Preparing For Higher Education
The time when you’re graduating high school and moving on to pursue higher education can be challenging if unprepared. The key to successfully preparing for college is starting as early as possible and making a commitment to your goals. That doesn't necessarily mean having your entire life planned out in 9th grade, but it does mean that if you know college is something you want, you will need to put effort into getting there. Today we want to discuss how to prepare for higher education.
Apply Yourself
Applying yourself academically is a must, regardless if you’re planning on pursuing higher education or not. Many students may not realize the importance of starting as early as possible. If you commit to getting good grades from the start, you will have a bit of a buffer towards the end of your high school years. The same rule applies to extracurriculars. Start joining clubs and sports that interest you early. This way, you’ll have more opportunities to explore different interests and you’ll have a huge advantage over others who join clubs later on. It’s often more fruitful to take on fewer activities and excel in them, than taking on too much because you feel like that’s what colleges want.
“Applying yourself academically is a must, regardless if you’re planning on pursuing higher education or not.”
Work With Your Guidance Counselor
Throughout your high school years, and eventually the college application process, your guidance counselor will become your best friend. From providing you with emotional support to informing you about various opportunities to writing you a good letter of recommendation, your high school guidance counselor will be a very important part of your four years in school. So make sure you establish a good relationship with them along with appreciating all the hard work they do. Another helpful way to prepare is to obtain as much information as possible about the college you are interested in. Look over their website, email their staff with any questions you may have and, if it’s possible, visit the campus in person. This way, you’ll be making an informed decision once you choose what college you want to attend.
“From providing you with emotional support to informing you about various opportunities to writing you a good letter of recommendation, your high school guidance counselor will be a very important part of your four years in school.”
Focus on Organization
Sometimes the pressure of taking college entrance exams coupled with the stress of the application process can be hard to manage. It is necessary to come up with an organizational system to help keep you centered. Ask yourself: when and how will I study for the SATs and ACTs? What colleges best fit what I’m looking for? Who will I ask for recommendation letters? When are applications due? How will I apply for financial aid? These are all questions you’ll be asking yourself when the time comes. Questions like these are the reason why it’s important to come up with a way to keep yourself organized throughout the entire process.
If pursuing higher education is what you want, then it’ll take a lot of hard work and dedication, but ultimately it is worth it.