After high school...?
Question:
What were your guys' approach? Did you get started right away?
I apologize if this question's redundant. aaaand if it's worded pretty badly. I'm nervous about posting ><
Answer:
Well, my last day of high school is this Friday-and I'm graduating next weekend. I am going to go to a 4-year university this fall, so I'll write from that perspective. I took APWH my sophomore year, and I took a few more APs plus the SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Test for US History at the end of my junior year. For my AP English Class, our end-of-the-year assignment was to start compiling a portfolio of things we achieved in high school: any honors, sports, awards, clubs, leadership roles, etc. This helped me so much at the beginning of my senior year. Also, look into the colleges you want to apply to, and see if you can download a paper form of their application--to get a good idea of essay topics--so you can get started working on them. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! For most colleges, the December SAT offered your senior year is the last chance you have to take the SATs--so try to get them out of the way ASAP. The later you postpone, the more stressed out you will be--resulting in lower scores. By the end of September this year, be sure of hat colleges you want to apply to, and start filling out applications by October. Determine if you want to apply early action or early decision anywhere. Finish all your applications by their respective deadlines, and make sure to stay on top of things--sending colleges all the forms they request on time. By 2nd semester senior year, you should have been writing out scholarship essays(if required) and you should start looking into loans and financial aid, if you qualify. Around March-April, you'll start getting back your acceptance/rejection letters. Have a few back-up plans in case you first choice doesn't come through. You can always appeal the university's decision, but unless something miraculous has happened, you probably still won't get in. By May 1st(for most colleges), submit your SIR(Satement of Intent to Register). After that, make sure to keep up your grades, because colleges can revoke your admission decision if you get grades lower than C's. Also, make sure to send in all the extra forms(housing application, all SAT score reports, all AP grades, a final official transcript, etc.) that your intended college requires. Stay on top of all deadlines!!
I got into 7 out of the 9 schools I applied to. I didn't bother with financial aid because my family doesn't qualify. My dad will be paying for college, for me, so I'm not looking into work-study or loan options. I was a little slow on the scholarship deadlines, so I missed quite a few scholarships I qualify for. I was initially going to go to UCLA, as I got in and everyone was encouraging me to go. However, my heart was set in UC Davis--and I will be double-majoring there in genetics and neurology and minoring in French. Hope this helps =]
i graduated in '06 and finished my first year of college last month. when the college letters started coming in the mail i too was like "omg so many choices how do i know which one is for me?!" so what i did is for months i always checked the box asking to receive more information about their school. this way it gives you more info, you start to get a better idea of what you want cuz you know whats out there and you probably will be getting more mail than your parents..i was ;) look into your interests and strengths. for the longest time i always thought business classes were total slacker classes when in fact it was just something that came natural to me and i loved doing it. i now am majoring in marketing and entrepreneurship with a minor in spanish. take tours of any schools you might be interested in, especially the guided tours or preview days. they're very informative. don't go to a school simply because they have good academics or cute guys/girls. this is where you're quite possibly going to be spending the next 4-6 years of your life, make sure its a place you fully enjoy. start applying early cuz it does take a decent amount of time to hear back. spend A LOT of time working on your admissions essay! go over it a million times, have your parents, counselor, etc read it over to make sure its perfect. in it, address strengths, goals, weaknesses you had and how you overcame them (a poor semester) or how you plan to continue to improve. talk to your conselour also about scholarships. i applied to over 30 and didn't get any. it sucks. so apply! apply! apply! and work hard to get them. once you finally have your college picked out and are accepted, join the network for it on myspace and facebook and maybe add a few people that will be living in your same dorm. send them a letter and say ur going to be living there and just wanted to start getting familar with your new neighbors. you never know who could become your new best friend or study buddy. when you pick out your classes, think about your personal schedule. are you a morning person? afternoon person? night person? choose the class times that would happen at ur most alert period. skipping class is naughty and doesn't help your grades. as far as friends go, always go and try and meet new people at events and game nights or even just out walking drunk. college is ALL about meeting new people. keep in touch with your old friends and family too. call or message them for support. be considerate of others living in a dorm. as bad as you want to jam to ur music at 3 am i guarantee the 12 people living within hearing distance are ready to strangle you. so...other than that i hope you have fun and good luck!
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