This guide walks high school students through the process of planning and preparing for college. It focuses on the steps that high schoolers need to take to prepare themselves to submit competitive applications for admittance to college.
Written by Scott Shubitz
How do you prepare for college? Planning for college can be an overwhelming task. For many high school students, college may seem exceptionally far off in the future. This is especially true when engaged in with all of the exciting aspects of your high school years, such as extracurricular activities, homecoming events, and senior trips. In addition, day-to-day schoolwork obligations can preoccupy even the most focused student.
One of the best ways to overcome these challenges is to follow a college planning timeline. This way, you'll be reminded to complete specific tasks at specific times so that you don't fall behind in the process of planning for college. Below, you will find a general timeline that you can use to prepare yourself for going to college.
Freshman Year: Lay the Groundwork for College
Freshman year is not only the beginning of your high school career but also a critical moment in planning your college career. You should use this time to reflect on both your academic and extracurricular interests and your dreams and hopes for the future. Freshman year is also the time when you learn which courses you'll have to take in your sophomore year. The courses and electives you take in your sophomore year will, in many ways, forge a path that you will continue throughout high school.
Determine Academic and Career Interests
Freshman year is a time to reflect on your general interests. Don't worry if you don't have any preferred academic or career interests at this point. Many first-year high school students are still in the process of self-discovery and self-exploration. To determine your interests, you can:
Read books, which is one of the best ways to explore new interests. Many libraries can offer recommendations for teenagers who are trying to determine career interests.
Seek career advice from guidance counselors and teachers. Your high school teachers may be some of the best people to talk to about your academic or professional future.
Speak with your parents about your future. Your parents can be your greatest resource when it comes to planning your future. After all, who knows you better than they do? They'll also likely play an active role in college planning as you transition into your sophomore and junior years.
Visit websites that have that have information and resources designed to help you explore careers.
Choose Relevant Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities are activities you participate in outside of the academic portion of the school day. Extracurricular activities are essential because they not only provide you with hands-on experience and leadership opportunities but also help you meet new people. Becoming involved in extracurricular activities early in high school is essential, as you'll likely discover some activities you like and some activities that you don't like. This allows you to rethink what extracurricular activities you want to participate in your sophomore, junior, and senior years.
Some common extracurricular activities you might consider include:
Athletic and sports-related activities, like baseball, basketball, soccer, and track teams
Chorus, school band or orchestra, or other arts-related activities and clubs
Intellectual activities such as the chess club, debate club, or the school newspaper
Leadership-related activities such as student government or a Model United Nations
You may also want to consider:
Afterschool jobs or summer internships that can put money in your pocket or provide you with professional work experience to enhance your college application.
Community-service-oriented church or youth groups
Your first-choice extracurricular activities should be the ones that interest you the most--you may also want to choose those that you're not too familiar with but that seem potentially enjoyable. However, don't feel pressured to overburden yourself during your first year of high school.
Finalize Your Sophomore Schedule
During your freshman year, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to the finalizing of your sophomore schedule. Depending on your school, this may include simply selecting electives; in other schools, it might mean choosing specific class times or sections.
However, even before you get to work finalizing your schedule, remember that your freshman academic performance will influence which classes you'll be eligible for your sophomore year. So make sure you work as hard as possible and perform up to your full potential!
In addition to your academic performance, you'll need to consider a variety of other factors when determining your schedule. They include:
Deciding if you want to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses if they're available at your school. You may need to earn a specific grade or perform at a particular standard to be placed in an Advanced Placement course. Some schools require teacher recommendations for AP courses, too. These courses can put you on track to potentially earn college credit; however, while potentially open to high school freshmen and sophomores, they may be a better fit for juniors and seniors.
Determining if you want to take honors classes. Honors classes are often seen as a 'middle ground' between regular courses and AP courses. They may be less rigorous than AP classes; however, they do not count for college credit. The benefit of honors classes is that they may prepare you for future AP classes or college classes.
