The college application journey has already begun for many high school students. With the New Year comes renewed energy and focus. Now is the time to push harder academically, pursue extracurriculars that ignite your passion and build a compelling application that truly reflects who you are.
Your unique personality, strengths, passions and goals should shine through in the application. Plan strategically to achieve your college aspirations and maximise your chances of getting into your dream college. This article discusses a roadmap to guide you in this journey.
Maintain Academic Excellence
- Consistency – Academic excellence is paramount in college admissions. Maintaining a strong academic record throughout the year in the coursework, be it AP, IB or Honors, and scoring high grades in all subjects consistently, goes a long way for students in their quest for good colleges.
- Recommendations – Build strong relationships with teachers by taking interest in classes, seeking their guidance and actively participating in class. Request for recommendation letters well in advance of the deadlines in different universities.
- Academic Competitions – Participate in relevant academic competitions like science fairs, Math contests, writing competitions etc. to demonstrate your intellectual curiosity, interests and dedication in academics.
Explore Options That Ignite Your Passion
- Summer Programs – Attend as many summer programs related to your interests, academics and career goals as you can. They provide valuable exposure to expand your horizons. Such programs not just expand your knowledge, but also enhance your college applications.
- Extracurricular Activities – Pick up meaningful extracurricular activities this year like sports, music, creative arts, debates, volunteering work or whatever that demonstrates your passion, interests, dedication and well-roundedness.
- Leadership Roles – Colleges highly value leadership quality. It demonstrates the ability to take initiative, be responsible and motivate others. This new year, join clubs, organisations or community service that would give you leadership experiences and hone your soft skills like teamwork, problem-solving and communication.
High School Internships
Many students take up internships during college, but very few do so in high school. A high quality internship at high school has many benefits that include a modest income, skill development, an exposure to professional settings and vocational pathways. Go out of your comfort zones this new year and invest your time in a good high school internship. Let’s look at some of their benefits –
- Real-World Experiences – High school internships expose young minds to invaluable real-world experiences and help them explore potential career paths.
- Networking – Internships offer opportunities to network with professionals from various fields, build connections with them and gain valuable insights into different career paths.
- Skill Development – Students develop essential professional skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving and time management during high school internships. Internships also help students develop career readiness competencies like self-development, critical thinking, equity and inclusion.
- Boosting College Applications – Internship experiences demonstrate initiatives from the student’s end, a drive for career exploration and strong work ethic – all qualities that look good on a college application.
Five Strategies To Enhance Your College Applications
- Start Early – Begin your search for colleges and universities early in the year, visit campuses, do your research thoroughly and shortlist potential colleges and universities.
- Standardised Tests – Prepare for standardised tests like SAT/ACT or as mandated by your list of potential institutions diligently. Retake the tests if necessary, to improve your scores. Enrol on trusted online platforms like Ascend Now for formal tutoring on SAT or ACT to boost your scores.
- Prepare Your Documents – Start drafting your personal essays early and allow ample time for revisions and feedback from teachers, counsellors and mentors. Reach out to them early for letters of recommendation, so that they have time to craft strong recommendations reflecting your true potential and abilities.
4. Financial Aid
- Institutional Aid – Explore financial aid options in the institutions you are interested in. They usually offer aids in the form of merit-based scholarships, need based grants and work-study programs.
- Private Scholarships – Numerous private organisations, foundations and companies offer scholarships. Explore them and apply for the ones suiting your interests and qualifications.
- For US citizens – If you are a US citizen, fill out the FAFSA ( Free Application for Federal Student Aid) that is typically available around October to determine your eligibility for federal aid like grants, work-study programs and loans. You can also look for State Aids in your respective states that might be offering grants and scholarships to residents.
5. Reflect and Act
Reflect – It’s important for students to look back at their accomplishments and challenges from the previous year and analyse what worked, what didn’t and how those things can be improved upon. Identify your strengths, weaknesses and goals. Self-awareness is important to articulate your aspirations in college applications.
Set SMART Goals – Define Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound goals for your college applications. Prioritise tasks that are most critical and create a timeline for completing them.
6. Ensure Personal Well-Being
Finding a healthy equilibrium between work and leisure is crucial for the overall well-being of a student. College applications can be stressful for many and it’s important to indulge in self care activities like exercising, relaxing techniques and spending time with loved ones for personal enrichment. Get enough sleep to maintain focus and productivity.
Most importantly, do not give up. Setbacks are inevitable but don’t let them discourage you. Learn from your mistakes and move forward.
College Admissions is a holistic process. Embrace the journey of self-discovery this year and let your true potential shine through in your applications. Develop a well-rounded profile, focusing on all aspects of your growth.
Focus on your academics, pursue extracurriculars that ignite your passions, work on your unique qualities and strengths and cultivate your personal interests. Take a holistic approach to enriching your high school experience, which would significantly increase your chances at college admissions.
Let Ascend Now bring out the best in you. We go beyond academics and help you unlock your potential and build a profile that showcases your strengths and passions. We not only guide you through the IB DP, AP, SAT and ACT, our counsellors also help you craft a compelling college application that reflects your unique story.
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