Back to School: College Planning No Matter Your Age - Part II
In Part I of this blog series, we covered the importance of academic and activity planning throughout high school. Read on to learn how to plan for standardized tests and the college search beginning as early as freshman year. Hint: freshmen and sophomores, although it is too early to formally begin either process, there are things you can do early in high school to set you up for success when it is time to officially begin these steps.
Standardized Testing
The most talked about part of the admissions process right now is probably standardized testing. The testing landscape has changed significantly in the last few years. Although some colleges were test-optional before the Covid-19 pandemic, most colleges became test-optional at the beginning of the pandemic because students could not test due to closed testing centers. While some colleges have made their test-optional policies permanent, other colleges continue to reevaluate this decision yearly.
Public universities in the state of California are now test blind (meaning they won’t consider scores even if submitted), while public universities in Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee are requiring test scores this year. MIT has also decided to require test scores again this year. For those colleges that have a test optional policy, the question then becomes are they truly test optional, and the answer is “it depends.” Here it is important to look at each individual testing policy. Schools that say they are test preferred or test flexible probably want to see some test scores. Right now, we are recommending that all students plan to test. Should you not test as strongly as you hope or if your test scores don’t enhance or support your application profile, then, if it is an option, do not send your scores.
So when should you start to prepare for standardized tests? If you are a freshman or sophomore, is too early to start to prepare now. The best thing you can do is read as much as possible - fiction, non-fiction, books, short stories, article, blogs – anything that interests you. To do well on standardized tests, students need strong reading comprehension skills, and it is easier to build this skill over time than it is to cram it in at the last minute. At the end of sophomore year, we suggest you take a mock ACT and SAT if you haven’t taken one, including the PACT, PSAT or PSAT10, in school that year. The mock tests can help you determine which test you prefer and can do better on. These days, colleges truly don’t prefer one test over the other, so we want you to focus only on the test you can do the best on. If you are a high school junior, start test prep at least a few months before you plan to take you first official test. The timeline of your first test will depend on you math level and activity schedule. There is some Algebra II on the ACT and SAT, so if you are taking Algebra II as a junior, you will want to learn some of that material first and consider testing a little later in the school year. Additionally, it is important to take your activity schedule into account to ensure you have time to prep while still focusing on you classes and grades. For example, if you play a fall sport, you may not be in the best position to test in the fall since practices and games can interfere with your test preparation schedule or even the actual test.
Registration for the ACT and SAT opens mid-summer for the following school year, and that means the 2022-2023 test dates are now open for registration. As soon as you know your testing timeline, it is wise to sign up for a couple of test dates to be sure that you can secure a seat at a test site that is convenient for you. Some test sites fill up quickly. Here are the links to register for the ACT or the SAT.
If you do plan to work with a test prep tutor, it would be wise to secure one during your sophomore year. Some tutors do fill up early, so planning ahead will ensure you have found a tutor that will be a good match for your learning style.
College Search
Junior year is the perfect time to begin the college search. We find that students who are younger than that need a little more time to discover their interests, likes, and dislikes. Instead of beginning a formal college search, freshmen and sophomores should casually check out the different types of colleges that are available to you - universities, liberal arts colleges, urban, suburban or rural locations, and college towns. This can be done simply by driving through a college campus while on a vacation or by visiting colleges within a couple-hour drive of your home. While these may not be the schools you ultimately want to attend, visiting different types of campuses can help you discover what you like and/or don’t like.
For juniors, beginning your college search by taking time to determine what you want in your future college is essential There are thousands of accredited four-year colleges in the United States, so we understand it is easy to become overwhelmed by all of the choices. Now is the time to think about what you are looking for in a college. Determining your key college criteria can help guide the search. Think about the location of the school. Do you want to be close to home or explore a new state? Do you like the idea of going to college in a city or do you prefer more of a college town? What about the size of your college? Colleges range from just a few hundred students to over 50,000 students. Where does you think they would fit in best? Is joining a sorority or fraternity important? Have you given thought to a major? Are any of the following important to you in your future college: ability to participate in research, big time athletics, school spirit, class size and access to professors? These are only a few of the many different questions you should ask to figure out what characteristics you want a college to have. Once you start to hone in on some of these factors, research a couple of colleges that have these characteristics. This will help you discover other things you want or don’t want in your college experience.
As you determine what you think you want in a college, you can begin the actual research process, which includes visiting college website, attending in person and virtual information sessions, tours, student panels, and academic sessions, watching YouTube videos, exploring majors, and talking to other students who attend those schools. We recommend taking notes during the research process as it is easy to get confused once you begin your research. If you visit a college in person, pictures are also very helpful to jog your memory when it comes time to narrow down your list. The notes and pictures will also help your write your essays without requiring you to spend hours re-researching a college when it comes time to start writing your college essays.
Another important piece of the research process (and admissions process) is demonstrating interest in the colleges you are interested in. Demonstrated interest is an important factor that many colleges take into account when deciding which students to admit. Colleges that pay attention to demonstrated interest are more likely to admit a student that shows interest than a student who has not engaged with that college at all. Demonstrated interest can help admissions officers understand how likely you are to enroll if admitted. Many colleges formally track the amount of engagement you have had with them, but even for those that do not, the more research you do, the more clearly you can show a college why they are a good fit for you This knowledge can usually be displayed in essays, interviews, emails to admissions officers, etc. You can learn more about demonstrated interest by reading What Demonstrated Interest Means and Why It’s Important When Applying To College and Understanding Demonstrated Interest.
Life Skills
Last but certainly not least, there are a lot of life skills that should be developed and practiced throughout high school to aid in the college preparation process.
First, college preparation requires communication. Developing relationships with teachers and counselors can help you feel more comfortable when asking for help. Getting to know your high school counselor is especially important as they will probably be the person to guide you through the college application process and eventually write your letter of recommendation.
Next, and we can’t stress this enough, it is always a good idea to continue reading and learning outside of the classroom. Exploring hobbies or interests through reading is an investment you can make today that will set you up for lifelong success.
While this probably sounds obvious, organization and time management are crucial skills. As you progress through high school and grow involvement in your activities, staying on top of deadlines and tasks is imperative to success. Life can get stressful, and one of the easiest ways to avoid stress is to stay organized. Try using a calendar (on your phone or the old-fashioned kind) or planner. You should get in the habit of writing notes and reminders to yourself. Try different things and ultimately you will develop a system that works for you.
Last, we would be remiss not to mention mature social media behavior. More and more students are falling victim to an online reputation that does not accurately reflect their abilities as a student or their character as a person. College admissions officers have been known to deny and/or rescind admissions offers based on controversial and offensive posts. We hear about students every year who lost their chances at the college of their dreams because of something they posted. Be intentional with what you post. Too often, a post from the past shows up and can hurt a student in the future. Remember, your digital footprint lasts forever. Even posts that are supposed to disappear after a few minutes or hours can still be out there forever.
We know that this blog (see Part I if you missed it) covered a lot of material. For more information, visit our website at www.nscollegecosulting.net and sign up to get a copy of our free ebook - College Planning - A Year by Year Guide.
Are you looking for someone to help your high school student build a reasonable and balanced list of colleges they are excited to attend? Contact North Shore College Consulting today to learn more about our one-on-one, individual college consulting packages.