Preparing for college can be a true struggle, but information on the steps you should take, the FAFSA and Scholarships, and advice from people will make prep easier for you.
Where you should begin:
Your guidance counselors are usually the ones that help you with college prep with advice, guidance, and some clarity. Ms. Seufert has some words of advice for our classmates, “Don’t be afraid to ask the questions, look stupid, or even mess up; it’s all part of the journey.”
When it comes to prepping for your future, it can get a little out of hand, so this is a more organized way to accomplish college. As a freshman, your job is a lot easier than you believe. Freshman year is about the courses you take. This means that even before your first year in high school, you should be picking classes that lead to the goal that has been set.
Once you have decided what courses to take, move on to the next step… GET INVOLVED! Getting involved you can also carry into the other 3 years of high school but getting involved isn’t just going to basic classes it means going beyond the four walls of a classroom, going for sports, clubs, and community service, the goal is to not only connect with the school but also the community.
The next area of focus applies to freshman through junior year — PSATs. Even though they don’t seem important or are so boring that focusing is hard, the PSATs prepare you for what’s to come on the SAT and many colleges will be looking at those scores.
The fourth step that wouldn’t be a bad idea for all grades to try would be exploring future schools, that could help you decide where you want to spend the next few years studying and exploring new things the world has to offer. College visits help give you an idea of the next few years. You have the opportunity to meet current faculty and students to get some insight.
Last but not least, as a junior you should truly be focusing on searching for what you might be experienced in or even scholarship options that might help pay for college. You should start your brag sheets by answering some of the basic questions that will help your recommenders write your letter of recommendation. It will also be a great way to help you determine if you need to take part in other activities.
Always remember throughout this process that it gets hard, but you are never alone. All you have to do is reach out to the counselors and the teachers and even students will be more than willing to help you. Lose the fear!
The Admissions Essay
Starting a college essay can seem like one of the hardest parts of the college prep journey, and sometimes it is. Step back, take some deep breaths, and start anyways.
Step 1: you want to start early and give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, and revise. starting early also reduces stress and allows for multiple drafts.
Step 2: you want to do when writing your essay is to have a somewhat solid idea of what you plan on what you want to follow in your future.
Step 3: brainstorm on one of the topics provided for you. Brainstorming will help you organize your thoughts which helps everything else flow.
Step four: GET YOUR ROUGH DRAFT DONE!!!! Don’t think too much into it, a rough draft is just to get your ideas done, and try and connect them, when your rough draft is done contact teachers you feel know you well enough to help you edit your writing.
Step five: stay concise in other words stick to the word limit and make every word count. Avoid unnecessary fluff and get straight to the point.
Step six: Revise! Be honest in your writing. Don’t exaggerate or fabricate stories. Honesty builds trust which is something that can help you connect with the faculty of the college you are aiming to apply to. Ones you have gotten through this you can add your finished touches and get ready to send your essays to your dream school.
FAFSA and Scholarships
October 1st, 2024 is the big day when FAFSA is available for you, don’t miss out. If one is struggling with a clear way of paying for college, FAFSA is the way to go. For those who don’t know the purpose of FAFSA is to help gather financial information to provide one with grants that one qualifies for. Scholarships are another good way to cover the cost of tuition, books, etc as someone who plans to apply for scholarships, a great time to start looking would be junior year. Scholarships can be used for various things such as Sports, Athletics, Metir, Minority, Military and Veterans, First generation, and even Religious scholarships.
