In today’s day and age, college is more than a placement test and straight A’s. In fact, college now seems to emulate the actions of Big Brother from George Orwell’s 1984, making it impossible for students to be outstanding. Outstanding is the norm. But that is why it is in most people’s best interest to gather information in order to move up in the educational ladder, after all it is a student-eat-student world.
Now, this may sound overwhelming…frightening…terrifying…or make you want to vomit, but worry not. Your transition to college will be facilitated if you follow these tips.
When considering college, starting a college search as early as possible is highly advisable. If possible, freshman year is the ideal year to plan, seeing as there is room to improve and find several possibilities. However, it is not possible that every freshman starts thinking ahead, so it is okay to start Sophomore year, and if need be, the very beginning of junior year. Principal Dan Serrano advises, “Well I always tell my own children that every grade you get starting in high school is important because it’s so competitive in this school,” explaining the necessity of jumpstarting a preparation for college, “There is a lot of money out there but there are also a lot of people trying to get it.”
Start preparing to take advanced classes. Advanced classes will not only prepare students for the rigorous workload of Universities, but it will also impress colleges in the admissions process. The choice between classes also does not always come down to which one is harder. Picking a class that fits you and the schools you want to attend is the best way to make sure you are not wasting your credits away.
However, this is not the only option to getting ahead and preparing for the work load. Aside from AP classes, which can be very beneficial for out of state schools, dual enrollment can also be a fitting replacement. The two classes can provide college credit, but the AP classes do so through an exam covering all materials from the course, and dual enrollment will give credit so long as a C or higher is kept in the class with paying the discounted course price. Also, AP tests are accepted in most universities and colleges, as opposed to dual enrollment which is accepted at the in-state schools, but may not be in out of state schools. Despite the chosen route, both will provide challenge for college bound students. Ms. Philip, the Career Center Advisor said, ”On the Career Center page [on the school website] you can find a checklist of things to do for every grade in highschool when preparing for college.”
Aside from the technical stuff, a very important part of the college search is doing some soul searching. Put in the time to discover what interests you, and what you could potentially study in college. This may be done by volunteering, taking extra classes at the community college over summer, reading different types of books, or simply taking classes at school that fall out of your comfort zone. This creates a sense of eccentricity and more experiences to share in the college process, and potentially, a college admission.
All in all, college is not something to plan in a one month time span. Preparation is key, and planning early will serve as a significant advantage in the college admissions process.
