6 answers
miley
Student
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
1
Question
Updated
306 views
When should I start looking/applying to colleges?
Im feeling somewhat anxious as the next school year approaches, I am going to be a junior (11th grade) in high school. Any advice that you can give is greatly appreciated.
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6 answers
Adrian Santos
Marine Security Guard
151
Answers
Lome, Maritime Region, Togo
Updated
Adrian’s Answer
In my view, it's always better to begin early rather than waiting when it comes to joining school. This way, you can explore your opportunities for growth and achieve success.
Dino Ubalde
Educator/Psychologist/Life Coach
160
Answers
Tracy, California
Updated
Dino’s Answer
Hello Miley, thanks for getting in touch with us! I'm delighted that you've brought up this fantastic question. It's great to see students with such a positive mindset. To achieve success in life, it's essential to be ready for any uncertainties that may come your way. Being prepared means being mentally, physically, and emotionally equipped for your future, particularly as you enter college.
Drawing from experience, being academically prepared can significantly benefit you. Pay close attention to your academic performance and ensure that your GPA is competitive among other college applicants. To stay ahead, concentrate on your academics, as that's your primary responsibility as a student right now. If you're well-prepared academically, you'll be able to attend any college or university and meet their requirements, including entrance exams.
Additionally, it's crucial to develop your communication skills, both verbal and written, as you'll face essay assignments in college. Do your best to express your thoughts clearly, concisely, and with purpose throughout your college journey.
Attend college life talk given or incoordination by counseling office.
Visit your counselor and ask some assistance regarding your career exploration or placement services.
Interview college students with the same program you wanted to pursue.
When choosing a college program always consider your interests, aptitude, skills, abilities and your personality traits. These factors will help you become well informed decision maker.
Drawing from experience, being academically prepared can significantly benefit you. Pay close attention to your academic performance and ensure that your GPA is competitive among other college applicants. To stay ahead, concentrate on your academics, as that's your primary responsibility as a student right now. If you're well-prepared academically, you'll be able to attend any college or university and meet their requirements, including entrance exams.
Additionally, it's crucial to develop your communication skills, both verbal and written, as you'll face essay assignments in college. Do your best to express your thoughts clearly, concisely, and with purpose throughout your college journey.
Dino recommends the following next steps:
Todd Jurow
Project Manager
27
Answers
New Jersey, New Jersey
Updated
Todd’s Answer
Hi Miley. My son will be starting his senior year at a large public university and my daughter will be an incoming freshman at a small private college, so I've recently experienced college preparation for 2 very different kids. In 11th grade, college prep is on everyone's mind. Deciding which (if any) standardized test you should take (ACT or SAT), making sure you get good grades, and rounding yourself out with extra curricular activities are things you should discuss with your parents and your school counselor. Some school counselors are great, but not all, so if you're not getting the clarity you need from yours, you may want to ask your parents about an outside source for help.
There are many on-line resources you can use to explore schools. I liked using Niche, CollegeConfidential and CollegeVine. (We also used the book "Fiske Guide to Colleges.") If you're not sure what sort of degree or career you want to pursue, you can just begin exploring college sizes and locations. I see you live near Dickinson College. Maybe spend some time on campus to get a feel for that atmosphere and then try to visit other schools to get a sense of what size feels right. There are so many options out there that it can be overwhelming. If you want to stay within X amount of hours from home, that helps narrow down your list. Don't worry, as your preferences will likely change the more schools you see, so your list will be a living document as you go through the exploration process. My daughter's first list had 40+ schools before she started cutting it down. It seemed like she'd never narrow down her list, but she managed to find the perfect school FOR HER. That's the key -- finding the right fit for you.
We created a spreadsheet that had columns of categories such as size, location, distance from home, SAT/ACT range, GPA range, acceptance rate, difficulty (reach, target, safety), etc. It helped make things manageable and see which schools were worth applying to. Just know that you're going through this process with the same level of anxiety as your peers. You're all in the same boat during this exciting time.
Decide on ACT/SAT/neither, focus on getting good grades, participate in extra curricular activities
Speak with with your parents and your school counselor
Use on-line resources to research schools
Create a list of schools that interest you (spreadsheets are best)
Know you have time, resources and help to navigate through this process
There are many on-line resources you can use to explore schools. I liked using Niche, CollegeConfidential and CollegeVine. (We also used the book "Fiske Guide to Colleges.") If you're not sure what sort of degree or career you want to pursue, you can just begin exploring college sizes and locations. I see you live near Dickinson College. Maybe spend some time on campus to get a feel for that atmosphere and then try to visit other schools to get a sense of what size feels right. There are so many options out there that it can be overwhelming. If you want to stay within X amount of hours from home, that helps narrow down your list. Don't worry, as your preferences will likely change the more schools you see, so your list will be a living document as you go through the exploration process. My daughter's first list had 40+ schools before she started cutting it down. It seemed like she'd never narrow down her list, but she managed to find the perfect school FOR HER. That's the key -- finding the right fit for you.
We created a spreadsheet that had columns of categories such as size, location, distance from home, SAT/ACT range, GPA range, acceptance rate, difficulty (reach, target, safety), etc. It helped make things manageable and see which schools were worth applying to. Just know that you're going through this process with the same level of anxiety as your peers. You're all in the same boat during this exciting time.
