How you can SIMPLIFY the college application process this summer
You’re a rising senior and it’s summer! Time to relax, go to the lake, and not think about school – right? Well, yes and no ☺
If you are a rising high school senior, now is not only time for a great beach trip but also the perfect time to get organized and ready for college. You’ve gotten through what is often the hardest year, your junior year, so this is probably something you don’t want to hear. So why now? While junior year was very intense, so will fall semester of your senior year. Yes, it’s helpful to take a breather from academics, but you also have the opportunity to invest in some things this summer so you don’t have it hanging over your head in the fall. The fall will be crazy busy with the final varsity sports, fine arts performances, and a rigorous academic schedule, so let’s go into August with as much ready as you can!
How you can SIMPLIFY the college application process this summer:
Visit colleges you think you are interested in.
Register AND attend information sessions.
Go on a walking tour of the campuses.
Keep asking yourself: Do I see myself here?
Organize your college list. Once you’re down to 5-7 colleges that feel comfortable for you AND your parent’s wallet, begin to organize. At Simplify Life, our coach has an organizer for you where you can keep track of passwords, admissions deadlines, scholarship deadlines, number of essays, and a host of other information that you want to be aware of.
Complete your standardized testing by August!
Evaluate your current scores; what’s your goal?
Choose your test – SAT or ACT?
Get tutoring – we know it’s not fun to get tutoring during the summer, but you have lots more free time than in the fall when you’re also studying for tests. Use this time to not only increase your chances of getting in your ideal schools but also to receive certain scholarships.
Brainstorm your essays.
650 words are needed for the Common Application essay – don’t focus on the prompts but the purpose – to get to know who is the person behind the GPA, standardized test scores, and resume.
Additional essays – many colleges have additional essays or scholarships might ask for another essay.
Need some help getting started? Let our Simplify Life coach help you craft essays that uniquely showcase you and why a campus would want you! It’s hard to brainstorm in a vacuum; with several decades of experience, we are masters at this task.
Begin the Common App tab of the Common Application.
Gather the needed information now.
Input the information you can.
How you can COMPLICATE the college application process this summer:
Do not do deep dives into the internet to read articles about.
The best college essay ever – they are impossible to re-create!
Best tips for the Ivy’s – really? No mystery – GPA, rigor, high test scores, amazing essays and much out-of-school involvement in activities that align with your future. There is no “secret formula” to get into an Ivy and if your GPA, scores, etc. aren’t realistic for an Ivy, let’s step back and see what would be a better fit for you.
Your odds of admissions – no general odds exist. Colleges admit within the context of the school you attend.
If you are a rising senior or if you are a parent of a rising senior, we are here to help SIMPLIFY the college process! We encourage you to email Andrea at andrea@simplifyatlanta.com if you are ready to get started. Andrea can help you build your college list, brainstorm essays, and point you toward our curated list of standardized testing tutors. She also links arms with both parents and students so that they can collaborate together, and she mediates through what can sometimes be a stressful experience for students and parents. This should be a joyful season ahead, so let’s work together so you start the process and be set up for success!
Meet the Author Andrea Shupert
Academic + Career Coach
