Author: Mary Ila Ward

The past two weeks I have made a list for freshmen and sophomores on how to be prepared for college. While those years are important, Junior year has the most responsibilities for college bound students. Like most students I knew I was going to college, but that assumption made me ignore important steps when preparing. The beginning of this past year, when I started applying to schools, I made it so hard on myself because I was lazy and had little drive my junior year. I should have set my priorities with college in mind.

To help you have college in mind, I have come up with some tips for high school juniors:

1. ACT/SAT is priority- In my experience, colleges prioritize students by ACT/SAT scores. While GPA should not be ignored, the higher the test score the more opportunities there are for scholarships. For example, I have an older brother and sister that attend the same college. In high school my brother’s GPA was a 3.7 and my sisters was a 4.3, while she was more studious than he was, my brother received more scholarship money because he had a higher ACT score. When studying for the ACT/SAT it is almost impossible to learn and remember all the rules and formulas for the different problems. Instead, practice and learn how take the test. Find out what stratagy works best for you, the more comfortable you are testing the easier the test becomes.

2. Push yourself- This year was the hardest for me by far. I took three AP classes. While that might be overwhelming to have so many, I suggest you take as many as you think you can handle. Like I have said before, the class that will get you an easy A is not going to help you in college courses.

3. Build your resume- Continue to stay active in the activities and organizations in which you are a part.

4. Search  and apply for scholarships- Even though they can be in small amounts, it is still less money you or your parents have to pay for your education.

5. Start making a list of colleges that interest you- It can seem overwhelming at first but it gets easier. Thinking about simple things like cost and distance can help you narrow down your options. When you come up with a list of possibilities, be aware of deadlines. Some colleges allow you to apply as soon at the beginning of August before your senior year.

6. AP Exams- If you are taking AP classes, put effort into your end of the year exams. You can avoid taking and paying for classes if you score well. I am eating my words on this one, I didn’t care and did not get any credits from my exam scores.

7. Enjoy your summer- It is sad but this is the last one you will have without the stress of getting ready for college. Don’t expect to have your future figured out your

Junior year. It is hard to be motivated for something that is 2 years away, but try to make yourself. You will be thankful you put in the extra effort when you begin your Senior year. With The Horizon Point’s College Checklist, you can be ready for the responsibilities for this year and your senior year. You may also want to check out Horizon Point’s College and Career Prep email subscription plan to help you stay on track starting your junior year.

Your sophomore year of high school is a pivotal year to make sure you are challenging yourself and expanding upon what you learned your freshman year. As a high school senior about to transition to college, I’ll be continuing this week with my focus on what to do each year to make sure your beyond ready for college.

When Sophomore year came around, I felt like I had high school figured out. Little did I know there was so much more that I could have done to help me be prepared for college.
Here is my to do list for high school Sophomores:

Take the ACT or SAT– It is important that you do this for experience.
Pay attention to scholarship opportunities– Even if it is for a small amount or you don’t think you will get it, do it anyways. It will give you practice and you could win and already be saving money for college.

Challenge yourself– Start thinking of what level classes you want to take to next year. If the classes you are taking right now don’t push you, plan to go to the next level. I suggest that you take any AP class that is offered your sophomore year. Getting an easy A now will not help you when you get to college.

Choose your priorities wisely– When building your resume it is important to think quality over quantity. If you joined a club your Freshmen year that did nothing, don’t join it again. Spend your time on things that will set you apart. Trust me there are hundreds of science or spanish club members that will applying to the same college you are. Join the the clubs or organization that helped you get volunteer hours and make you be involved.

With each year comes more opportunities to prepare yourself for college. It is rare for students to have that focus and drive to take those opportunities in order to be ready for college. The Horizon Point’s Checklist provides a plan for students to make college a reality.

The way students prepare for college changes from generation to generation. Teachers and parents provide wonderful, and much needed, encouragement and support, but it can help to have the perspective of someone who is going through the process of applying and choosing a college. I am a senior at Decatur High School and just finished choosing the college I will attend.

When I was a freshman it was hard for me to plan past the weekend much less make a four year plan. There are a lot of things I am glad I did but a few things I would do differently to help me prepare for my next step in life.

Here is a list of my Do’s and Dont’s for High School Freshmen:

1. Do try anything that interests you– be involved in as many activities as you can, then you can find what really interest you and manage your priorities. Start a portfolio of everything you have done, my mother made me start one when I was a freshman and it helped me out a lot when I started college applications.

2. Do take advantage of learning the basics– Like most students, I hated grammar. It did not come easy to me and it was last thing I wanted to do. All those times I tuned my english teacher out during the lessons caught up with me when I started taking the ACT ,and my english score suffered.

3. Do get to know upper classmen– Understanding what responsibilities and decisions they have to make can help you see the bigger picture. Also ask for advice, you can avoid the same mistakes they made when they were a freshman.

4. Don’t get ahead of yourself– Make this year a learning year, you don’t have to make any big decisions.

5. Don’t get on a teachers bad side– Teacher recommendations will be needed throughout high school, for scholarships, and for college applications. Teachers talk to each other about students so being disrespectful can ruin your reputation even before you step foot into a another classroom.

6. Don’t slack off– You have three more years of high school, and it only gets harder.

While you don’t have to make big decisions, it benefits you to be aware of the steps you can take to be prepared for college. Horizon Point’s checklist can help you make a game plan for the next four years.