6 answers
Monet
Student
Durham, North Carolina
2
Questions
Asked
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Am I off to a good start for College Applications?
I'm 15, I published my own novel last August at 14 (2024). I'm in 9th Grade, and I have a 4.2 GPA (I'm at an early college high school), and I'm wondering if I'm off to a decent start for college applications. I'm in Girl Scouts, not a student athlete, and the only club I'm in is music club at school (I performed a solo in our Christmas performance). I'm not really trying to worry about it, but I'd like to get an idea of where I stand so far. I want to be a musician, actress, and an author, so I want to be sure I get into a college that fits me.
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6 answers
Disraeli Partridge
Accounting
18
Answers
Detroit, Michigan
Updated
Disraeli’s Answer
Hello Monet,
You are off to a fantastic start with your list of accomplishments! To turn these achievements into a college application, I would recommend that you draft up a list of what you are learning by being in these hobbies and programs. Jot down some challenges that you have faced or a currently encountering (I imagine time management is one with your impressive list of activities) and how you have resolved them. List out reasons why you participate in these things (service to your community, passions, etc.). These drafts will help you write the essays for college and scholarship applications. Just keep them as drafts for now (rather than write the entire essay) because each application will have a special twist on the questions and you want to stay adaptable.
You seem like a well-balanced applicant who isn't afraid to get involved, the only thing left to do is communicate the "why" and "what have you learned" from each activity.
Good luck with your applications!
P.S. Also keep up with your acting and music practice as you will likely have to audition to get into a music or acting program in addition to the written application.
You are off to a fantastic start with your list of accomplishments! To turn these achievements into a college application, I would recommend that you draft up a list of what you are learning by being in these hobbies and programs. Jot down some challenges that you have faced or a currently encountering (I imagine time management is one with your impressive list of activities) and how you have resolved them. List out reasons why you participate in these things (service to your community, passions, etc.). These drafts will help you write the essays for college and scholarship applications. Just keep them as drafts for now (rather than write the entire essay) because each application will have a special twist on the questions and you want to stay adaptable.
You seem like a well-balanced applicant who isn't afraid to get involved, the only thing left to do is communicate the "why" and "what have you learned" from each activity.
Good luck with your applications!
P.S. Also keep up with your acting and music practice as you will likely have to audition to get into a music or acting program in addition to the written application.
Thank you for answering! I appreciate it so much!
Monet
Sara Solomon
Doctor of Pharmacy Student
9
Answers
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Updated
Sara’s Answer
You're off to a fantastic start and are on the path to success! You've achieved so much that truly reflects who you are. College applications love to see how these experiences have helped you grow and what you've learned. Leadership roles and jobs also shine on applications because they show external investment in your skills. Keep striving for greatness!
Thank you so much for answering!
Monet
Joanne Wiess
teacher
7
Answers
East Norriton, PA
Updated
Joanne’s Answer
You have a diversified background and are unafraid to set a goal and work toward achieving it. The only addition I would suggest is to find a charitable cause to contribute time regularly. Demonstrating a dedication to others would show that you are aware of the less fortunate and will work to show some comfort. I am sure something exists in your area or even in your school. Steady participation will show that you are willing to reach out beyond yourself.
Thank you for the advice!
Monet
Jessica Goldbogen Harlan
Writer, Editor, Cookbook Author
3
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Jessica’s Answer
You are a very interesting person and that goes a long way when applying for colleges. I have a senior in high school who is deciding between colleges, and I've learned a LOT. Here's my advice:
-Between junior and senior year, write the best essay you can on an unusual and interesting topic that is important to you or that affected your life (stay away from stuff like mental health, covid etc, those are overused topics). You'll be able to find out sometime during junior year what the essay topics are for CommonApp, they don't seem to change much. There are lots of blogs and other resources on essay writing. You sound like you're a great writer already so you should be able to do a good job. We hired an essay coach to help my daughter after she'd written her first draft and my kid learned a lot about digging deep into her memories and thoughts to write passionately, it helped her write the college-specific supplemental essays and scholarship essays. She wrote several different essays for these and was able to alter them for different applications so she wasn't starting from square one each time.
-Try to get a leadership position in one of your school clubs. Or, do a lot of volunteer work. These look great on applications. Also, keep your grades up!
