Latest College Prep News & Tips

It is hard to believe, but summer is here, and with it comes changing schedules and a break in the routine. It’s easy to let the weeks slip by, but remember that summer never seems to be as long as we expect! For rising seniors, the summer is a critical time – this is your chance to get ahead on all your college applications. Students can officially access the Common Application starting in August, however that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do before then. First off, rising seniors should make sure to check out the essay topics for this year’s Common App Essay (find them on commonapp.org). Use the summer to work on this. Keep in mind that this is a personal essay, and so it may take some time to get it right. The best essays are almost never the first draft that you write. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm and try out a few different topics. You’ll regret leaving this to the last minute, and you have all the information you need to start writing it already. In addition, some schools will have their supplemental essay topics on their websites. Check your potential schools and start making a list of all the different essays, portfolios, etc. that you will need to have for each school.

What else can you get started on? Well, we know that the Common App (and most applications to other schools) require that you submit a list of activities. Get started on that now! Think about this list as a resume – you want to include any leadership roles that you may have held, as well as short descriptions of what things you were responsible for. Overall, most schools are looking for depth of involvement. That means you want to highlight the things that you are passionate about, where you spent most of your time.

If you aren’t yet satisfied with your standardized test scores, make a plan for how you’re going to handle them. There is an SAT date on August 25 – this will have scores back in plenty of time for early deadlines. However, the test centers fill up fast for this date so plan on signing up soon. There is an ACT date on September 14th, for those who prefer the ACT. When it comes to studying for each of these tests, keep in mind that you haven’t been in school all summer. That means that your math skills (and your sitting in one place for a long time) skills may be rustier than you expect – so start your prep earlier than you might otherwise do.

Summer is also a good time to get some college tours in – especially if there are schools on your list that you know you are interested in, but haven’t gotten a chance to see. Many schools include “demonstrated interest” in their application criteria. That means they like to see applicants who have come to campus, registered for a tour, and otherwise made themselves know to the admissions office.

Are you a rising Junior? Look for our article next month on what you can be doing to get ready for the marathon that is college applications!