5 COLLEGE PREP TIPS FOR EACH YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL

Freshman year is a good time to start preparing for college, although it’s never too late for older students to think about applying. Here are some of our college prep tips, broken down into a checklist for each year of high school.

5 COLLEGE PREP TIPS FOR EACH YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL

If you’re college-bound or thinking about post-high school education, you may need to do more than the typical high school student. Getting into college usually takes more than just a regular high school transcript, especially if you need financial aid. 

For most colleges, you will want a strong application that shows you are well-rounded with a good academic track record and interests outside the classroom. Freshman year is a good time to start preparing for college, although it’s never too late for older students to think about applying. There are many things you can do to boost your chances of successful applications and financial aid requests.

Here are some of our college prep tips, broken down into a checklist for each year of high school.

COLLEGE PREP TIPS FOR FRESHMEN

• Develop study skills. You may think you already know how to study, but many incoming high school students find that their study skills could use some touch-ups when they take on more challenging material. Investing time into learning smart study strategies will pay off throughout your high school career.
• Take challenging courses in core academic subjects. Challenging courses such as honors courses will better prepare you for college. We generally recommend choosing honors courses in core academic areas where you feel you can do well and would like to be challenged.
• Identify interests and potential careers. Freshman year is a good time to start thinking about career options. You can take career interest profilers, go to career fairs, do research using sites like the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, and attend other career-related events to get career ideas.
• Participate in extracurricular activities. College admissions committees usually prefer well-rounded applicants who show interests and abilities outside the classroom. Participating in school clubs, sports, and other activities can show and develop your interests and create opportunities for personal growth.
• Volunteer. Community service activities not only allow you to help the people around you, but also enhance your college applications. Some colleges have a stong preference for applicants who have demonstrated a service-oriented attitude and community leadership skills.

COLLEGE PREP TIPS FOR SOPHOMORES

• Take the PSAT and/or other practice tests. The PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a great opportunity to understand the standardized college admissions test experience. It is very similar to the SAT, one of the two major college admissions tests, so it can give you a sense of how well you will do later on the SAT. Your scores will not be sent to college and don’t impact your grades, but they can still help you qualify for National Merit Scholarships.
• Attend college and career information events. Many college and career information events are open to sophomores. Attending these events can help you understand how to put yourself in a better position for college applications over the next 2-3 years.
• Learn about funding options for college. Scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study jobs can help you afford a college education even if your family doesn’t have the money to pay for it. Sophomore year is a good time to start learning about how these funding sources work and when you will need to apply for them.
• Continue with challenging courses, engaging extracurricular activities, and volunteering. Honors and AP courses will help you prepare for college and show admissions committees that you are capable of challenging academic material. Many colleges will give you credit for AP courses, meaning you could potentially graduate from college early.
• Talk to school counselors and/or mentors. Your school counselors or mentors can help you sort out your career options and interests. They can also find resources to help you apply for and afford college.

COLLEGE PREP TIPS FOR JUNIORS

• Start your college search. This is a good year to attend college fairs, visit college campuses, and talk with your counselor about which colleges you are considering. We recommend making a list of 5-10 schools you are interested in, including at least 1-2 where you are sure you will be accepted. Think about your academic interests, educational goals, and the colleges that will best support those interests and goals.
• Take college entrance exams. Most students should take the SAT or ACT in spring of junior year. The ACT is a more curriculum-based achievement test that covers reading, English, math, and science, while the SAT covers only reading, writing and language, and math. Most colleges do not prefer one over the other, so you can choose the test that you think will be best for you.
• Check application requirements, timelines, and recommendations for colleges you are interested in. If you are interested in applying to college under an Early Decision plan, you may need to get ready to apply the summer between junior and senior years.
• Continue with school activities, volunteer work, and/or a part-time job. College admissions usually consider not only your academic achievements, but also your activities and work outside the classroom. Continued participation in school clubs, community service, sports, community groups, and/or a part-time job can show your passion and drive in ways that improve your chances of admission to college.
• Think about summer opportunities that will show character, leadership, and personal growth. Summer jobs, academics-related opportunities, and travel often provide opportunities for personal growth and responsibility in ways that college admissions counselors will appreciate.

COLLEGE PREP TIPS FOR SENIORS

• Complete your Senior Profile Survey. At AMHS, we require students to take the Senior Profile Survey before they can obtain letters of recommendation from their teachers or counselors. The Senior Profile is intended to help anyone who will be writing college and scholarship recommendations and should include information about your future goals, academics, activities, personal development, and values.
• Contact teachers for letters of recommendation. Some colleges require students to have letters of recommendation from teachers (often two). You will need to ask these two teachers personally to write these letters. Keep in mind that you do not need to choose a teacher from a class where you received an A – any class where you showed growth may be a good option.
• Apply for colleges. Check the deadlines for college applications and make sure you complete them prior to those deadlines. Keep in mind that you may need to write multiple personal essays and statements for your applications.
• Retake college entrance exams. You can still take the SAT and/or ACT in the fall of senior year. If you did not take one of these tests in spring of junior year, you can take one now. You can also retake your SAT or ACT if you think you can achieve a better score.
• Apply for financial aid. Check the deadlines for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and any scholarships you are interested in, then make sure to complete and submit your applications before those deadlines. You will need the FAFSA to apply for federal grants, work-study programs, and many kinds of loans. Your parents or guardians will likely need to help you complete the FAFSA, as the form takes their financial circumstances into account.

COLLEGE PREP RESOURCES AT ARCHBISHOP MURPHY HIGH SCHOOL

Archbishop Murphy High School counselors work closely with students to help them plan for college. We provide personal counseling, academic counseling and support, help with college selections and applications, career exploration, and scholarship search assistance.

We also give students opportunities to earn college credit in high school through AP courses and dual enrollment opportunities. Many colleges will accept AP exam scores in place of lower level courses, allowing students to graduate from college early or take higher level courses early on. We offer well over a dozen AP courses, plus courses that provide credit through Seattle University or the University of Washington College in the High School program.

Ready to learn more about preparing for college? Talk to an AMHS counselor about college preparation today.