Focusing on math, which can help you become proficient in foundational problem-solving skills. If you think you may want to pursue a degree program in math or science, you'll need to focus on those subjects early on in your high school career.
Prioritizing science, especially if you want to pursue a degree program or a professional career in math or science. You may take biology or chemistry your sophomore year.
Considering history course options, such as United States history. Your school may also have a state or local history offering.
Taking a foreign language. In a high school foreign language class, you may learn how to count in French, or learn about adverbs in Spanish. Most high schools will offer French, Spanish, and American Sign Language (ASL).
Completing English or literature courses, which will prepare you for the rigors of college. These classes will prepare you to write informative essays like those you may craft for college applications.
Focus on College-Friendly Classes
When reviewing your transcripts, colleges generally look for specific classes. They want to see how you've attained a high level of academic achievement while challenging yourself in high school, for example, by pursuing honors and AP courses.
When creating a master list of courses that will make you more competitive as an applicant, include:
Four years of English courses. If possible, plan to complete AP English Language and Composition and AP English Literature and Composition during your junior and senior years.
At least three math courses (including Algebra, Geometry and/or Trigonometry during your first two years of high school). Set your sights on completing AP Calculus and AP Statistics during your junior and senior years.
A minimum of three laboratory science courses. If you take a natural science during your freshman year, move on to AP Biology and/or AP Chemistry. After completing those courses, take AP Physics.
Four years of history and social science courses. Plan to take AP U.S. History during your junior year. You may be able to take AP World History and AP U.S. Government during the same year. If you have time, try to complete AP European History, AP Psychology, and AP Human Geography.
Two or three years of a foreign language. Colleges will be impressed if you complete AP Spanish, AP French, AP Chinese, AP German, AP Italian, or AP Latin.
Arts electives that relate to your potential major or that help you stand out as a candidate. Enroll in a drawing or band/orchestra course. Some high schools may offer AP Art History, AP Studio Art, and AP Music Theory.
Taking challenging high-level classes can help you stand out during the admissions process, place you in more advanced courses in college, and possibly even earn you college credit.
Sophomore Year: Continue Freshman Year Tasks
College planning will start to get real during your sophomore year. At this point, you'll no longer be 'new' to high school, and your guidance counselors, teachers, and parents will expect you to have started focusing on your goals. Most importantly, you'll need to continue to reflect on your future college major and professional career path. You'll also need to spend some time gaining an understanding of the different types of higher education institutions.
Perhaps most stressful of all, you'll need to start preparing for standardized tests, like the ACT® test and SAT, if the colleges you are applying to require them. You'll also have to put some thought into the courses you're going to take in your junior year.
Remember that extracurricular activities will probably require more of your time than they did during your freshman year. If you're not happy with or interested in your current extracurricular activities, consider pursuing some different ones.
Consider Your College Major or Future Career Path
By the middle of your sophomore year, you'll have had the opportunity to experience classes in a variety of subjects and explore different extracurricular activities. This year you should use all of the experiences you've had in high school so far to make more informed decisions about your college major and future career path.
For example, are you interested in a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-based college major and occupation? Or, are you more interested in English, literature, and social studies? Extracurricular activities may have also given you the chance to explore your leadership potential, too. When reflecting on all of your experiences, consider some of these popular 4-year college majors:
Business administration and accounting
Health and related fields
The liberal arts and social sciences
Biomedical science
Computer science and engineering
While these degree programs are popular, they may not provide you with the compensation you expect after graduation. To help you determine whether a potential college major will pay well after graduation, you can do a quick search online to learn about the different economic values of college majors.
Explore Different Types of Colleges
Planning for college includes becoming familiar with the different types of schools, such as community, public, and private colleges and vocational schools. There are also classes you can take online for transferable college credits, which can help you save money on a degree. Keep in mind that different types of schools offer different types of degree programs. Also, different colleges of the same type may offer a variety of programs. For example, while the University of Arkansas has a decent engineering program, the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign has a top ten rated engineering program.
