The Ultimate Guide to Preparing Online Students for College
byElizabeth Preston
10 min to read
Approximately 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.
When Should You Start to Prepare for College
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.
How to Choose the Right College for You
There are several factors that go into choosing the right school for you. Ask yourself:
- What is my dream career? Which schools have programs that are best suited to help me achieve it?
- How much does a school’s reputation matter?
- How far away from home do I want to live?
- What kind of environment (rural, urban, cold, warm, etc.) do I want to be in?
- What is my budget and how much debt am I willing to take on?
- What sports/academics resources are most important to me in a school?
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:
- What test scores do they require?
- When do they need your transcripts by?
- What GPA range is acceptable?
- How many letters of recommendation are required?
- What college application essays are required?
- Do you want to apply for the school’s honors program?
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.
How Do I Begin to Prepare for College?
Establishing a checklist is a great way to organize the college preparation process. Here are some of the big things to include:
Study for and Take Standardized Tests
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.
Should I take the ACT or SAT?
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.
Take Campus Tours
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.
Request Your Transcripts
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.
Get Letters of Recommendation
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.
Apply for Financial Aid
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.
Complete Your Applications
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.
You’ve Been Accepted to College! Now What?
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.
Pick Your Classes
While the course catalogue may feel awe-inspiring, keep in mind several considerations when selecting your courses, including:
Choosing a manageable courseload.
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).
Getting the core requirements out of the way.
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.
Taking a class that interests you.
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.
How Do I Mentally Prepare for College?
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.
Learn to Budget Your Finances
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:
- Housing
- Parking
- Transportation and/or travel expenses
- Food, both on campus and off
- Fees
- Books
- School supplies (such as paper, pens, computer programs, etc.)
- Socializing
Build Stress Management Strategies
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.
Acquire Basic Living Skills
There are some basic skills that you should learn to help prepare for college life, including:
- Knowing five or more easy and cheap meals that you can make with the allowed cooking tools
- Shopping for groceries
- Doing laundry (washing, ironing, and folding)
- Being on time
- Writing professional emails
- Managing your money and sticking to a budget
- Organizing and keeping track of your work and deadlines (planners and phone calendars are great for this)
Work on Your Time Management Skills
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.
Establish a Support System and Family Responsibilities
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.
Plan to Go Outside Your Comfort Zone
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.
Use the checklist below To ensure that you are prepared for college.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT SCHOOL
- Program that leads you to your career
- Desired reputation
- Acceptable distance from home
- Desired environment
- Desired student population size
- Within budget
- Amenities and support resources
RESEARCH SCHOOLS’ REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES
- Desired GPA range
- Requested tests and test score ranges
- Letters of recommendation
- Required college application essays
- Application fee
- Deadlines related to
- Transcript submission
- Early application
- Final application
- Financial aid
PREPARE AND SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS
- Take SAT or ACT (if required)
- Send test scores to schools
- Order and send official transcripts
- Fill out FASFA
- Choose two people to write a recommendation letter for you
- Give your resume and cover letter to those recommending you
- Send a gentle reminder email to those recommending you (one week before the official deadline)
- Write application essays
- Outline
- Draft
- Make sure that the essay answers the prompt
- Ask at least two people to read the essays and provide you with feedback
- Proofread
- Submit
- Apply for financial aid
CHOOSE YOUR CLASSES
- Meet with college advisor for guidance
- Number of credits
- Number of core requirement courses Interesting course
- Number of classes per day feels manageable?
- Courseload feels manageable?
- Online class options
- Summer school options
- Disability request (if necessary)
DETERMINE YOUR FINANCES
- Tuition Fees
- Books
- School supplies
- Housing
- Parking
- Transportation
- Travel
- Food
- Meal plan on campus
- Weekly groceries
- Hygiene and grooming supplies
- Gym membership
- Recreational money
PRACTICE LIVING SKILLS
- Know five easy and cheap meals
- Shop for groceries
- Do laundry
- Be on time
- Know proper email etiquette
- Read a map
- Stay aware and safe while walking at night
- Stay organized
- Keep track of your work and deadlines
CONSIDER OTHER PURSUITS
- Approximate free time
- Interests
- Greek life options
- Club options
- Part-time job options
If not living at home:
- Communication options
- Frequency of calls
- Frequency of video chats
- Frequency of texts
- Frequency of photos
- Frequency of coming back home
- Cost
- Holiday plans
If living at home:
- Rent expectations
- Curfew
- Chore responsibilities
Preparing Students for the Next Step
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.
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