For all you juniors, your time is almost here! Time is winding down for the Class of 2008 and soon it will be your year! There are a few important things you should keep in mind as you enter your year at the top of the school. Mainly, college is right around the corner. It seems like you have ages to fill out all of those college applications, take your college visit days, decide what school is best for you, and apply for those hundreds of scholarships, but you will be surprised!
The school year starts in August, and colleges and universities will open up their admissions departments around September 1st for priority filling. The earlier you file your application, the better chance you have of being accepted. As soon as your first semester starts, youshould begin looking at the applications for your desired colleges. Be prepared to write essays and get letters of recommendation. You should always give teachers at least a week or two’s notice if you want them to write a recommendation for you. You should also keep in mind that it is smart to apply for more then one school. You should always apply for a dream school (a long shot for being accepted), a practical school (one that you should be accepted to), and a safe school (one that you KNOW you will be accepted to).
It’s also important, while you are filling out all of those applications, to remember that scholarship deadlines start as early as October 1st.Apply for as many scholarships as you possibly can. Those little $500 and $1000 scholarships will add up, and every bit counts. You will also want to encourage your parents to file their taxes early. BeginningJanuary 1st you can apply for FAFSA. Federal financial aid can be a huge help when it comes to paying for school.
Once you’ve filled out all the applications for schools, scholarships, and financial aid, it might seem like all there is left to do is wait. But now comes the hard part…Choosing what school is best for you! Do plenty of research on the school you have applied to. As a senior you get 3 “college days”, and you shouldn’t be afraid to use them! Most colleges have special orientation days for students who have applied as incoming freshman. On these orientation days expect to do a lot of listening and wear comfortable shoes for walking tours. If big groups aren’t for you, and you want to learn about the school, you can contact the admissions department and make a personal appointment with them. Either way, make sure you take a closer look at the schools you’ve applied to.
Choosing the right college will probably be the toughest decision you have ever had to make. If you don’t get a head start on all the applications, your senior year will be very stressful. So take some advice, start thinking about college now…your time is coming!!!