When considering the different types of colleges you can choose from, remember:
College Type
Explanation
Technical and vocational schools
These are institutions that offer certificate, degree, or diploma programs that take less than two years to complete. They specialize in training students for specific trades such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) repair or welding. For more information, see our guide on trade and vocational schools.
Community colleges and small state colleges
These often specialize in the first two years of higher education, or the 'core curriculum.' This can include survey courses such as American History or English Composition.
Four-year public and private colleges
These specialize in undergraduate programs rather than researching and developing graduate programs.
Universities
These are public and private institutions that offer 4-year undergraduate degree and some graduate degree programs (master's and doctoral programs).
Research universities
These are e public and private universities that specialize in research and graduate programs. Examples of research universities include Ivy League schools such as Harvard and public universities like the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Department rankings and quality of faculty vary from university to university. Focus on researching institutions that have distinguished programs in the field you want to study. Ultimately, the type of institution you attend will depend on your academic interests, your future career path, and your qualifications.
Prepare for Standardized Tests
One of the most stressful elements associated with college planning is preparing for standardized tests. Standardized tests are critical because test scores are an important part of many institutions' admissions criteria. The most popular standardized tests are the ACT® test and the SAT, which students typically in their junior year.
Schedule standardized test group study sessions with friends.
Create a test-prep study schedule. Aim to devote a designated number of hours each week preparing for your exams.
The most successful students use a mix of the above tactics. Ultimately, though, you'll likely have to spend many hours preparing for standardized tests during your sophomore and junior years.
Choose Your Junior Year Courses
When it comes time to choosing high school classes for your junior year, you'll need to reflect on your experiences in your freshman and sophomore classes. When doing this, ask yourself which ones you've done well in. Have you been successful in your honors and AP courses? If so, you should continue taking those types of classes; if not, are you up for a challenge?
There are some specific courses you should consider in your junior year. They include:
American History, where you will learn about different periods of time.
Chemistry or Physics, where you will learn about things like the laws of inertia or protons.
English, honors, or AP
Foreign language, typically the same one you took in your freshman and sophomore years
Macroeconomics or microeconomics
Electives such as AP courses in art history, music theory, or psychology
Junior Year: Accelerate the College Prep Process
Junior year is critical in your planning and preparation for college. Most importantly, your junior year will be the last full year you have in high school before applying to college; this is because many college applications are due in the fall of your senior year. Reassess your extracurricular activities and finalize your senior year schedule. You'll also need to start figuring out how you and your family will pay for college, reflecting on your planned major, and visiting colleges.
Reassess Your Extracurricular Activities
By this point, you should have several extracurricular activities to list on your college applications. If you think your list of extracurricular activities could benefit from an additional activity or a certain emphasis, consider making some changes.
Remember that:
The 'best' extracurricular activities are often those that provide you with the opportunity to develop some leadership experience or serve the community.
Community service and outreach are some of the most desirable extracurricular activities you can add to your high school resume. Intellectual activities such as the debate team or Model United Nations are also very desirable.
High school sports and travel teams can contribute to a well-rounded profile and/or help you win scholarships.
Part-time jobs can help you earn money for college, gain real-life experience, hone your time-management skills, and possibly acquire some leadership experience.
While extracurricular activities are critical, remember that your grade point average and standardized test scores often weigh more heavily when it comes to college admissions decisions. So don't overwhelm yourself with too many extracurricular activities--your academic performance should come first.
Review Your College-Related Finances
Depending on the institution you attend, college tuition can cost tens of thousands of dollars. In addition to tuition, you'll also need to take into consideration on-campus or off-campus housing, books and supplies, meals and other related costs. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average cost of college during the 2022-2023 year was $27,100 at a public institution and $33,600 at a private institution. Most students cannot afford such a steep price on their own; as such, you'll need to put some serious thought into how you're going to pay for college.
When considering the cost of college, be sure to:
Begin by talking to your parents. They may have already saved for, or thought about some ways to finance your college education.
Consider beginning your higher education at a public 2-year community college or state college, where the tuition is significantly lower when compared to a 4-year university.