-Find colleges that fit you not only academically but also financially. For us, in-state schools would be the most affordable (this is the case in many states). But my daughter wanted to go out of state. We looked at private colleges where she would be in the top 25 percent of the admitted students so that she'd have a shot at getting the highest scholarships. If you want to go out of state, private colleges will often give the most scholarships, and the secondary campuses of state schools are also affordable (i.e. University of Wisconsin Green Bay is way more affordable than the Madison flagship campus).
-For your major or career choice, try to talk to folks in the industry about their experiences and advice. What they majored in, what sort of internships they did, what their career path was, if they enjoy it, if they feel like it is an industry that is going to not become obsolete due to AI or the changes going on in this country. Most folks will be happy to let you shadow them or at least to sit down with you for 20 minutes and answer questions.
-Between junior and senior year, write the best essay you can on an unusual and interesting topic that is important to you or that affected your life (stay away from stuff like mental health, covid etc, those are overused topics). You'll be able to find out sometime during junior year what the essay topics are for CommonApp, they don't seem to change much. There are lots of blogs and other resources on essay writing. You sound like you're a great writer already so you should be able to do a good job. We hired an essay coach to help my daughter after she'd written her first draft and my kid learned a lot about digging deep into her memories and thoughts to write passionately, it helped her write the college-specific supplemental essays and scholarship essays. She wrote several different essays for these and was able to alter them for different applications so she wasn't starting from square one each time.
-Try to get a leadership position in one of your school clubs. Or, do a lot of volunteer work. These look great on applications. Also, keep your grades up!
-Find colleges that fit you not only academically but also financially. For us, in-state schools would be the most affordable (this is the case in many states). But my daughter wanted to go out of state. We looked at private colleges where she would be in the top 25 percent of the admitted students so that she'd have a shot at getting the highest scholarships. If you want to go out of state, private colleges will often give the most scholarships, and the secondary campuses of state schools are also affordable (i.e. University of Wisconsin Green Bay is way more affordable than the Madison flagship campus).
-For your major or career choice, try to talk to folks in the industry about their experiences and advice. What they majored in, what sort of internships they did, what their career path was, if they enjoy it, if they feel like it is an industry that is going to not become obsolete due to AI or the changes going on in this country. Most folks will be happy to let you shadow them or at least to sit down with you for 20 minutes and answer questions.
I really appreciate you answering my question. Thank you so much!
Monet
Michelle M.
Actress
2312
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Monet !
You are most certainly an outstanding student who will undoubtedly do well in college !
Applications for college are one thing, but continuing to sharpen your music, writing and acting skills for the careers that you want will be most important for you while in high school. Take it one step at a time. Chances are that you will apply to several colleges, all of which have different admissions criteria and requirements. That is something that you can explore right now. Their admissions requirements are all spelled out on their websites. You didn't mention what your intended major is which may weigh in on what is expected for the application. But as an actress, I can tell you some ideas of how to take this.
First and foremost, keep doing what your doing - performance and writing experience will be in your favor before college. Audition for all the shows in 11th and 12th grade. Schedule time for your writing, too and venture into writing short stories, plays, and other forms of writing. Since you have already played music for an audience as well as had a novel published, you may be professional quality at this point. It's the Acting that may need to be focused on if that is what you are really interested in and want to take some time to focus on that training to get to a professional level.
It's going to really depend on your circumstances and preferences. Since work for acting, playing music and writing do not warrant a college degree (but you're better off going to get that degree) I would suggest majoring in Theatre in college. You can always write on your own as you have been doing and can take classes for the instrument you play from a private instructor. Acting is more intricate than it seems, however. Whereas music and writing can even be done online, acting can't because it depends on live interaction. I would suggest going for a Bachelors Degree in Theatre (emphasis on Acting).
If you decide this Major, some schools do require auditions for admission but many do not. You'll have to decide if this is what you'd major in and if you want to go to a university that requires auditions to be accepted to their Theatre program or to a university that doesn't require auditions. If you go to a university that requires auditions, you would have to be both accepted to the university and then, as well, accepted to the theatre program. So the application process can depend on many things. I did go to a university that didn't require auditions and did fine. The perk with that is you get to begin right away instead of having to wait to be accepted by the Theatre program. It's okay to wonder about college applications but it's not all generalized and depends on what major you're going for and which specific colleges you want to apply to. All colleges have different application requirements.
