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What is the best way to prepare for college?
I am currently in high school my junior year.
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Charlie’s Answer
As a high school junior, there are several steps you can take to prepare for college. Start by researching colleges and universities that interest you, considering factors such as location, academic programs, campus culture, and extracurricular activities. Schedule a meeting with your high school guidance counselor to discuss your college plans and request assistance with course selection, standardized testing, and college applications.
Colleges look for well-rounded students, so get involved in extracurricular activities that interest you, such as sports, clubs, volunteer work, internships, or part-time jobs. Consider leading a club, organizing an event, or taking on a leadership role with a school project to demonstrate your leadership qualities.
Prepare for the standardized tests required by the colleges you are interested in by taking practice tests. Some high schools offer a formal SAT or ACT prep course as an elective. Make sure you are taking challenging courses, maintaining good grades, and aiming for a high GPA as your junior year grades are important for college admissions.
Partner with your college or university's financial aid department to discuss scholarship opportunities and application deadlines. Consider taking Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if your high school offers them to challenge yourself academically and earn college credit.
By taking these steps, you can set yourself up for success in the college admissions process and make the most of your high school years.
Colleges look for well-rounded students, so get involved in extracurricular activities that interest you, such as sports, clubs, volunteer work, internships, or part-time jobs. Consider leading a club, organizing an event, or taking on a leadership role with a school project to demonstrate your leadership qualities.
Prepare for the standardized tests required by the colleges you are interested in by taking practice tests. Some high schools offer a formal SAT or ACT prep course as an elective. Make sure you are taking challenging courses, maintaining good grades, and aiming for a high GPA as your junior year grades are important for college admissions.
Partner with your college or university's financial aid department to discuss scholarship opportunities and application deadlines. Consider taking Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if your high school offers them to challenge yourself academically and earn college credit.
By taking these steps, you can set yourself up for success in the college admissions process and make the most of your high school years.
Updated
Clint’s Answer
My response here is going to be a bit unique or cavalier BUT how do you prepare for other career commitments and/or rather academically important components of your life? I would start there as this will provide the innate and engrained behaviors to be successful in college. If college is a strong goal, yet you might not fully understand what it requires and what it leads to; then exploring college/university with a mindset of learning and considering various options and not simply what can I do to get there.....is a more fitting mindset to me.
Those learned and developed study habits, organizational skills, social emotional intelligence & relationship skills, as well as extra curricular involvement and to what degree of intensity; are all continuously developing skillsets that will be needed regardless of a college or career pathway. Once you fully understand how you approach current requirements or engagements, then you'll be well prepared for to assess what type of college/degree, location, financial commitment, athletics, social engagements, etc. I hope this helps and thanks again!
Clint
Those learned and developed study habits, organizational skills, social emotional intelligence & relationship skills, as well as extra curricular involvement and to what degree of intensity; are all continuously developing skillsets that will be needed regardless of a college or career pathway. Once you fully understand how you approach current requirements or engagements, then you'll be well prepared for to assess what type of college/degree, location, financial commitment, athletics, social engagements, etc. I hope this helps and thanks again!
Clint
Updated
Midwest’s Answer
Jeffrey, great question and now is the perfect time to really dig in on this as junior year is the most important year for your college application. First is hitting all the deadlines for applying and those can be coordinated with your college counselor through your high school. There are numerous considerations for choosing where to go to college including location, proximity to family/friends, cost, track record, curriculum offered, urban/rural setting, size of student body, availability of graduate schools, campus environment, weather/climate, housing opportunities, and usefulness for getting you to your next step if you have an idea of what that is. These are all extremely important and are the practical parts of the college application process.
Equally important are the life skills and adjustments that will be necessary for you to leave home (if you live at home now and will be moving out) and live on your own, often for the first time in your life. These include but certainly are not limited to:
1) Time management - This will be important beginning in college and lasting the rest of your life. This has implications on a day to day basis but also is hugely important not to overextend yourself particularly freshman year; do not overschedule your coursework to take too many credits when you are just getting used to being in college
2) Deciding on a major - You could take some online career quizzes as a starting point but follow your interests and talk to as many people as you can from each prospective major, as well as with your school counselor. Remember that you can always switch from whatever you commit to early on.
3) Budgeting - This is typically a brand new concept and skill for people leaving home and going to college. Learn how to create a weekly or monthly or even yearly budget ahead of time and then stick to that budget for all of your expenses. This is another skills which will continue for the rest of your life but is often essential to start while in college
Hope that helps!
Create a spreadsheet to keep track of and compare potential college choices
Use inventories and guidance to come up with 3 potential majors to study
Create a budget for your first year
Equally important are the life skills and adjustments that will be necessary for you to leave home (if you live at home now and will be moving out) and live on your own, often for the first time in your life. These include but certainly are not limited to:
1) Time management - This will be important beginning in college and lasting the rest of your life. This has implications on a day to day basis but also is hugely important not to overextend yourself particularly freshman year; do not overschedule your coursework to take too many credits when you are just getting used to being in college
2) Deciding on a major - You could take some online career quizzes as a starting point but follow your interests and talk to as many people as you can from each prospective major, as well as with your school counselor. Remember that you can always switch from whatever you commit to early on.
3) Budgeting - This is typically a brand new concept and skill for people leaving home and going to college. Learn how to create a weekly or monthly or even yearly budget ahead of time and then stick to that budget for all of your expenses. This is another skills which will continue for the rest of your life but is often essential to start while in college
Hope that helps!
Midwest recommends the following next steps: