Four Things Seniors Can Do Now to Prepare for College

Congratulations! You’ve reached your final year of high school. While it might be tempting to sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your hard work, remember preparing for college during your senior year of high school means less last minute stress and more time to enjoy the special moments before your highly anticipated college adventure.

How to Prepare for College in High School

Before you panic, also remember that a little preparation goes a long way. Here are four simple things you can do right now to set yourself up for success in college.

1. Get Organized

Countless deadlines, endless to-do lists, and important dates means organization is imperative. In your final year of high school, you’re probably scheduling standardized test retakes, campus tours, final exams, and college interviews. Creating a detailed schedule ensures you don’t miss any important dates or deadlines.  

If you take a little extra time now to get organized, you’ll be less stressed and discover you actually have more time to make this final year the best yet.

See how Crimson can help you create a personalized “roadmap” for your college application journey.

2. Start Your Common Application

There’s no better time than the present to start working on your Common Application. 

• Fill out the basic background information now so you can focus on the more important pieces later. 
• Review the essay prompts and reflect on your past experiences to see if they translate well into your essays. If you’re having trouble choosing a topic, ask your friends and family to answer this question, “What distinguishes me from other potential applicants?” Here’s some free advice from Crimson. 
• Draft your personal statement.  
• Start thinking about letters of recommendation and which teacher, mentor, or counselor you’d like to ask. Ask early before the rush.
• Don’t forget to check if the schools you’re applying for require supplemental essays. Start brainstorming ideas for those essays. 
• Write down all application due dates on your calendar!

3. Create a Dream College Shortlist

Even if you’ve only dreamed of attending one university, it’s best to create a short-list of potential safety, target, and reach schools. Most students apply to between four and eight colleges. The 2019 State of College Admission report from the National Association for College Admission Counseling said that between 2013-2019, approximately 81% of first-time freshmen applied to at least three colleges. 

Once you have a list, learn EVERYTHING you can about those universities. Try and picture yourself attending classes, joining clubs, and meeting friends. Do they offer programs that fit your career goals? What are the average SAT scores of applicants? Find out which universities are the best fit for you.

Schedule visits to each university on your list. While touring the campus in person will give you a full picture of life at the university, a virtual visit is a great alternative if a trip to the school isn’t possible. During an online or in-person campus visit, you’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions about academics, financial aid, and student life.

4. Connect with Alumni and Mentors

If you’re looking for insider knowledge, nobody knows a school like its alumni and students. Establish relationships with current or former students who can answer your questions and tell you about their personal college experience. They may even have tips on the application process and how you might increase your chances of getting into your dream college.

As a Crimson student, you’ll have exclusive access to alumni from all of your dream schools. Our team is made up of experts who can help you with every step of the application process. We make establishing alumni connections easy.

Your final year of high school shouldn’t be all work. Remember to take some time to relax and reflect on all you’ve accomplished. By getting organized, starting your Common Application, making a list of your dream schools (and visiting them), and reaching out to alumni, you’ll be more prepared to tackle and enjoy your senior year.

Gain admission to your dream university. Crimson has helped thousands of students make their college dreams a reality. From essay review to online tutoring to extracurricular & career mentoring, and more, our students are up to 4x more likely to gain admission to a top university than those who go after it alone. See how Crimson can help you by scheduling a free consultation with an Academic Advisor today.