3, 2, 1... COLLEGE!

By Megan and Morgan McCall | Special to VOX

Art by Tracy Jackson | VOX Staff

Freshman Forward
Many high school freshmen think they don’t have to be concerned about college until junior or senior year. But freshman year can be critical because it gives you time to plan ahead and avoid last-minute deadlines. Getting started early lets you consider your options about different college choices and make logical decisions about your goals.
Here are some quick tips to help you get an early start:

• Map out your courses. Look at the courses your current school offers and begin to map out classes that will give you a solid foundation and prepare you to handle the difficulties of a college curriculum. You can decide which classes are best for you by looking at your future plans. This usually includes three to four years of English, math, science and history. However, not all colleges will require this curriculum, and the courses needed may differ depending on your career goals. You should also consider taking a few honors or Advanced Placement (AP) courses if they’re offered. AP classes demonstrate your readiness and prepare you to handle college-level courses.

• Involve your parents. Parents, guardians or mentors can play a major role in the college decision-making process. Prior to speaking to them, have a list of potential colleges, tuition costs, scholarship opportunities and degree offerings ready to discuss. This will let them know how serious and dedicated you are to your college search. If parents or guardians can’t help, you should schedule an appointment with your school counselor. A counselor can be invaluable in helping you through the college application process. Freshman year is a great time to establish a relationship with your counselor, so he/she can begin to help you achieve your long-term goals.

Sophomores and Juniors … Keep Up a Steady Pace
Sophomore and junior years are a time to start thinking about the type of work you might enjoy as an adult. Explore extracurricular activities and see if they lead to some career choices. Once you’ve gotten ideas for some potential career goals, you can explore college programs that will help you achieve those goals.

These tips will help you stay on track:

• Consider asking yourself, “What makes me unique?” There are thousands of applicants to each college, and you want your application to stand out. Admission officers want to know whether you can prioritize your time and be dedicated to something. The good thing is, they aren’t looking for you to be the captain or the best at your school. Just knowing that you are passionate and committed to something is important, and identifying your uniqueness can be a selling point for your college essay or interview. Engaging in community service is also a good way to balance your application. Colleges like to see that you’ve taken time to give back.

• Schedule an appointment with your high school counselor. An individual appointment is fine for your sophomore year but, if possible, try to include your parents in meetings with your counselor during your junior year. You may need your parents’ financial support and guidance. Counselors will help you with your strategic plan, which includes keeping a calendar listing for application deadlines, requesting teacher recommendations, organizing your college essay and finalizing your portfolio. They also have resources based on your individual GPA, test scores and interests. Get in the habit of staying in touch with your counselor; let him/her know what you’re doing throughout the year, especially regarding any awards or honors that you receive. If you do not have access to a school counselor, there are still many resources available. Take advantage of your local library, which has college information in the reference section. You can also check out the resource box below for Web sites with college planning and preparation.

Seniors, You Did It!
Soon you will finish the tediousness of high school. It’s time to begin the necessary steps to make the transition to college trouble-free. Consider these tips:

• If you are sure about the school you want to attend, look into applying early. Many colleges have application deadlines around November for early action and early decision first-year applicants. For instance, UGA’s application is online now.

Early action and early decision plans allow you to apply to college early and get an admissions decision before the regular spring notification time. Early-action acceptance is not binding. But early-decision acceptance is. If you are not 100 percent sure you want to attend a college, wait until the regular application period to apply.

• Don’t over apply. You should have three to four categories for potential colleges: Likely Schools (schools that are a good fit for you and you meet the minimum requirements), Target or 50/50 Schools (acceptance to these institutions could go either way), Reach Schools (less than 50 percent chance that you’ll get in), and finally, Unlikely Schools (schools you know are a long shot but you’re still interested in applying to). Categorizing your choices will help you prioritize your college choices.

• Consider the application fees as you make your list. On average, six to eight schools are enough to apply to, according to most counselors. This will give you a significant amount of choices and minimize your financial expense. College application fees range from $45-75 per college and can become very expensive. Be sure to ask for fee waivers from your counselor to cut down on expenses.

• Finally, if you haven’t already, start or complete your college visits. Along with getting to see the campus, you can make a list of pros and cons about a particular school to help you decide whether to keep it on your list. Things to consider while visiting colleges include tuition and housing costs, meal plans, the average incoming freshman’s GPA and SAT scores, campus life, the surrounding area and majors. (Don’t visit colleges during holiday breaks or summer because they aren’t regularly open and you don’t get an idea of what a typical day on campus is like.)

Buckle down and start these critical steps to making your life easier and your transition to college smoother. The college application process may seem complicated, but it can be done. Remember to enjoy the journey! While these tips are offered to help you develop a college plan, you do not have to plan out the rest of your life! Take it easy ... it’s your senior year. Have fun, but get the job done!

Megan and Morgan, 14, are twins in the ninth grade at Arabia Mountain High. They own Forever Girl, a fashion company, and Kids Saving Kids, a non-profit created to encourage kids to give back to their community. They are also scholars with the W.E.B. Du Bois Society.