How To Prepare For College Admission

Many college admission boards, especially for the top colleges, will want to see that you've had four years of good solid work before allowing you admittance into their highly respected institutions - so start early and plan four years ahead.

Your freshman year should focus on getting good grades and developing a resume of community service, volunteering, and other extracurricular activities, such as sports or clubs. Applications for college can be stressful. But if you start early and keep building momentum, by the time your college application process comes around in your senior year you'll already have put in the work.

The second year of high school becomes a little more involved. This is a good time to sit down with a guidance counselor and review what kind of coursework is necessary for admittance into a top college. You should also begin preparing for college entrance exams, like the SAT and ACT, so you feel comfortable with this important aspect of the college admission requirements. The PSATs are good preparation and will let you know early on where you need extra work.

The junior year of high school is really the most important as your academic career is now taking full shape. Some students begin to take college prep classes and some college admission guides really encourage this. The junior year is broken into two parts. The first half is a continuance of what you did in your sophomore year, but you might start with the decision process as far as which schools fit your profile. Also, take the opportunity to meet with any college representatives and ask questions about college admission requirements, admission essays, and financial concerns, like student loans. You may want to research these issues, like potential scholarships, grants, or other financial aid.

The second half of the junior year is when you need to take the SAT and/or ACT exams. As important as anything for college admission, these exams are required at most top colleges. Remember, when it comes to options for applications to college, good SAT scores will help you get where you want to go. This is a great time to begin writing your college admission essay, and will give you plenty of time to make it perfect. You should also narrow down your potential schools and schedule visits to these. The college rank system is well published, so top colleges are often booked well in advance for campus visits.

Your senior year is a bow that wraps your college admission requirement package. Get a calendar to mark important dates to remember. If you're not looking good for admission into your top college choice, you may think of entering a college board preparation school to increase your chances. Finalize you admission essay and send off those college applications well before the deadline, so you're on top of the stack. Then, enjoy the rewards of all that hard work you've put in for the last four years when you receive that admission letter from the school you've been dreaming of.