October 2022 Monthly Considerations
October 2022 Monthly Considerations
Monthly Considerations
Each month, Admissions Decisions will provide you with things to think about depending upon where you are in the college planning process. These are meant to help you ask the right questions to get the right answers for you or your child.
Freshman Year:
Most freshmen find themselves taking their first midterm exams. The key to freshman year is simple: master the basics, and do not overload yourself. Midterms are a good moment to evaluate the semester and see how you are doing. Determine if you or your child are struggling or excelling in their coursework. There is a normal adjustment period when transitioning from middle school to high school, but be prepared to make academic adjustments midyear depending on how the student is performing. Remember, it is always better to excel in an easier course than it is to struggle in a higher-level course.
Key Question: If my academic performance to date were my final grades for year, how would colleges view my academic success?
Sophomore Year:
If you have not already, start thinking about standardized testing. If you have the opportunity, take the PSAT in the fall, and the PSAT 10 in the spring. Start thinking about whether you will take the ACT or SAT by getting a practice exam of each. Do not bother studying for either. Take the exams and see how well you do. See which exam you prefer to take. Once you have your quantitative (i.e., score) and qualitative (i.e., feeling taking the exam) data points, decide which exam you will take and start preparing for it.
Sophomore year is an excellent time to focus on standardized test prep. You have moved past the freshman adjustment period, extracurriculars are typically not too demanding, and the number of exams are typically lower than they will be in later years.
Key Takeaway: You will never have more time to study for your SAT/ACT than you will if you begin preparing today.
Junior Year:
In the midst of everything else that you may be doing, now is the time to begin college visits if you have not already. Be strategic and methodical in how you approach them. A few general Do’s and Don’ts:
DO come prepared with questions. Have general and college-specific questions when you are visiting a given university.
DO NOT try to cram multiple college visits into a single day, if possible. Visiting college is like having a fine meal - never rushed, digested slowly, and best done in the company of those who know you best.
DO prioritize schools that you believe you are genuinely interested in attending - these include any target or reach schools that if accepted, you would likely choose to attend.
DO NOT feel as if you need to visit every school before you apply. A college visit only matters if you are accepted to the college and are seriously considering it. If the school offers no financial aid, is safety school, or otherwise proves not to be a good fit, there is no need to consider visiting it.
Key Question: What questions can I ask today that will minimize the likelihood a college or university is not a social fit for me if I attend?
Senior Year:
To be blunt, this is the time to finish college applications. Stay organized, make sure you have all application requirements completed, and be mindful of deadlines. But as much as you want to make sure that you have the college applications in order, be mindful of scholarship applications as well. Did you know that many competitive scholarship applications are due by the end of October? If you wait to complete your college applications before you look for scholarship applications, you will miss out on opportunities to win several competitive scholarships.
Key Question: What impact would a $1000 scholarship have on your college experience? A $5000 scholarship? A $10,000 scholarship? How do you design a plan to get to that benefit?