Surprising Ways Creative Writing Can Help Your Child Learn
by Julie Hersum
byElizabeth Preston
10 min to readApproximately 63 percent of high school students immediately enroll in college after their graduation, but the process of applying to college and getting ready for the experience practically, financially, and emotionally can feel overwhelming.
Fear not, for this ultimate guide will tell you how to prepare for college while still in high school.
You can begin to think about preparing for college anytime you want—even as early as your freshman year if you want to—but most students start visiting college campuses in their sophomore and junior years of high school.
College prep comes with a lot of questions. What do you need for the application process? How do you figure out your finances or your living situation? How do you choose your classes? Of course, it helps to identify which schools you want to go to first.
There are several factors that go into choosing the right school for you. Ask yourself:
After you answer these questions and discuss them with your family, you will need to do some research. U.S. News & World Report publishes a “Best Colleges” ranking that will help you to explore schools’ rankings, programs, amenities, and values. You can also read student reviews of schools. Look for schools that best answer the above questions. Look for schools that best answer the above questions.
Choose 4–12 schools to apply to and break them down into your reach schools, target schools, and safety schools. Be realistic about the colleges' acceptance rates and if you need to do any extra work to improve your grades or standardized test scores. If you’re worried that you’ll be late applying to college, there are always ways to catch up and make use of the time.
When choosing a school, also research the available housing options, recreational offers, and the safety of the surrounding area. Once you have chosen your desired colleges, research the schools’ application requirements and fees and make sure to answer the following:
Keep all of this information in one place so that you can easily reference it in the future. Write down the deadlines for each schools’ application materials and financial aid options.
Establishing a checklist is a great way to organize the college preparation process. Here are some of the big things to include:
Studying for the SAT or ACT can be difficult and time-consuming, so leave yourself plenty of time (at least one month) to study for these tests.
Although some schools are deemphasizing standardized testing, many still require the scores in application materials. Check to see if your chosen schools require the tests. If they do, then it’s time to get studying.
College campus visits should ideally start to happen in the spring of your junior year and continue into the fall of your senior year. This is when you imagine yourself at a school and start to get a sense of how it feels. Ask yourself if it feels like a place you could thrive in. Would it challenge you in a positive way? Do you like the atmosphere? Is the neighborhood comfortable? Is it close to fun places to hang out as well as study? Is it easy to get around? What is the quality of the dorms or what is the cost of living off campus? Your life for the next four years will take place here, so consider these and other questions carefully.
Transcripts are something that you should request as early as possible. You'll want to check each school's deadline and work with your school counselor to send your transcripts ideally a few weeks before the deadline. Be sure to check that your transcript includes any community college or dual credit courses completed prior to submitting it with your application. This is a busy time for counselors as they will be working with a lot of other students, so working this out ahead of time will help you clear one thing off your plate.
Most schools ask for two or three letters of recommendation. Oftentimes, students ask their teachers, coaches, or advisors to write them letters, but the important thing is to ask someone who knows you well, has taught or interacted with you within the last year or two, and who is not related to you.
Once the person you have selected has agreed to write you a letter, provide them with a list of schools that you are applying to, a resume listing your accomplishments and skills (you can draft this using your college portfolio), and a thank-you note.
Complete a Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which allows you to demonstrate financial need. Many scholarships and other forms of financial aid require a FAFSA to be on file. You will need to work with your family to fill out this form. After this, you will receive a link to your Student Aid Report (SAR). Review it and ensure that all the information is correct.
You can check on the status of your application and whether or not you are missing any materials by calling each school’s admissions and records department.
You’ll need to check each school’s website to see when their application deadline is and follow their instructions. These are usually fairly straightforward and include letters of recommendation, personal essays or statements, and test scores, though specific majors like visual arts or music may have additional portfolio or performance requirements. Highly selective institutions may ask for details about volunteer experience or extracurricular clubs that the student is involved with.
There are a few tasks that you should complete, as well as skills that you should learn, to prepare for your freshman year of college.
While the course catalogue may feel awe-inspiring, keep in mind several considerations when selecting your courses, including:
Part of college preparation is looking at how many classes you have/can handle each day and the number of necessary credits (aim for how many credits qualify you as a full-time student, which is usually 12–15 credits; you can always add more credits to later semesters).
These usually entail 100-level classes. About two or three months before classes begin, call your school’s English and math departments to see if there are any options to test out of the basic classes. Some schools accept College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams, AP®* credits, or have their own procedures for how students can test out of core classes.
Part of the college experience is exploration, and you may find a passion or talent you never knew you had.
You can often make an appointment with a college advisor for guidance on choosing classes. They can also provide you with worksheets for each major to show what courses you will need to take throughout your college career and when you should take them.
Preparing for college is a big step and comes with a lot of changes that can take a toll mentally and emotionally. It’s important to understand that it’ll take you some time to adjust to your new schedule and surroundings once you’re there. Be patient and kind to yourself while that happens. In the meantime, it might be helpful to explore some practical ways you to get yourself ready beforehand to help you feel a bit more grounded.
College tuition is not the only financial consideration that you will have. Keep in mind the following and decide how much you are going to budget for each item:
Any big change can feel overwhelming. Work with someone you trust to develop a plan for how to address feelings of anxiety, depression, or stress before they happen, so you’re not left unprepared or scrambling when they do. For bigger moments, make sure you have contact information for someone you can talk to, or know where to go on campus if you need to schedule an appointment or need immediate support. Knowing you have these tools figured out ahead of time will help put your mind at ease and help you feel more mentally prepared as the time approaches.
There are some basic skills that you should learn to help prepare for college life, including:
At college, you’re in charge of keeping yourself on track, so time management skills are crucial. Create a plan for the perfect study session that includes keeping yourself focused and in the zone. Don’t give in to the temptation of procrastination. Getting your work done ahead of time will help keep you on schedule and help reduce stressful bottlenecks in your schoolwork.
If you are living at home, then discuss with your family what the expectations are regarding expenses (such as rent), curfews, and chore responsibilities.
If you are not living at home, then prepare for college life by discussing with your family how you will stay connected, when you will call or video chat with them, how often you will come home to visit, and your holiday plans. Be honest with your family, and be prepared for homesickness, as this is often a natural and prevalent feeling among those living away from home for the first time.
While you don’t need to push yourself before you’re ready or beyond what makes you feel safe, remember that unfamiliar territory is often where growth happens. Once you’re at school, consider joining a club, exploring student organizations of interest, and meeting new people. You may be surprised at the benefits it brings to your life.
If not living at home:
If living at home:
Learn how Connections Academy prepares students for life after graduation with college prep coursework built directly into their curriculum. Download our free eGuide to learn more.
* AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board. Used with permission.