Do you have any crucial college admission tips any high school student should be aware of?
I'm a sophomore in high school and I started thinking about college and my future plans. I was wondering if there are any important information to take into consideration when applying for colleges. #college #college-admissions #future-careers
3 answers
Matthew’s Answer
Luka, this is a great question to consider, especially as you mark the halfway point of your sophomore year. The biggest tips I could give you are as follows:
Take challenging courses with the hope of a) doing well and b) expanding your academic growth. You can take a specific class because you're interested in the subject (i.e., English, Chemistry, etc.), but you might not necessarily grow because the content isn't challenging or the instructor isn't an effective teacher. One of the biggest things I've seen from counseling students over the past several years is that their transcript is usually very good, but their academic growth isn't necessarily as substantial as they'd like to believe. Be intentional about how YOU want to grow!
Get involved with things you're passionate about AND show how your presence and leadership made a difference (i.e., student membership increased, led team to more victories, presented at a leadership conference, etc.) Colleges want to see what kind of person you are, not just in the classroom but in other areas of your life. The more you show evidence of how much you're wiling to work to create positive changes for others and the communities around you, the more likely they'll be to offer admission and some strong financial aid packages.
It might sound silly, but be intentional about how you'd like to grow, and then go there. As an example, I wound up going to a college five hours away from home, so there was no going home on the weekends, and I had to figure out a lot of things for myself for the first time. It wasn't easy at first, but I grew a lot from the experience, and I'm positive other students would say the same.
I hope all of this is helpful. I'm confident you can keep doing well - do the best you can, and watch what happens :)
Best of luck,
Matt
Liuv’s Answer
Nicole’s Answer
Do your best to give yourself enough time. Depending on your interests and the types and quantity of schools you plan to apply to, it will be important to submit an application package that is the best representation of you. Your clearest writing (or verbal language if an interview is part of the process). Your best essays. A thoughtful representation of your participation and/or leadership skills in school clubs or teams. Getting written recommendations. With all of the exciting things that can happen during your last years in high school plus completing standardized testing, the college application process can add another layer of stress. But individuals can minimize that stress level by carving out time to do their very best when applying to the schools of their choice.
Hope you find this answer helpful and best of luck to you!