Apply for federal financial aid. Whether you plan on applying for student loans, or not, you may want to familiarize yourself with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which may also be required if you plan to apply for scholarships.
Apply for scholarships. There are many discipline-specific, institution-specific, and specialty scholarships you can apply for; your high school guidance counselor should be your first stop when researching them.
Ultimately, the challenge of financing college may be the deciding factor when it comes to which college you attend. As such, you'll need to prepare in advance of your senior year and take steps to secure financial aid and scholarships as soon as possible.
Choose Your Senior Year Courses
Your senior year is your last opportunity to raise your grade point average (GPA) and potentially earn college credits by taking AP courses. So choose those classes that are not only challenging but enjoyable. For example, your schedule may include a mix of AP courses and easier electives. Some options you may want to consider include:
English and literature courses like AP British Literature, AP World Literature, or even a creative writing class
Pre-calculus or calculus; if you've completed calculus, take statistics
AP Physics or another AP science course
AP U.S. Government or AP Psychology; if you've taken them, consider another AP social science or social studies course
Third or fourth year of a foreign language
Other AP or honors electives
Reassess Your College Major or Career Path
Your junior year is another opportunity for you to reassess potential majors and professional career paths. By this point, you should have substantial academic and extracurricular experience. You may also have competed an internship or held one or more art-time jobs. All of these experiences can help inform your decision about your future academic life.
While you may have already thought about the economic viability of your college major, you may also want to consider whether the major will help you secure a job that makes you happy. It is worth noting that different people find their jobs satisfying for different reasons. What one individual may consider a 'happy job,' another may find unsatisfying. To help assess your choices, you first will want to research your career options and learn what type of major or field of study are required for specific careers.
Develop a List of Potential Colleges
One of the most difficult aspects of planning for college is choosing the ones you may want to attend. There are several steps you can take to narrow down your list of potential colleges. Since you've spent a fair bit of time considering your future major and occupation, you may already have a good idea of what type of academic programs you should focus on. To build on this, be sure to:
Make a list of schools you want to attend, including those family members have attended or friends are planning on attending, or those located in your region.
Research schools with top-ranked programs in your major.
Visit the admissions page of potential colleges and make notes about their admissions requirements, including GPA, standardized test scores, extracurricular, and essay expectations. Eliminate any colleges for which you may not meet the requirements.
Also, avoid eliminating schools based solely on cost. If you have good grades and test scores, you may win financial aid or a scholarship.
Tour College Campuses
Toward the end of your junior year, you'll need to arrange for college campus tours. Tours generally take place during the summer before your senior year or during the fall of your senior year. The first step in scheduling campus tours is to make a list of the colleges you want to visit. Then, reduce your list to a manageable number of visits; this is important, as you probably won't be able to visit all of the schools to which you're applying. A good strategy is to choose your top one or two colleges and your 'safety' school to visit.
Check College Websites
Before a visit, you will want to check the colleges' websites for information about how to set up a campus visit, including available dates. This information may be listed on the admissions department page.
Set Aside Enough Time
You want to make sure that you set aside enough time to visit each school. While your official campus visit might only take a day, you should set aside 2-3 days--that way, you can also tour the campus on your own and explore the surrounding city or town in which it is located.
Time Your Visit Properly
You may want to visit in early fall when class is in session; this way, you can get a better idea of how the campus feels with students around.
Ask Questions
Be sure to ask any questions you might have during your campus tour. As student-workers give many campus tours, use them as a resource by asking important questions, like which dorms may be the best fit for you, what social life is like on campus, or any other issues that may concern you.
If you can't visit a college campus in person, attend a virtual open house or go on your own virtual campus tour. More-and-more colleges are offering virtual open houses and tours online; these events often include college administrators, faculty, and current students.
Complete Senior Year Courses and Tasks
Your senior year is the last opportunity you'll have to boost your high school resume, grade point average, and extracurricular activities. As a result, you'll need to stay on your game and avoid a debilitating case of 'senioritis' and ruin your chances of getting into your dream college by performing poorly during your senior year. That said, you'll have two important tasks related to college planning your senior year:
First, you'll need to submit your college applications.
