Things I Wish I Knew

What is Senior Year Like?

Compared to junior year, senior year is a lot less stressful after you get through college applications. Most students will likely have one or two off periods, so they are left with a lot of free time. This time grants you to many things that benefit you, not only with college applications, but also on a social level as well.

What do Colleges Look For?

There are a variety of things colleges look for in students. Academics like GPA, rank, SAT/ACR scores  are all important to admissions, but a lack of writing skill can be detrimental during your application review. Colleges mainly read your essays to know more about you. While they may not want to hear about a bland student, being meaningful about your topic causes you to stand out. As long as you demonstrate strong writing and a passion topic, you will likely do well on your writing prompts. You should be very detailed in your writing by adding examples and imagery because admission officers look to characterize you through examples of your own experiences.

What Can I do in Advance?

Colleges want to see your positive aspects and what they can do for their campus. They want to see your involvement in the community and your interest in your desired major. Here are some things you should do and include on your application:

• Clubs/organizations related to your major
• Volunteer hours/internships
• Work (especially if it's related to your major)
• Build relationships with teachers (letters of recommendations)

Overall,  being productive inside and outside of school will benefit you greatly when you begin looking into colleges. Make sure you maintain good academics and also participate in extracurricular activities. Doing so will make it easier to find friends who might be attending the same college. Nevertheless, you still have a long way to go, so good luck and have fun.