It’s never too early for high school students to start looking for a college to attend, according to some education experts, who recommend researching major fields of study and admission requirements as early as ninth grade.
Here are seven tips to get your college search off to a good start:
Plan early. Know yourself. Take college-level courses in high school. Develop disciplined study habits. Do your research. Find scholarships to limit loans. Find your fit.
plan early
Starting your college search your senior year is too late, experts say. Taking the time to plan ahead will help you in the long run, says Darrin Q. Rankin, vice president of enrollment management and retention at Jarvis Christian University in Texas.
“High school students planning to attend college for a bachelor’s degree should start familiarizing themselves with colleges that have the academic programs they’re interested in as early as ninth grade,” he says. “Students need to start thinking early to enable them to take the right courses in high school that put them on the right academic path for their interests.”
Starting the college selection process in ninth grade “gives students four years to research all the colleges they feel they’d like to be a part of,” says Paula Payton, deputy director of admissions at Claflin University in South Carolina. . “This gives you the opportunity to talk with recruiters and college planning experts and also set long-term goals while you get the grades and test scores needed to get into that college.”
“Right now, they’re halfway through high school and hopefully starting to think about their post-high school plans,” he says. This is also the year most take the ACT or SAT for the first time. After a student’s initial testing, we can look at their scores and see where improvement is needed.”
Many colleges now make submitting ACT or SAT scores optional. Students who decide to take either test should look beyond composite scores to subscores for areas of improvement, possibly scheduling courses in those areas or taking other steps to ensure their test scores and GPA are competitive. with students accepted to the same preferred college, says Sharp.
Rankin points out that many colleges have community service requirements for incoming students, and early planning gives students time to meet some of those expectations during high school.
Lisa Fulton, a school counselor at Eastern Lebanon County High School in Pennsylvania, notes that many students start exploring college and career options as early as high school.
“That’s a good time to start thinking about what they want to do as far as college or technical school, trying to set the stage for what they want to do in life,” says Fulton, associate chairman of the board of the American Association of School Counselors. . “Ninth graders do a lot of interest inventories. A lot of that self-discovery needs to happen in middle school and by the time they hit high school.”
know yourself
“Students need to know themselves: what they like, what interests them, how they learn best, how they thrive,” says Rankin. “Some students have parents who push their children to attend their alma mater, but students must wisely choose the school that is the best educational and cultural option for them.”
Some colleges may have a strong reputation for excellence in one or more specific areas, from science and math programs to arts, music, and theater. Students with specific interests and skills they want to pursue in college and perhaps after research should pay attention to that when doing their research, experts say.
However, for students who aren’t sure what they want to study in college, “it’s helpful to choose a college with a wide variety of degree programs,” advises Rankin, “since some students find that what they thought they wanted studying is not what they wanted. chase after all.”
Take college-level courses in high school
College-level courses in high school are “very important,” says Payton. “They allow the student to learn not only advanced material, but also how well they can handle the rigors of college-level courses.[They]also teach the student how to manage time and how to balance social and family life while engaging with his education.
Sharp says that taking college-level classes in high school is “non-negotiable,” suggesting that doing so is about more than course content.
“It teaches a student how to read independently, take notes, test-taking skills, and more,” she says. “There’s a different set of expectations in a college-level course.” Students may struggle, but “if they do, they’ll learn how to stand up for themselves and ask for help, and maybe for the first time.”
Rankin notes that taking college-level classes in high school can save students money as they earn early college credit, in some cases through AP. “They can allow students to enroll in dual-degree programs at the university or allow students to earn graduate or doctoral degrees sooner,” she says.
“High performance in those college-level courses gives colleges an idea of how well prepared a student is to be successful in college,” adds Rankin. “Few colleges are looking for students who need remediation. A trend we see more often today at Jarvis is freshmen who have completed one or two semesters of college credit, with some students having already completed their associate degree.”
Develop disciplined study habits
High school students preparing for college should expect to spend about two to three hours reading and studying each day to prepare for classes when they’re in college, Rankin says. That’s partly because there’s a lot of required reading in college.
“College professors expect you to have read the assigned class content material and come to class ready to discuss,” says Rankin. Developing disciplined study habits in high school gives students a stronger start once they enroll in college, where distractions and competition for their time can be hard to resist.”
Self-discipline is a key life skill, and students who develop it in terms of their study habits will have an easier time succeeding, Rankin suggests.
Those good habits are formed through repetition, says Payton. “If you have a great study routine for high school, keep that routine in college and always do more, go further. Have a good place to study regularly and always keep track of certain dates and deadlines. Check your notes after class, and study groups are always welcome.”
do your research
Students should research which colleges and universities offer the academic programs they want to pursue, says Rankin.
“For students who may be the first generation in their family to attend college, they may find a smaller school less overwhelming and may be a better fit,” he says.
Rankin also points out that affordability is a major issue for many prospective college students and they need to understand what level of financial assistance they can expect from their families. They also shouldn’t rule out potential colleges based strictly on price tag.
“Many public institutions publish tuition and fees that appear to cost less than private institutions, and yet private schools are often able to offer more scholarship aid, sometimes enough to make public vs. private college education competitive” Rankin explains.
Another factor to consider is how far from home a student may want to attend college.
“Most traditional-age first-time college students are looking to move to a college or university campus and enjoy the traditional college residential experience,” says Rankin. “Some students have their own reasons for preferring to stay closer to home, possibly traveling or taking online courses.”
Payton recommends reaching out to people who are in the profession the student eventually wants to enter. “If they want to be a vet, talk to a vet and get an idea of their path. It gives the student an idea of what to expect in college and beyond.”
Find scholarships to limit borrowing
Scholarships are a great way to help pay for the costs of a college education because they don’t have to be repaid and help reduce reliance on loans.
“High school students need to fully understand the differences between scholarships, which don’t have to be repaid, and loans, which have to be repaid, with interest,” says Rankin. “While students are researching colleges, they should also be hunting and applying for scholarships they may qualify for.”
Some scholarships are specialized, such as those only for children of military veterans or students studying a certain field. Some scholarships require that the recipient qualify as low-income; Many scholarships require applicants to write an essay.
Find your fit
If possible, high school college hopefuls should experience walking to a college campus, says Sharp.
“Today’s technology allows us to view photos, videos and even take virtual tours, but nothing compares to an actual visit to college,” says Sharp. It is! I can see myself here. Or they have that feeling in their stomach that says, ‘This is fine.'”
A visit to the university allows a student to see the campus layout, residential life and campus buildings, says Sharp.
“If a student is majoring in science, it’s important to take a look at the science buildings. What do their labs look like? What kind of technology do they have? Universities differ a lot in what they can offer a student. Having the opportunity Seeing firsthand what the college has to offer and speaking with college admissions representatives and financial aid representatives is crucial in the college selection process.”
It’s hard for a student to know if a college will really be a good fit without visiting it, Rankin says.
“Many students and parents find visiting college to be a great experience that helps them choose a place they feel they will belong, expand their cultural awareness, find friends, and grow academically, personally, socially, and spiritually,” he says. .
Fulton highly recommends taking some virtual tours, especially when trying to narrow down a long list of prospects.
“By junior year, you should have a shortlist of six or seven colleges to visit,” she says. “By Thanksgiving of your junior year, you should know the school you’re applying to” as her preferred choice.
When making a final decision about college, students should consider any input from their parents, but they should also understand that the decision about the best option for them is ultimately theirs, Rankin says.
Source: www.usnews.com