5 answers
dani
Student
Murrieta, California
1
Question
Asked
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What should I do to prepare for getting into my dream colleges?
I am a sophomore in high school and am constantly looking to find help in preparing for college admissions. I am interested in pursuing either psychology or anthropology
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5 answers
Siri Gudur
Business Planning
1
Answer
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Siri’s Answer
Hi Dani, I think the following advice would help you gain acceptance into your dream schools. While this advice is targeted towards Ivy League and other prestigious schools, it certainly applies to any competitive school you are interested in:
First, I would suggest you make a list of your top 10-12 dream colleges and identify:
(1) the specific reasons you want to go there (specialized program, scholarship opportunities, location, prestige, etc.)
(2) average but ideally median SAT/ACT scores for each school's acceptance pool
(3) average bud ideally median GPA for each school's acceptance pool
(4) 2-4 alums from each school who are willing to mentor/share their experiences with you (leverage LinkedIn, school resources, etc.)
Second, I would prioritize getting your stats in a place where it is easy for your dream school to say "Yes!" to your application. While high test scores and GPAs are rarely the reason students are accepted into top colleges, it will be much harder to get in if you do not have these. This is where those median SAT/ACT scores and GPA come in. You want your test scores and GPA to be within the median range but ideally higher (the closer to perfect scores, the better obviously).
Third, since you are only a sophomore, I would recommend that you hold off on writing essays/applications until your late junior/senior year. But, until then, I suggest you find 3-5 extracurricular activities that you are incredibly passionate about and talented in... and then go above and beyond in this area. Ideally, these activities are related to your field of interest (psychology or anthropology) but given that you are a sophomore, and your intended major may change, it is best to follow the things you can wholeheartedly say you are passionate about. Are you passionate about studying psychology with a focus on early childhood development? Maybe you can start a tennis camp for young kids in your community and help them compete in local tournaments. Are you passionate about ancient cultures/civilizations? Maybe you can work as a research assistant for an Anthropology professor in your local community college and submit your research somewhere? I'm making examples up, but hopefully you can find ways to make an impact in your community that shows leadership, ambition, commitment, and time management.
Hope this helps!
First, I would suggest you make a list of your top 10-12 dream colleges and identify:
(1) the specific reasons you want to go there (specialized program, scholarship opportunities, location, prestige, etc.)
(2) average but ideally median SAT/ACT scores for each school's acceptance pool
(3) average bud ideally median GPA for each school's acceptance pool
(4) 2-4 alums from each school who are willing to mentor/share their experiences with you (leverage LinkedIn, school resources, etc.)
Second, I would prioritize getting your stats in a place where it is easy for your dream school to say "Yes!" to your application. While high test scores and GPAs are rarely the reason students are accepted into top colleges, it will be much harder to get in if you do not have these. This is where those median SAT/ACT scores and GPA come in. You want your test scores and GPA to be within the median range but ideally higher (the closer to perfect scores, the better obviously).
Third, since you are only a sophomore, I would recommend that you hold off on writing essays/applications until your late junior/senior year. But, until then, I suggest you find 3-5 extracurricular activities that you are incredibly passionate about and talented in... and then go above and beyond in this area. Ideally, these activities are related to your field of interest (psychology or anthropology) but given that you are a sophomore, and your intended major may change, it is best to follow the things you can wholeheartedly say you are passionate about. Are you passionate about studying psychology with a focus on early childhood development? Maybe you can start a tennis camp for young kids in your community and help them compete in local tournaments. Are you passionate about ancient cultures/civilizations? Maybe you can work as a research assistant for an Anthropology professor in your local community college and submit your research somewhere? I'm making examples up, but hopefully you can find ways to make an impact in your community that shows leadership, ambition, commitment, and time management.
Hope this helps!
The Blind Blogger Maxwell Ivey
online accessibility advisor
3
Answers
Houston, Missouri
Updated
The Blind Blogger’s Answer
I would start by finding out what those dream colleges value.
reach out to admissions staff members, current students, and alumni.
Improve yourself daily by reading quality books, listening to great podcasts, and following top influencers in your chosen profession.
The Blind Blogger recommends the following next steps:
Terry Schmidt
Services Management Manager
6
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Terry’s Answer
Hi there! It's fantastic to see you, as a sophomore, already taking steps to prepare for college. There's a wealth of resources available to guide you, including websites like College Board and College Raptor. Don't overlook the support your high school guidance counselor can provide either. Schedule a meeting with them to talk about your future career goals, and they can offer more resources to aid your preparation.
