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What exactly should you do at 15 to give you a good start for college?
I'm not exactly sure about what I want to do but all I know is that I want to be rich and successful and to be known. #buisness #wealthy #rich #independant #financially stable #marketing #career-paths #education
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4 answers
Updated
Drew’s Answer
Hi Jennifer,
First -- it's smart to be thinking about this now. The earlier the start, the more prepared you will be. Here's are some things to think about:
Your grades -- naturally, this is a big part of getting into the school you'd most like to attend. Invest in doing your absolute best in every class. Seek out extra help if you need it. Most teachers want to give you all the extra help you need.
Your extra-curricular activities -- colleges today want to see beyond what kind of student you are. They want to know where and how you spend your time and what you learned from those experiences. Anything from choir to sports to volunteering help them see who you are and what matters to you.
Money -- unfortunately, college is expensive, no matter where you go. But you can earn a ton of money in scholarships if you apply yourself. Being ready financially is as important as being ready academically.
Recommendations -- You'll want to have a few letters of recommendation from teachers, business people in your community, your boss if you have a part-time job, etc. Start thinking about who would be a good source and cultivate a relationship with them so they know you well enough to write a stellar review.
Good luck!
Drew
First -- it's smart to be thinking about this now. The earlier the start, the more prepared you will be. Here's are some things to think about:
Your grades -- naturally, this is a big part of getting into the school you'd most like to attend. Invest in doing your absolute best in every class. Seek out extra help if you need it. Most teachers want to give you all the extra help you need.
Your extra-curricular activities -- colleges today want to see beyond what kind of student you are. They want to know where and how you spend your time and what you learned from those experiences. Anything from choir to sports to volunteering help them see who you are and what matters to you.
Money -- unfortunately, college is expensive, no matter where you go. But you can earn a ton of money in scholarships if you apply yourself. Being ready financially is as important as being ready academically.
Recommendations -- You'll want to have a few letters of recommendation from teachers, business people in your community, your boss if you have a part-time job, etc. Start thinking about who would be a good source and cultivate a relationship with them so they know you well enough to write a stellar review.
Good luck!
Drew
Updated
Stacey’s Answer
Hi Jennifer,
Good for you in that you are so driven at such a young age! Instead of reiterating what other excellent advice you have been given, I'm going to answer this with some different ideas to only enhance a typical journey to college and career path.
One of the good things about the pandemic has been the explosion of so many online courses you can take to learn in depth about your interests in marketing etc. Most can be completed on your schedule so they allow for flexibility. My teenage son last summer took a free HarvardEx online course relating to architecture and I'm sure you could find a topic that would interest you and broaden your learning in that area.
LinkenIn is another great tool to get your name out there, where you can tell your story and have people notice you. You can make your profile as brief or as detailed as you want it. It's a wonderful way to connect with employers of local companies and talk directly to them through messaging etc. Many companies offer unpaid internships for young adults and if you really connect with someone, they could end up being an amazing mentor. People love to talk about what they do and offer help!
Keep your grades up as I have learned through my two boys who have applied to college, many schools offer merit scholarships in addition to financial aid. When choosing the two high school teachers who will write your college recommendation letters, make sure they know you well and can add personal anecdotes to the story they tell about you to admissions officers. I agree with one of the previous comments in that it doesn't matter where you go to college, it's what you do when you're there and what you do with your degree once you graduate.
I understand your goal of being wealthy and successful however always stay humble and understand that the true benefit of being wealthy is that you have personal financial freedom.
Best wishes!
Stacey
Look for marketing community groups on FB or Instagram and follow people you think could help you or that you admire. Make comments when you can as that opens up the personal dialogue.
Good for you in that you are so driven at such a young age! Instead of reiterating what other excellent advice you have been given, I'm going to answer this with some different ideas to only enhance a typical journey to college and career path.
One of the good things about the pandemic has been the explosion of so many online courses you can take to learn in depth about your interests in marketing etc. Most can be completed on your schedule so they allow for flexibility. My teenage son last summer took a free HarvardEx online course relating to architecture and I'm sure you could find a topic that would interest you and broaden your learning in that area.
LinkenIn is another great tool to get your name out there, where you can tell your story and have people notice you. You can make your profile as brief or as detailed as you want it. It's a wonderful way to connect with employers of local companies and talk directly to them through messaging etc. Many companies offer unpaid internships for young adults and if you really connect with someone, they could end up being an amazing mentor. People love to talk about what they do and offer help!
Keep your grades up as I have learned through my two boys who have applied to college, many schools offer merit scholarships in addition to financial aid. When choosing the two high school teachers who will write your college recommendation letters, make sure they know you well and can add personal anecdotes to the story they tell about you to admissions officers. I agree with one of the previous comments in that it doesn't matter where you go to college, it's what you do when you're there and what you do with your degree once you graduate.
I understand your goal of being wealthy and successful however always stay humble and understand that the true benefit of being wealthy is that you have personal financial freedom.
Best wishes!
Stacey
Stacey recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Vive’s Answer
As a teenager who is interested in pursuing college you want to stay on track of surrounding yourself with like minded friends. Your support systems and school personnel are key in helping you navigate towards your college aspirations. Some necessary steps are keeping your grades up and taking college courses. Challenge yourself by researching courses in the lines of business or careers you are interested in. Take career assessments to see where your strengths lie. Based on those results if possible shadow someone in that field. Gather the educational requirements and make sure you are taking the classes needed to narrow your college selections. Make sure you are involved in school activities and outside activities especially volunteering. Stay on top of your counselors too so they can give you tools and feedback for what’s required to get into college. Study and apply yourself and study some more. Don’t get defeated or lose focus when you come to an obstacle. Most importantly rely on your faith and positive mantras to keep you centered. Don’t give up, because the success in succeeding is working hard but don’t stop believing in yourself. Choose your top three colleges in the order of the long shot, the highly likely to the most practical. Don’t allow others choices or selections sway you because it’s your life. Remember it’s not where you go but what you do while your there. There’s a college fit for everyone so when you finally make the decision of what you want to do and where you want to go be confident and proud. If you go the local route the funding is more economical and if you go out of state it can be more costly. So keep in mind that when you go out of state you have to apply for scholarships often and stay on top of your financial aid. Always remember you are your best student advocate. Lastly take into consideration that there is no perfect college it all comes down to persistence and being clear in what is best for you.
Take SAT/ ACT’s
Get involved in clubs or support organizations
Keep a record of your grades a month before marking period
Get tutor or begin study group for classes you need help in
Look into trade schools
Vive recommends the following next steps:
Anthony Sharp - The Edutainer (HE He/Him/His)
Facilitator of Employment Readiness
60
Answers
Updated
Anthony’s Answer
Hey Jennifer,
I applaud you for starting to plan early. A great thing to do is volunteer to gain some community involvement and start building your resume.
Check out www.volunteermatch.org and search organizations in your area based on your interest.
Take some career assessments to see what you are interested in majoring in.
Once you solidify your major, research schools that have that major.
Research those colleges and select the one that best meets your needs. Once you secure a school, find out their requirements and begin working on preparing for the admissions process
Hope that helps
I applaud you for starting to plan early. A great thing to do is volunteer to gain some community involvement and start building your resume.
Check out www.volunteermatch.org and search organizations in your area based on your interest.
Take some career assessments to see what you are interested in majoring in.
Once you solidify your major, research schools that have that major.
Research those colleges and select the one that best meets your needs. Once you secure a school, find out their requirements and begin working on preparing for the admissions process
Hope that helps