Second, you'll need to make your final decision after you hear back from the schools.
Submit College Applications
Submitting applications can be an overwhelming process. As top-choice colleges become more competitive, high schoolers are applying to more institutions than ever before. The College Board recommends that high school students apply to between five and eight colleges. Completing so many applications can be time consuming, especially as you are starting your senior year in high school.
Applications generally include:
College Type
Explanation
Transcripts
These list classes and grades for grades 9-12. Many high schools will provide partial transcripts for you to send to colleges in November or December. You may need to submit final transcripts after graduation.
These will be from teachers, friends of your family, or other adults who know you. Letters from teachers and supervisors of extracurricular activities are sometimes the most desirable and effective.
Portfolios or auditions
For art or culture programs, you may have to submit an additional portfolio or audition. Make sure you familiarize yourself with portfolio requirements for any college to which you're applying.
Application fees
Don't forget application fees! In general, you'll pay between $25 and $50 to apply to each institution.
Most 4-year comprehensive and research universities require applications to be submitted by November or December of the year before you'll first attend college. Some institutions have January due dates. Many state colleges with 4-year programs require applications to be submitted by the late spring or early summer. Community colleges and technical schools often extend application deadlines far into the summer, right before the fall semester.
Review and Weigh Post-College Acceptance/Rejection Choices
After you've submitted your applications, you'll finally be able to take a breather from college planning. However, don't forget that you'll need to keep your grades up for your final transcripts, available after graduation.
In general, many comprehensive and research universities begin releasing acceptance decisions in late winter or spring. This means that many of your application decisions will arrive in the mail in March or April of your senior year.
Some colleges have expanded their early decision or early acceptance decisions and send out their decisions as early as November. Some schools may continue to send these decisions out into February before releasing general application decisions.
After you've heard back from the majority of the schools you've applied to, you should:
List any financial aid or scholarships that you've qualified for or won. Financial aid should be a significant part of your decision process, so if financing college is a concern, then the packages that a specific institution offers should help to move them to the top of your list.
Consider both college and program rankings. Higher-ranked colleges and programs may better prepare you for the workforce and help to make you a more competitive candidate when you hit the job market.
Reflect upon your campus tour experiences. If you didn't get to visit all of your top choices and safety schools, you may want to schedule a visit now before making a final decision.
Create a college pros-and-cons list and discuss it with your parents, guidance counselor, or teachers.
Consider the location of the college. If visiting with your family is important to you, you may want to choose a college close by or conveniently accessible by way of air or car.
Avoid making a decision based on which colleges your friends are going to attend. What is best for your friends might not be best for you.
Your final decision about which college to attend will most likely be a difficult one. This difficulty may be compounded by the fact that you won't have a lot of time to decide. In general, you should have about a month to respond to an acceptance letter. Many large state universities and research universities expect to hear back from students by May 1; however, this date varies based on the institution.
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Expert Answers to Common Questions About the College Admission Process
Ask the Experts
You can read their biographies and responses below.
Bryson Purcell, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
Bryson Purcell is currently serving as the Assistant Director of Admissions for Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania where he oversees the recruitment, selection, and overall marketing & communications for incoming students. Bryson has worked in both private and public institutions as well as serving as a faculty member for the American University's College of Education. Bryson holds a BSBA in Information & Technology Management as well as an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Bloomsburg University of PA.
What advice do you have for new students navigating college life?
Do your research! Start looking early and narrow down your search as you progress through your junior and senior year. There is campus out there for everyone!
What is something that you encourage all students to do while on-campus?
Get involved. Whether it's a hobby, sport, club or exploring a new hobby explore all that the university has to offer!
What makes a student's application stand out?
Being authentic. The best essays read like we are having a conversation and show me what's unique about you.
What common issues do you see with students, whether it be with their application or college research process?
Visit! Campus visits are the perfect opportunity to hear from a student, connect with admissions, and get a glimpse into life as a college student. Ask yourself - "Do I see myself here?"