It's also important to figure out what your ideal college looks like. Do you prefer a school close to home or one farther away? Are you drawn to a large campus or a smaller one? Do you want the hustle and bustle of a city or the charm of a small town? Visiting colleges early on can help you determine what you're really looking for in a school. There are plenty of excellent colleges out there, but until you visit, it's challenging to know which one suits you best.
Besides maintaining good grades, it's beneficial to get involved in extracurricular activities and volunteer work. Additionally, start considering how you'll finance your college education. If you need help with tuition, start researching scholarships and grants. Best of luck on your journey!
It's also important to figure out what your ideal college looks like. Do you prefer a school close to home or one farther away? Are you drawn to a large campus or a smaller one? Do you want the hustle and bustle of a city or the charm of a small town? Visiting colleges early on can help you determine what you're really looking for in a school. There are plenty of excellent colleges out there, but until you visit, it's challenging to know which one suits you best.
Besides maintaining good grades, it's beneficial to get involved in extracurricular activities and volunteer work. Additionally, start considering how you'll finance your college education. If you need help with tuition, start researching scholarships and grants. Best of luck on your journey!
Martha Kramer
Corporate Training, Communications
202
Answers
Stamford, Connecticut
Updated
Martha’s Answer
Hi, Dani - I echo Terry's encouragement. Sophomore year is a terrific time to start focusing on college admissions. Visiting colleges is important for determining what you are looking for, but also for demonstrating interest. Colleges want their acceptance rates (admitted students saying 'yes') so showing interest is important. For the same reasons, sign up in advance for information sessions and tours. Especially around long weekends, they fill up.
To add onto Terry's comments about extra curricular's, quality is more important than quantity. You don't have to do everything your school or community offers. Pick a few activities that are important to you and think about how you could show growth and leadership. Also, think about how you spend your summers, such as by working, taking classes, or traveling. All of these are activities you could discuss either in your common application or supplements.
Lastly, I do want to reiterate what Terry said about there being many excellent colleges, not just the 10-12 we always hear about. Fortunately, many colleges have psychology and anthropology majors. As she said, be attuned to what feels right to you when you step on campus. Look at their academic structure and what they say is important to them.
Good luck!
To add onto Terry's comments about extra curricular's, quality is more important than quantity. You don't have to do everything your school or community offers. Pick a few activities that are important to you and think about how you could show growth and leadership. Also, think about how you spend your summers, such as by working, taking classes, or traveling. All of these are activities you could discuss either in your common application or supplements.
Lastly, I do want to reiterate what Terry said about there being many excellent colleges, not just the 10-12 we always hear about. Fortunately, many colleges have psychology and anthropology majors. As she said, be attuned to what feels right to you when you step on campus. Look at their academic structure and what they say is important to them.
Good luck!
Christopher Doherty
Financial Advisor
24
Answers
Stamford, Connecticut
Updated
Christopher’s Answer
Hi Dani,
Great news that you are looking to go to college and earn a degree. I might think about your question in two parts:
1) What should I during high school no matter what college I decide to attend: A) First and foremost, get good grades in HS. Your job is to make a college admissions department's decision as easy as possible; getting strong grades in HS will help your chances of an acceptance. B) take the SAT or ACT. The trend in admissions is SAT/ACT test optional but you will be prepared if you choose a school that requires the SAT/ACT. C) seek out your HS college admissions dept. They are there to help you.
2) What college has what I want: research schools that have degrees in what you want to do and then see what their admissions requirements are. Make a list of what you like and do not like for each school. Making a decision can be overwhelming, but keeping a list will make it more manageable.
Good luck
Great news that you are looking to go to college and earn a degree. I might think about your question in two parts:
1) What should I during high school no matter what college I decide to attend: A) First and foremost, get good grades in HS. Your job is to make a college admissions department's decision as easy as possible; getting strong grades in HS will help your chances of an acceptance. B) take the SAT or ACT. The trend in admissions is SAT/ACT test optional but you will be prepared if you choose a school that requires the SAT/ACT. C) seek out your HS college admissions dept. They are there to help you.
2) What college has what I want: research schools that have degrees in what you want to do and then see what their admissions requirements are. Make a list of what you like and do not like for each school. Making a decision can be overwhelming, but keeping a list will make it more manageable.
Good luck