With the first nine weeks already over, the halfway point of the school year is creeping in, which means the tension of the great college search is on. Seniors, juniors and even sophomores are beginning to feel the pain of choosing where to go, what to major in and how to pay for it. Thankfully, I’ve spent more than enough time worrying about all these issues, so what would Cameron do?
When it comes to college searches, I am no stranger. I started my college search journey the summer after my sophomore year and was accepted to all the colleges I applied to by the beginning of my senior year. One piece of advice I cannot stress enough is to start as early as possible. Start making a college list sophomore year, see what each application requires and go on college visits.
I urge you to go visit any college you have even a slight interest in. A college might look good on paper, but it might not feel like “home” when you finally arrive on campus, and it’s better to find that out sooner than later!
Finalizing the college list should ultimately be done by the end of junior year. The optimal college list would ideally be two or three “matches” or colleges that align with your profile perfectly, one or two “safeties” that are there in case you don’t get into any of your matches and one or two “reaches.” While it is not necessary to have a top college at this time, it is imperative to identify the pros and cons of each school that may matter to you, such as majors, student life, location or cost.
Furthermore, make sure to take the SAT or ACT at least once and decide whether or not to take it again in hopes for a better score. This also depends on whether or not the colleges you are applying for are test optional or if they have a certain SAT score they are looking for.
Before summer lets out after junior year, start talking to teachers you have genuine connections with or who have seen you overcome challenges in their class about if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation.
No matter what schools you’re applying to, it’s a good idea to start applications over the summer.
There are two ways to submit applications: either directly to the institute or via the Common App. Both have different aspects. Applying directly means getting an early start since these types of applications usually open up earlier. However, most applications are very repetitive and can take some time to submit one by one. The Common App, however, lets you pile all of the information into one website and submit all at once whenever it opens up. This is great if you are submitting to a high number of colleges, but it doesn’t open up until about a month after direct applications. Just be sure to get them in before the deadlines!
In the end, college is subjective. Many people don’t even end up going, and that’s okay. Just remember it’s normal to not know where to go, what to do, take a gap year or not go to college at all! Everyone has their own path to take, you just have to figure out what yours is.
