You have made it past sophomore year, and now is the time to start getting serious about your future if you plan to attend college. This year will be busy as you determine which college is right for you and what you want to do for a career. You may be ready and eager to get started with your college preparation process, but how do you begin?
Many students, just like you, don't have an organized approach to college preparation. This is why I have designed my award-winning curriculum called College Readiness 101 to help you have a systematic approach towards college admissions. The more organized you are, the less likely you will miss critical deadlines during your junior and senior years. To help you get started with your plans, here are a few essential things for you to do while you are still a junior.
Choose Solid Coursework
By now, you probably have taken all of your introductory high school courses. Now is the time to dig into more serious coursework. What types of classes do colleges want to see on your transcript? To determine this, you should schedule regular meetings with your high school counselor. These meetings will help you decide what classes will improve your chances of being accepted into schools of your choice. Should you take AP coursework at your school? Would it be beneficial to add in a few dual enrollment courses at your local college? Aside from taking more rigorous coursework, ensure that your cumulative GPA stays within an ideal range for the college of your choice.
Study For and Take the SAT or ACTs
If you haven't taken the PSAT, you can take it this fall and qualify for a National Merit Scholarship. Otherwise, if you already took it sophomore year, this year, it's time to get serious about taking the SAT or ACT or both. You can prepare for the SAT or ACT by purchasing study guides, taking online prep courses, or getting a tutor.
Determine the Type of College That You Want to Attend
There are so many different types of colleges from which to choose. For example, do you want to move far away from home? Or do you want to attend school near your hometown? Also, based on your career considerations, what colleges offer a major similar to what you want to do as a future career? These are some things that you will have to ask yourself as you try to figure out what college you want to attend. Also, keep in mind that your career choice may not require four years of college study. If you can get the education you need and get started on your career trek in two years, a two-year college may be a better option.
Attend College Fairs
One of the best ways to get a feel for a college is to attend college fairs. If you are impressed with what you learn while attending a college fair, this may help you narrow down the colleges you want to visit to help you make your final decision. Some high schools even have college representatives visit your high school. This is also an excellent way to learn about the college of your choice. Additionally, if the representative isn't in a hurry to leave after the presentation, you can speak with the rep one-on-one to get more insight.
Start To Be More Mindful of Your Social Media Presence
Social media is no longer a fad. It is here to stay. Another thing that is here to stay is whatever you post on social media. Remember that whatever you post on social media is a public record. Even if you remove it, the post can still be captured in a screenshot and shared. When it comes to considering you for college admissions, recruiters may review your social media platforms. Make sure that what you display is professional so that you won't ruin your chances of being accepted because of one embarrassing social post.
These topics above are just a sample of what I cover in the College Readiness 101 - A College and Career Workbook for the High School Junior. This book allows you to plan for your future and includes worksheets that you can fill out to help you get organized. To get your copy of this workbook, click the link below:
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