How can students find out if a school is a good fit for them?
I review applications holistically. This means that I look at all parts of your application including GPA, test scores (if applicable), extracurriculars, sports, part-time job, etc. The more information you can provide to me within your application the better!
What are one or two of the most important factors you consider in a college application?
Go where YOU want to go. Often times students are pressured into attending the school nearby or to become a legacy student but I always encourage students to go where makes most sense for THEM.
What is the largest piece of advice you have for students going through the college application process?
Double, triple, and quadruple check your essays! We can tell when you copy and paste your personal essay from another school's prompt (especially when they forget to change the school's name from the last one!)
Taylor Redwine, Fort Valley State University
Taylor Redwine is a recruiter/admissions counselor at Fort Valley State University.
What is something that you encourage all students to do while on-campus?
Get involved on campus whether than be work study, student organizations, sports, community service etc.
What makes a student's application stand out?
Being well-rounded
What common issues do you see with students, whether it be with their application or college research process?
I always encourage prospective students to do visit the campus before making final decision. You need to get a feel for the atmosphere.
What are one or two of the most important factors you consider in a college application?
Do not wait til the last minute to complete applications and get transcripts and test scores in. The earlier the better!
What is the largest piece of advice you have for students going through the college application process?
Depending too much on parents to help to complete tasks.
Liz Alliss, Appalachian State University
Liz Alliss is the Associate Director of Student Outreach Services for Appalachian State University; responsible for campus tours, group experiences, and other college access programming. Liz has a passion for college access and works personally and professionally with students from rural communities and the LGBTQ community to educate these students on the wide variety of educational opportunities available to them. Liz enjoys spending time with family, arts and crafts, doing projects on her and her wife's homestead, and taking care of animals!
What makes a student's application stand out?
My team reads tens of thousands of applications a year so an applicant who stands out is not just academically talented but is well rounded. We love to see a student with clear interests and especially love a student who is a leader.
What common issues do you see with students, whether it be with their application or college research process?
Students tend to not pay attention to the vast differences in deadlines across schools. Students miss our application and scholarship deadlines because they have another school's deadlines committed to memory and apply those dates to all applications. Other common issues are students being unaware of minimum admissions requirements, such as high school coursework, and neglect to take the appropriate courses to be admissible. The UNC System requires a minimum of 2 foreign language courses (in the same language) and some students miss this requirement. The last big piece of advice is that many colleges and universities have optional items students can submit for consideration, students should take that seriously. Many times those optional items are all that will be included in consideration so skipping an optional interest statement but sending 10 letters of recommendation that were not asked for, can actually hurt a student.
How can students find out if a school is a good fit for them?
I recommend student's research things that are important to their identities. If they are looking at 5 local (within a couple hours) schools, they can begin to narrow those schools down by how inclusive those campuses are. A common example I run into is with students who identify as LGBTQ Christians, these students should attend a college that is inclusive to both Christian students and the LGBTQ community so investigating organizations and events on these campuses will help them determine how included they will be. They may find that a college they had been interested in has strong religious ties but nothing for LGBTQ students in which case they would know that is probably not the school for them. At the root of it, students can look at campus organizations, events, policies, etc. on college and university websites to determine if the school is going to offer them what they need to be successful and grow.
What are one or two of the most important factors you consider in a college application?
1. The level of effort a student puts into it. It is very obvious when a student rushes through an application; they miss optional items, they use a generic essay and forget to change the name of a school, they write very short essays and optional materials, etc. When a student writes a thoughtful essay, completes the optional items, and shows interest, they do not go unnoticed. 2. This is not a factor we consider but rather what we do not consider but students assume we do. Students put a huge emphasis on getting letters of recommendation in (my institution does not ask for letters of rec. for admissions) as well as other items like resumes. It is very important for students to read what each school requires and recommends so they know what to put stress on.
What is the largest piece of advice you have for students going through the college application process?
