College Admissions Help Blog

With September now underway, it’s back to the grind, and that includes planning for college. Once you get back into the swing of school, homework, and extracurriculars, you should take some time to continue (or start) your college plan. Preparing for college is a year round task, and here are some things you should think about as you begin a new school year.

Freshmen

September is a busy month, for Freshmen especially. You have the added stress of finding your way around new hallways packed with new faces and getting acclimated to a new school climate. However, there are still some steps you can take to start your college prep plan.

• Befriend your guidance counselor – Adjusting to a new school can be a challenge, so seek help from your guidance counselor now, that way, when it’s time to seek their advice on college, you’ll already have developed a rapport with them!
• Talk to your parents – Paying for college is tough, so the sooner you talk to your parents about how to do this the better. That way, you can put a little money aside from your summer job if you know you’ll need it in the future!

Sophomores

• Register for the PSAT or PLAN tests – Sophomore year you will want to (well, maybe not want) but should register for practice tests. Taking a practice SAT or ACT test can help students prepare better for the real tests by finding the areas where you may need to work a little harder. Tests usually take place in October or November, so make sure you register on time to avoid a late fee.
• Research some colleges – Just because it’s a few years away, you should still take some time to do a little college research. Ask family and friends why they went to the schools they did. Was it the size? Location? Cost? Getting a little background from friends and family can help you to eventually narrow your college list.

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Without a set end point, or goal in mind, students (or anyone for that matter) tend to flounder in making life decisions. It is easy to be persuaded by friends, family and academic advisors, but each individual has a passion or strength that only they can tap into in order to find success and personal satisfaction. Getting advice can help you think about what is important, but in the end, if you don’t choose your own path you may end up having it chosen for you!

If you are feeling the pressure of preparing for college and are not sure how to achieve success, or if you want to take more control of your life, it is time to slow down and start making some goals!

What is a Goal?

A goal is a desired result, an objective that one can meet. A goal can be to get through a hard day of school, to own your own business, or to ace a final exam. When you become aware of these goals, that you undoubtedly have already conceived of, you can start celebrating your achievements and making decisions that help you better attain your desired lifestyle as a result.

Keeping a variety of goals is important so that you can make sure that you get what you want out of your own life. Everyone has a dream of what they want to become later in life. Sometimes dreams are extremely vague and non-directional, like a dream to start a family or change the world, while others can be as specific as becoming the CEO of a financial corporation. Whatever your dreams, it’s important that you make both long term and short term goals to help you get there!
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When you are preparing for college and creating a budget, do not neglect the high cost of textbooks and supplies. Some consider these costs to be “hidden” as they are not listed in the college brochure or website and are not usually seen until you are actually enrolled in a college course. College-level textbooks can be as much as 150-200+ dollars, and another hidden cost, lab fees can range from 80-200 dollars for some courses.

How do you deal with hidden costs when paying for college? (more…)

For most students, summer is a time to relax and take a break from the monotony of schoolwork. However, just because it’s summer vacation, that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of it. There are a number of opportunities for students to stay active (and boost your resume)!

So, what can you do this summer? Here are some ideas…

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to spend some free-time this summer. There are a lot of different ways to volunteer, such as tutoring or working in a soup kitchen or food pantry. There are also hundreds of not-for-profits nationwide who are in need of volunteers for all sorts of activities. If you’re interested in a specific field, look up local non-profits to see if there are any available volunteer opportunities in your area. Not only does volunteering make you feel good, but often academic clubs or societies require a minimum number of volunteer hours, so plan ahead and log some volunteer hours this summer!

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Ask Admissions Girl: When should I start writing my high school resume? How do I write a high school resume?

Writing your first resume can be a daunting task, but a high school resume is a great way for you to show your academic and extracurricular experiences to prospective employers and colleges. Generally, we recommend keeping a running list of activities you are involved in starting in 8th or 9th grade, and writing your first resume in 10th or 11th grade when you plan on applying for your first job, or as you start your college search.

Why? There number of cases where having a high school resume will be beneficial (more…)

By Marcia Y. Cantarella, PhD, Author of I CAN Finish College: The Overcome Any Obstacle and Get Your Degree Guide

When we think of F the word that comes to mind is failure. (Then there is the other “F” word, but we will not go there here…) When you think of F in relationship to college life it is a screaming panic letter invested with all kinds of power. Who knew that your entire life was wrapped up in one little letter of the alphabet? But in reality F before it becomes failure (which is not, by the way, a terminal state) also can stand for Fear, Finances, and Fun. Those other F words are the ones that can lead to failing to complete college or to failing grades—which can also lead to failing to complete college.

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While the end of the year can be extremely busy for students, high school Juniors have the added strain of prepping for the SATs. If you haven’t registered yet, you should look into doing so for the upcoming June test. I know that June should be a relaxing end to the school year and studying for an SAT test might not be on everyone’s radar; however, getting it out of the way now can save you loads of time next year when you’ll be much busier applying to schools.
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As another academic year begins to wind down, students should start thinking about college testing, specifically Juniors should consider registering for an upcoming ACT test (See test and registration dates below). The ACT is similar to the traditional college admissions test, the SAT, but some students may find the format is better suited towards their strengths in Math and Science. Unlike SAT tests, the ACT measures what you have learned and includes a section that consists of interpreting graphs. (more…)

The March 12th SATs are quickly approaching. If you haven’t registered yet, don’t fret! You can register for this test until February 25th, though the cost does go up. There are also two other upcoming test dates:

May 7th, (Register by April 8th)

June 4th, (Register by May 6th)

>>Learn more about the SAT

Or, if you’re looking to take the ACTs, here are the upcoming test dates:

April 9, 2011 (Register by March 4, 2011)

June 11, 2011 (Register by May 6, 2011)

>>Learn more about the ACT

So now that you are hopefully registered for a college entrance test, read on for some helpful tips to take with you.

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In this article I will identify reasons why you, high school Juniors, should visit colleges this February break, provide resources to help you find colleges and college reviews, and explain the questions you should ask on a college visit.

President’s Day is coming up on February 21st, and for most high schoolers this means February break! If you haven’t made any plans yet, or even if you do have plans, you should consider squeezing a college visit into your upcoming break for several reasons. (more…)