important, and you won’t know how you feel about these things until you go visit,” Smith said.
Senior year, Smith urges seniors to “Finish strong! Know that colleges still review senior year courses and grades until the end of the year,” Smith said.
Seniors’ college applications reflect students as individuals. It is important to consider all high school experiences when putting them together. Counseling can help with college applications.
