High school juniors who are sheltering in place due to the COVID-19 virus do not have to stop moving forward on their path to college. There are still many things that can be done to prepare for choosing colleges to apply to and getting ready for college applications. Here are five things to do to get a head start on your path to college.
Create a List of Colleges
Create a list of colleges to apply to. If you are still in the process of researching colleges, you can look at college websites for information. There are also some helpful books including two that I recommend: Fiske Guide to Colleges, and Colleges that Change Lives.Show Interest in Colleges on Your List
Connect with colleges you are interested in by signing up for their emails. Like and follow them on social media. This helps to show that you are interested in these schools and will keep you updated on any virtual info sessions, webinars, or other outreach they are offering..Start Writing your College Application Essay
If you are going to be applying to colleges that accept the Common Application, you can start writing your essay. The essay prompts for 2020-2021 can be found on the Common App website. Choose from one of the 7 prompts. Word length is a maximum of 650 words. Jot down ideas. Start writing. If you put several months of work into your essay instead of a few days, you are more likely to have an engaging, compelling essay. If you can complete your essay before senior year, you will be ahead of the game, and can considerably reduce the stress level that comes with senior year and all the work involved with college applications.Prepare for the SAT or ACT
ACT has rescheduled its April 4 national test date to June 13 across the U.S. Get updates on the ACT website. The CollegeBoard has canceled the May 2 SAT test date, as well as the makeup test dates for March. Keep up to date on cancellations, makeups, refunds, and more. Get updates on the CollegeBoard website. While upcoming test dates have been cancelled, you can still spend time prepping for whichever test you are planning to take. There are several test prep resources online. In addition, there are SAT and ACT tutors who will work with you by Skype or other video conference platforms. Test scores are important so the time put into studying will pay off.Create a Resume of Your High School Achievements
Create a resume outlining your achievements in high school. This should include awards, leadership positions, community service/volunteering, jobs, internships, sports, music, and/or special skills. List what you did, and the amount of time per week that you were engaged in each activity, and the years you were involved in them. Having this information will help you when it comes time to complete the activity section of college applications. Some applications as well as some scholarship applications will request that you include your resume.
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