It’s time to get your college readiness plan in high . Here are 10 tips to get you through September.
1. Push tough senior year schedules. Make sure your schedule is rigorous and does not have more than one core subject missing from last year. Make sure core passions continue through school programs. It’s not too late to make course shifts.
2. Arrange campus tours. All colleges host open houses and special events this fall. Visit a campus. You can visit classes, spend nights in the dorms, interview, meet professors, and more. Visit college websites for details. The Claremont-McKenna colleges, for example, have wonderful overnight programs. Many schools fly in diverse kids for free this fall. See our posting for fly-in programs.
3. Visit colleges at hotels, college fairs, and at your high school. Many colleges have reps visiting your area this fall. Go to a college’s website and search for “On the Road.” Look at your Naviance/Family Connection page for upcoming school visits. If the school offers interviews in town, sign up. But make sure you do thel email communication with a college.
4. Sign up for fall tests. Seniors should take fall tests at least twice this fall. Their scores peak senior year. Remember, fee waivers works twice for each test. Very few schools now require SAT Subject Tests so check. And many schools are now allowing January testing, such as the UCs. YOU NOW NEEDS TO UPLOAD A PICTURE and there are no more walk-ins.
SAT/SAT Subject Tests (http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/register/test-dates)
- Oct 6 (Sept 7 registration)
- Nov 3 (Oct 4 registration). Listening part of foreign language tests offered.
- Dec 1 (Nov 1 registration)
- Jan 26 (Dec 28 registration)
ACT Tests (http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html)
- Sept 8 (Registration passed-Standby)
- Oct 27 (Sept 21 registration)
- Dec 8 (Nov 2 registration)
5. Complete detailed brag sheets. You will have to write a brag sheet for your counselors and teachers. Make sure you are very specific in the examples of favorite assignments, papers, projects, and class moments. Attach copies of best papers and projects. Make sure weaknesses are actually strengths. If parents have to write one, vary the stories and qualities you emphasize.
6. Start working on college application essays. Get going with writing the essays required for college applications. Let me know if you want great samples and tips. Buy ALL COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAYS-the one-stop app for ALL college application essay requirements. I developed this app, and it provides all essays students must write along with deadlines and application requirements. Now available on iTunes. http://www.allcollegeessays.org/ More on essays next month.
7. Set up a filing system. Organize your process. Make a bulletin board with all colleges, deadlines, types of applications, and essay requirements. Prioritize by deadline and by preference. Make sure you keep track of all user name and passwords for each college!!!
8. Make an appointment with your counselor and finalize your college list. Make sure you meet with your counselor as soon as you can to finalize your college list. If the counselor suggests some colleges you don’t like, throw them a bone and include a couple.
9. Use Naviance (Family Connection) to its fullest. Naviance has some great resources including scattergrams and a resume maker. It has links to the Fiske Guide and provides all deadlines. Visit it at least once a week.
10. Build in breaks for you. As the year begins, the stress gets going pretty quickly. So make sure to build in some breaks as you child needs to excel in all that you do. Treat yourself after tests. Take a break each weekend.