Todd recommends the following next steps:
Jacob vanhaften
I rap for others and explain through my music that other people are not alone in this world
4
Answers
Hamburg, MN
Updated
Jacob’s Answer
when your in 12th grade you should be thinking about it as of that would be your last year in school
Eric Sommer
Associate- Customer Success
3
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Eric’s Answer
As a junior, you've got ample time ahead! Since you can only apply to colleges as a senior, use this year to complete essential tests like the ACT or SAT. Additionally, begin exploring various colleges and identifying your preferences, such as specific degrees, majors, campus size, and distance from home. Once you have a clear idea of your desired college experience, list down schools that fit your criteria.
Towards the end of your junior year and during the summer, try to visit some of the colleges on your list to get a better sense of whether you can envision yourself there. Remember, you'll likely spend 4+ years at the chosen college, so feeling at ease is crucial!
College applications typically open in the summer before your senior year, so it's wise to start drafting your general college essays early. These essays will be submitted to all schools you apply to. For more information on the application process, visit: https://www.commonapp.org/
Towards the end of your junior year and during the summer, try to visit some of the colleges on your list to get a better sense of whether you can envision yourself there. Remember, you'll likely spend 4+ years at the chosen college, so feeling at ease is crucial!
College applications typically open in the summer before your senior year, so it's wise to start drafting your general college essays early. These essays will be submitted to all schools you apply to. For more information on the application process, visit: https://www.commonapp.org/
Tracy Nguyen
4th year student at GSU
3
Answers
Lilburn, Georgia
Updated
Tracy’s Answer
Hi Miley, nice to meet you here on CareerVillage.org. Hopefully, my response will fulfill all your inquiries about the proper time to apply to colleges. Since you will study 11th grade in the next school year, here are a few things that you need to consider and prepare before applying to colleges:
1. SAT/ACT score (exam dates and times): I know this is somewhat unimportant because some colleges/universities often waive the score after the pandemic. They tend to focus on your high school transcript and your extracurricular activities such as volunteering. However, you need to check out the website of the college/university that you want to apply in order to make sure if they still need those scores as their requirement for admission. If you haven't taken any of those tests yet, please sign up ASAP and remember the date and time of the exam.
2. Figure out your interests, especially for your career: this is very important because it would save money and time when you go to college. I hope you don't panic about this. For example, I used to confuse about my interests because I didn't know what I liked, hated, or wanted to do at that time. Therefore, I claimed my major as undeclared for over a year in college to figure out my interests. After a hard time figuring out myself, I decided to take the tests online such as personality test, major quiz test, etc. Additionally, I also asked my advisor and school psychologist about my strengths and shortcomings based on my characteristics and grades in each class in the transcript. Finally, I had my own answer that I wanted to help people both physically and mentally based on my competence. Otherwise, I didn't study well in Math so those jobs with numbers and statistics would be good choices for me. Moreover, I figured out that I had a passion when it comes to creating content on social media such as uploading posts, image editing, Instagram reels, TikTok videos, and more. As a result, I picked my major as Marketing with a concentration on Social Media Marketing to fulfill my interest in creating content on social media. You need to ask yourself every day about what you like, hate, or want to do in your career in order not to regret the wrongful choices in college.
3. If you apply to some colleges/universities already, please be mindful of the deadlines, especially for admission and paperwork. On the other hand, be prepared for the workload from essays if you apply on CommonApp.
Overall, I hope you stay hydrated and healthy for the rest of your high school years.
1. SAT/ACT score (exam dates and times): I know this is somewhat unimportant because some colleges/universities often waive the score after the pandemic. They tend to focus on your high school transcript and your extracurricular activities such as volunteering. However, you need to check out the website of the college/university that you want to apply in order to make sure if they still need those scores as their requirement for admission. If you haven't taken any of those tests yet, please sign up ASAP and remember the date and time of the exam.
2. Figure out your interests, especially for your career: this is very important because it would save money and time when you go to college. I hope you don't panic about this. For example, I used to confuse about my interests because I didn't know what I liked, hated, or wanted to do at that time. Therefore, I claimed my major as undeclared for over a year in college to figure out my interests. After a hard time figuring out myself, I decided to take the tests online such as personality test, major quiz test, etc. Additionally, I also asked my advisor and school psychologist about my strengths and shortcomings based on my characteristics and grades in each class in the transcript. Finally, I had my own answer that I wanted to help people both physically and mentally based on my competence. Otherwise, I didn't study well in Math so those jobs with numbers and statistics would be good choices for me. Moreover, I figured out that I had a passion when it comes to creating content on social media such as uploading posts, image editing, Instagram reels, TikTok videos, and more. As a result, I picked my major as Marketing with a concentration on Social Media Marketing to fulfill my interest in creating content on social media. You need to ask yourself every day about what you like, hate, or want to do in your career in order not to regret the wrongful choices in college.
3. If you apply to some colleges/universities already, please be mindful of the deadlines, especially for admission and paperwork. On the other hand, be prepared for the workload from essays if you apply on CommonApp.
Overall, I hope you stay hydrated and healthy for the rest of your high school years.