Applying for College, Year by Year

Graduation is just four short years away for your child who just entered high school, and you may be wondering what you can do now to help your student get into college.  Starting preparations early is important, so don’t put everything off until the senior year when it may be too late to get into your child’s top schools. This guide can help students know what they should be doing to prepare to apply for college as they move through each year of high school. Remember, as a parent you have the job to guide and advise them through this process, but let students make their own choices.  

FRESHMAN YEAR (and beyond)

• Thoughtfully enroll in college preparatory classes. When choosing classes in high school, try to choose ones that challenge and excite you.  K-State admissions representative Katie Kozacek says, “Schools are attracted to students who have demonstrated a strong passion for learning and a desire to continue that at a college level.”
• Study hard! Once you reach your freshman year of high school, everything counts. The grades you receive from here on out will be on your permanent record, and colleges will look at your performance and GPA. Apply yourself from the very beginning so you won’t have to catch up later.
• Get involved. Most colleges will look for students who have been involved in extracurricular activities and volunteer work. However, you don’t have to be in EVERY club in order to get into a good college. As MIT says on their website, “Choose your activities because they really delight, intrigue and challenge you, not because you think they'll look impressive on your application.”
• Use discretion in your social media life. Be very thoughtful about everything that you put online (even things you think are private). Colleges do review potential students’ social media presence, so when you get online, don’t post anything that you wouldn’t want them to see. One rule of thumb…if you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see it, don’t post it!

SOPHOMORE YEAR (and beyond)

• Explore local colleges and universities. Start attending events (athletic events, concerts, etc.) at local colleges and universities so that you can begin to get a feel for student life. Attend college fairs and check out the websites of non-local colleges. The process of selecting a college begins with these types of activities. Though you should keep an open mind at this stage, it is important to start looking at colleges early.
• Take the PSAT. This test is important practice for the tests that really matter next year.
• Get a job. Work experience looks good to potential colleges, and having a job is an important way to learn personal responsibility. Save the money you make for college…you will need all the funds you can get!
• Explore career options. Visit your guidance counselor and talk about potential careers. Shadow someone you know with an interesting job. Read about different careers online. You don’t have to decide now, but it’s time to start thinking about what might interest you so that you can begin to narrow down the schools you will visit based on what academic areas they offer.

JUNIOR YEAR (and beyond)

• Prepare for and take the ACT and/or the SAT. During the fall of your junior year, you should begin to prepare for the ACT and/or SAT tests by taking preparatory classes or completing self study. Schedule these exams for the spring of your junior year. Taking these tests early allows you ample time to re-take the tests if you need to improve your scores to get into your top schools.
• Move into leadership roles. Begin to move into leadership roles in your extracurricular organizations. Step up and take the lead in planning charity events, run for student council or develop your own club based on your interests.
• Go on campus visits. Don’t wait until your senior year to start visiting colleges. Kyle Johnson, director of freshman admission for Rockhurst University, suggests starting your campus visits as a junior and recommends visiting many campuses as “it is one of the best ways to truly find the best fit.”  Don’t wait until the summer…it’s better to see the campus during the regular school year to really get a feel for what the campus is like.

SENIOR YEAR

• Narrow down your choices. Finish up any campus visits and narrow down your list of schools. When trying to narrow down your choices Kozacek suggests, “Look for a school that you feel will set you up for success as a student and beyond. Things to look for can include a challenging academic environment, a strong support system and a dynamic student experience. Find a school that gives a great return on investment!”
• Start applying! Fill out applications for your top schools in the fall and pay close attention to their published deadlines. Also apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible for in the fall and get your financial aid application in by early spring. Kozacek mentions that missed deadlines are a common mistake that students make in the application process, so “be aware of important deadlines for admissions, scholarships, financial aid and housing.”
• Be yourself. When you are filling out your applications, don’t try to be someone else. Schools aren’t looking for a class full of perfect robot students. They are looking for individuals with different strengths and passions. Let your authentic self come through in your essays and focus on the things you are most passionate about.
• Select a School. Once your acceptance letters start rolling in, it’s time to make your choice! Hopefully by that point you will have an idea of what school is the best fit for you and the choice will be an easy one. Johnson suggests thinking about two questions when you are making your decision: “WHY do I want to go to college?” and “If I could design the perfect college for me, what would that look like?” 

Once you’ve navigated through the process of applying for college and making your choice, the fun begins!  There will be all sorts of new decisions to make about where to live and what to major in and how to decorate your residence hall room. But for now, relax and pat yourself on the back for making it through! 

Sara Keenan was a campus tour guide when she attended Kansas State University.  She now works at Rockhurst University and enjoys meeting a new group of students each year who are just starting their journey.