Happy summer, seniors! You’ve made it through another year of high school! But, sadly, it’s time to seriously buckle down on preparing for college. So, while you’re relaxing and enjoying the fruits of summer, take some time as well to plan out your intentions. Here are a few, quick tips for you:
Ask for Letters
This actually should have been done in the spring, but it’s not too late if you take care of it before Fall semester rolls around. If you can get three solid letters from teachers and/or high school counselors who know you well, you’re golden. Email your teachers now and ask for them. Chances are that they’ll be much more inclined and willing to help you now than when school starts back up again and EVERYONE is asking for a letter. Not only that, but they’ll also have to deal with the craziness of having to teach again!
Work on Your Resumé
Your resumé may not be as sparkly as you like, but you should certainly work on one. Why? Because you can use it for scholarship and college applications. If nothing else, create a list of all your accomplishments, volunteering opportunities, jobs that were really meaningful, awards, honors, etc. and use it as a guiding point for your applications.
Define Your College List
Your list should be down to about 10-12 colleges at this point, and once summer comes to an end, narrow it down even further to about 8-10.
Plan Campus Visits
Most colleges offer summer school so they’re not completely desolate. If you can find a summer tour at the campuses, great, take advantage of it. If not, plan for one right at the beginning of fall semester. Visiting campuses will help you narrow down your list even further. Some schools are great on paper, but might not sit well with you when you’re actually there.
Study
Studying is such a drag, especially for standardized tests like SATs or ACTs, but it is so necessary to prep early and take the exams in early Fall. You want to give yourself enough time to take the tests again if you’re not happy with your first score. Occasionally you will have that option, depending on the application deadlines for the schools you’re applying to.
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