So, think about a specific major for college, continue all the fascinating performances and writing you're already doing, keep up those stellar grades and GPA and when the time comes, you will ace your application essay and have an impressive background !
Best wishes in all you do and I hope this is helpful !
You are most certainly an outstanding student who will undoubtedly do well in college !
Applications for college are one thing, but continuing to sharpen your music, writing and acting skills for the careers that you want will be most important for you while in high school. Take it one step at a time. Chances are that you will apply to several colleges, all of which have different admissions criteria and requirements. That is something that you can explore right now. Their admissions requirements are all spelled out on their websites. You didn't mention what your intended major is which may weigh in on what is expected for the application. But as an actress, I can tell you some ideas of how to take this.
First and foremost, keep doing what your doing - performance and writing experience will be in your favor before college. Audition for all the shows in 11th and 12th grade. Schedule time for your writing, too and venture into writing short stories, plays, and other forms of writing. Since you have already played music for an audience as well as had a novel published, you may be professional quality at this point. It's the Acting that may need to be focused on if that is what you are really interested in and want to take some time to focus on that training to get to a professional level.
It's going to really depend on your circumstances and preferences. Since work for acting, playing music and writing do not warrant a college degree (but you're better off going to get that degree) I would suggest majoring in Theatre in college. You can always write on your own as you have been doing and can take classes for the instrument you play from a private instructor. Acting is more intricate than it seems, however. Whereas music and writing can even be done online, acting can't because it depends on live interaction. I would suggest going for a Bachelors Degree in Theatre (emphasis on Acting).
If you decide this Major, some schools do require auditions for admission but many do not. You'll have to decide if this is what you'd major in and if you want to go to a university that requires auditions to be accepted to their Theatre program or to a university that doesn't require auditions. If you go to a university that requires auditions, you would have to be both accepted to the university and then, as well, accepted to the theatre program. So the application process can depend on many things. I did go to a university that didn't require auditions and did fine. The perk with that is you get to begin right away instead of having to wait to be accepted by the Theatre program. It's okay to wonder about college applications but it's not all generalized and depends on what major you're going for and which specific colleges you want to apply to. All colleges have different application requirements.
So, think about a specific major for college, continue all the fascinating performances and writing you're already doing, keep up those stellar grades and GPA and when the time comes, you will ace your application essay and have an impressive background !
Best wishes in all you do and I hope this is helpful !
Thank you so much! This really is helpful and I appreciate it a lot!
Monet
You are quite welcome, Monet !
Michelle M.
Briana Fregoso
Strategy Consultant
10
Answers
Hayward, California
Updated
Briana’s Answer
You're off to an amazing start! High school is a great time to explore your interests and decide what you might want to major in. If you're aiming to be a musician, author, or actress, consider majors like theater and English. Even if your dream job doesn't need a degree, a college education can open more doors, so think about subjects that excite you.
Start looking at colleges that offer the majors you're interested in and learn about their application processes. It's helpful to categorize schools into three groups: Reach schools, which are more competitive; Target schools, where you have a good chance of getting in; and Safety schools, which are easier to get into. Having safety schools is always a smart move.
Once you have a list of colleges, dive into their admissions requirements and find ways to stand out. Many schools ask for a personal statement and details about your extracurricular activities. Be thoughtful about the activities you choose, and think about the impact they have on you and what you bring to them.
With these steps, you'll be well-prepared for your college applications. Keep going—you've got this!
Start looking at colleges that offer the majors you're interested in and learn about their application processes. It's helpful to categorize schools into three groups: Reach schools, which are more competitive; Target schools, where you have a good chance of getting in; and Safety schools, which are easier to get into. Having safety schools is always a smart move.
Once you have a list of colleges, dive into their admissions requirements and find ways to stand out. Many schools ask for a personal statement and details about your extracurricular activities. Be thoughtful about the activities you choose, and think about the impact they have on you and what you bring to them.
With these steps, you'll be well-prepared for your college applications. Keep going—you've got this!
Thank you so much for the advice! I really appreciate it.
Monet