Keep calm and stay organized! Creating a list of colleges you are interested in with their admissions averages (GPA, test scores), deadlines, and any other important information will keep you on top of completing applications and being considered for as many opportunities as possible.
De'borah Ford, Grace Christian University
De'Borah Ford is an Enrollment Advisor with Grace Christian University whereby she works with students seeking to pursue degrees through online programs. She is very passionate about assisting students with achieving their academic goals and works diligently to ensure a positive and empowering enrollment experience. She shares with students key ideals that will make them a success because their success is her success. Her secrets to being a successful student are building positive relationships with professors and peers and proper planning to stay ahead of the game!
What makes a student's application stand out?
From my experience, a student’s application does not necessarily stand out for any particular reason. If they are expressing interest in our degree programs, we are simply happy to have them and be a blessing to them as they pursue their academic career with us.
How can students find out if a school is a good fit for them?
As a student myself, the best way for students to find out if a school is a good fit for them would be to research the desired school and degree program(s) of interest. Take the time to connect with the school of interest that you really want to go to and speak with the Advisors to get better insight into the curriculum and career paths to make sure they align with your goals that you want to achieve.
What are one or two of the most important factors you consider in a college application?
I think it is important to make sure the application is completed accurately and completely.
What is the largest piece of advice you have for students going through the college application process?
I think that it is important to know what you are looking for in a college or university. Go with a goal in mind. How do they want the end result to look? What are they planning to accomplish with their degree? They need to look for a university that will give them the academic culture and guidance that would be the right fit. Only apply to schools that are their top choices. Don’t apply everywhere.
Charity Frazier, God's Bible School and College
Charity Frazier has an M.A. in Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in Ohio. She has worked as a community mental health therapist and in community crisis response services. Ms. Frazier teaches undergraduate counseling classes and serves as a counselor working with college students in Cincinnati.
What are some of the most common issues or problems you see with students when it comes to college planning?
Probably the most challenging problem I see students grappling with is how to choose a major that fits their interests and abilities. There are so many degree options available that it can be overwhelming for them to know which is the right fit. I think today’s student is also concerned with what is financially feasible with their budget and what will be a wise choice in today’s market. This can be fear-inducing in a market that is changing so quickly. I think another challenge is that students struggle to really know what they will find satisfying in a long-term career. Many of them may experience the fear of missing out and are trying to choose the perfect career.
What is your largest piece of advice for students communicating with their advisors?
My largest piece of advice for students who are career planning is not to expect a career that will immediately meet all of their preferences. For example, many students want lucrative jobs with flexible hours that are also interesting. Most jobs can fulfill part of those needs, but it takes time and hard work to build a career that is satisfying in multiple areas. Students could communicate these questions to advisors, who could then suggest career counseling or working with a career planning expert. Universities can also address these needs in introductory college success courses by providing sessions on career planning.
What is something you wish students took more advantage of when it comes to college advising?
I wish more students would take advantage of career planning resources such as personality and career inventories. With the help of trained counselors or facilitators, these can help them see the range of options available and better identify what might be a good fit for their preferences.
What advice do you have for students who are struggling to choose a major?
I would suggest several things. 1) Seek input from a career counselor who can administer assessments and discuss options and preferences with the student. 2) Talk to professionals in the fields that are noted on the inventories or that the student is interested in – try to do some job shadowing if possible. Even just reading the description of what that job entails on the Occupational Outlook Handbook website can be informative. 3) Don’t feel pressure to necessarily stay in the same career for the rest of your life. Take the time and do the work to make an informed decision while also realizing that people are likely to change careers more often than in the past, and there are a lot of options to allow these transitions if they find themselves in a career they do not enjoy. 4) Know what your top values are and choose a career that fits with those values. If students value an affluent lifestyle, then prioritize careers that pay well. If they value altruism and service then choose a service-oriented career. Accept that most careers will not meet every desire or interest. 5) Based on #5, be intentional about cultivating interests not met by your job in your activities outside of work. This can lead to more life satisfaction if there are additional interests students pursue that balance out the challenges they face at work.
