Well, May 1st has come and gone, so most seniors have made their final decision and have donned their new school colors and purchased the school pennant to hang in their room; they might even have a cool tee-shirt with their college name on it. A few words of advice: Have fun; stay focused; give it a year if you are not sure you made the right choice; get good grades; meet new people; experience new things; and did I mention have fun? This is the best advice for seniors. For now, finish high school strong and prepare to step into your future. By the way, if you do not finish strong, your college could change their mind about your admission!
So now juniors, it is time to get busy. You have to decide which colleges you will apply to. Where will you fit in academically, socially and financially? This is probably one of the most difficult parts of your task, if done correctly . Research is necessary! We recommend choosing 8-10 colleges to apply to; public, private, in state and out of state. Some of these should be “safety” schools; that is, you are quite sure you will get in based on grades and test scores. A few should be “match” schools where there is a high probability that you will get in. There can be a small number of “reach” or “dream” schools on your list if you insist. These are schools that accept less than 10% of their applicants and so are very difficult to get in (Yale, Harvard, Stanford, University of Chicago, etc)
While researching your schools, through self assessment and career guidance, you should be sure you are matching your major and career goals to schools on your list. There is nothing more devastating than to find that something you want to study is not offered at the school you choose! Once you decide on your schools, you will have applications to fill out and essays to write. This is an extremely time-consuming process. Some applications are short (CSU takes about 4 hours), and some are very long. Your application is like your interview. You must prepare and do a good job if you want to be accepted. Do not wait until the last minute to do this. There are multiple application-types to do: CSU Mentor (among the simplest), UC applications, Common Application, the new Coalition Application, Apply Texas, and many other proprietary applications. Overwhelming!! These applications may be short or they may be extensive. (USC has a 650 word personal statement, a couple of 250 words supplements as well as a plethora of short answer questions). Some may require educational background and future plans, personal information about your family, activities in which you have participated with descriptions, a resume, information about your school, citizenship, test scores, transcripts, and essays. Whew! These take HOURS! The University of California is requiring 4 essays beginning this year (Personal Insight Questions). Overwhelming!
Best advice? To get the most and best opportunities to get into the college of your dreams, start early; be thorough and thoughtful; research; study for the ACT/SAT; seek help if you need it. And for goodness sakes, keep your grades up!
