Optimizing Your High School Resume for College and Beyond
Your last year in high school is an exceptionally crucial turning point in your education. Further, it is also a watershed moment in the rest of your life. The decisions you make this fall can change the direction of your life in countless ways. This is when you can think about college, what you want to study, and what you want to do after.
Specifically, the fall of your senior year is important in solidifying your plans for college and beyond. During this time, you balance preparing college applications with keeping up your grades and thinking about the future. There are a lot of things to juggle. This article will review some ways to best spend your last fall in high school.
Research Colleges and Requirements
Your time in high school is coming to an end, but a new chapter is about to begin. As such, one of the things that will be most on your mind at this time is college. You may have an idea of where you want to do or study, but researching is important. This will set you up for success both in applying for college and in your future studies.
Every college and university has different admission requirements and procedures. Before you submit your final applications, make sure you do your research and properly prepare. Become familiar with what materials or testing you need. If you organize your applications after researching, you will be ready to submit your applications when it is time.
Work on College Essay and Application
Regardless of what individual colleges require, there will most likely be an essay component of some sort. Often, this will come in the form of a personal statement. These essays, which are often capped at 500-650 words, tell the admissions team who you are as a person. It goes beyond your academics and extracurriculars to show your deeper truth. This is where your personality can shine through. Sometimes, specific colleges have their own questions, but most will require some kind of universal personal statement.
There are other elements of a college application that usually overlap, especially on the Common App. For example, many colleges require letters of recommendation from teachers, coaches, or bosses. It is up to you to reach out to these people and choose people who can speak to your character. Some other requirements rely on coordination with a high school college or guidance counselor, including your transcript or academic record. Getting these all in order before your applications are due is critical for a smooth and effective process.
Maintain Extracurriculars and Grades
One element of yourself that you will likely highlight in your applications are your extracurricular activities. These include membership in clubs, sports, part-time jobs, or anything else you do outside of school. While not the final determining factor in your admission status, it is important to keep consistent. It would not look great for an applicant to drop their extracurriculars at the last minute. If anything, these are best to show your dedication and commitment to a group.
Similarly, you do not want to let your grades drop as you round the corner of high school. College admissions teams want to see someone who is consistent and sees things through. If you drop your academic guard, colleges will think you are not a high achiever. Grades from the fall semester of senior year will be the last a college sees before their admission decision. Leave them with the best possible impression of your academic potential.
Retake Standardized Tests
Standardized tests are a way to assess one’s academic potential compared to their peers. The two most common ones are the SATs and the ACTs. These tests are often taken during junior year, but the last provides one final opportunity to retake them. You might consider retaking these tests if your scores were below what you wanted based on previous years’ admission data.
These tests are not as determinative as they once were. Students can be admitted to a college with subpar scores if the rest of their application is admissible. Some students are not as good test takers as others, so some great students do not excel at standardized tests. This does not devalue their potential contributions to a school. What this does mean, however, is that a student has to prove their value to colleges in other ways.
Work on Standing Out
The primary thing you have to do when finalizing your college application process is to stand out from the crowd. You can base your specific methods on your personality and interests. It is crucial to convey this in your application.
One way to really stand out from other high school students is to become a published author. Very few high schoolers will have that distinction. If this is a path you are interested in, you should think about your book ideas as early as possible. You want to show initiative and drive to finish and follow your passions.
When you work with Cloverly Collegiate, our team will guide you on the path to becoming a published author. The book and ideas will always be your own, which will be sure to impress all sorts of colleges. College admissions are increasingly competitive. Anything you can do to stand out will boost your chances and make you a stronger candidate.