What adjustment(s) do you find new students struggle with as they transition to college?
One adjustment is learning the difference between the expectations for quality of work in high school and in college. Students often struggle with the basics of writing (grammar, formatting styles, etc). Students also are challenged by learning to manage new demands in their schedule. Many are working, completing homework, and enjoying a new social life. They sometimes don’t know how to set limits on their time and live by a schedule.
Aubriex Cason, Lawrence Technological University
Aubriex Cason is the Assistant Director of Admissions at Lawrence Technological University (LTU) in Southfield, Michigan. She received her undergraduate degree from Michigan State University in 2004 and her MBA from LTU in 2011. With 16 years of experience in higher education, Aubriex is inspired by working with students who are passionate about following their dreams.
What makes a student's application stand out?
The first thing I would say is there is no secret recipe for a student to be admitted to a specific school. To me, what makes a student’s application stand out is when they really tell us more about themselves, not what they think we want to hear. We are already able to see achievements and academic success from the rest of the application and transcript, so the essay is a really good opportunity for students to show us their voice. Just as students are trying to find a good fit, we are looking for the same.
What common issues do you see with students, whether it be with their application or college research process?
As a representative of a small, technological university, I would say one issue is students applying to schools just on name recognition alone. There are some really great smaller schools out there that could be a great fit for students, but it does take some research to find these schools. If possible, college fairs are a great way to connect with schools that students may not have heard of before, but could be a great option for students.
How can students find out if a school is a good fit for them?
Campus visits are a great way for students to see what a school is like. Even before the pandemic, understandably students were not always able to visit every school they’re considering. One upside is that now there are many virtual ways to connect with colleges and universities, so if a student is not able to visit, I’d suggest seeing if a school has a virtual program or a virtual meeting. For Lawrence Tech, we’ve been able to offer some great programming with our faculty, which has been great for prospective students to make that connection.
What are one or two of the most important factors you consider in a college application?
The two most important factors we consider in a college application are academic merit and course selection. We are looking at grade trends and the rigor of a student’s course selection. Especially since we are a technological university, we are trying to ensure that a student will be successful in our academic environment. We are able to gain this information by looking at their previous academic experience. We really like to see students taking honors and advanced placement courses, of course, but even if a school doesn’t offer those selections, we like to see courses like physics, chemistry, etc.
What is the largest piece of advice you have for students going through the college application process?
I know we focus so much on fit in the college search process, but the truth is, students may have more than one school that would be a good fit for them, so I hope students don’t get too hung up on finding that “spark.” The process can be stressful anyway, and if there is too much focus on finding “the one”, I think students can sometimes miss out on the multitude of schools that they can be successful at.
Matthew Washington, University of Michigan - Flint
Matthew started out at the University of Michigan and graduated from Youngstown State University in 2017 with a Bachelors in Organizational Communications. With a passion for Sports Management, Business Operations, and Education, he is now pursuing his Masters in Business Administration from The University of Michigan, which he will finish in April 2022. He currently serves in Undergraduate Admissions at UM-Flint and works in Operations for Flint United Basketball Organization.
What advice do you have for new students navigating college life?
Make sure you fully exhaust the scholarship opportunities on that campus. Take full advantage of any way that you can earn free money. This will help alleviate stress and allow for you to focus on your studies and getting the best college experience possible.
What is something that you encourage all students to do while on-campus?
Be a part of clubs and organizations that not only fit your interests as a person, but that also fit your goals connected to your career in the future. Network effectively, not so much with people who have the same goals and aspirations as you, but who have a drive just as strong, if not stronger, than yours. Make diverse new friends.
What is the largest piece of advice you have for students going through the college application process?
Many students are choosing to go to schools and are disappointed in the decision they have made because they did not go visit the campus in-person. GO VISIT THE SCHOOL. The is one of the biggest and most important decisions you will make in your life. You want to make sure you choose a school that not only you will be happy to attend, but 10 years down the line, you want to be just as satisfied as when you made the decision. Trust me, the school is different than the pictures.
Alexis Monroe, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus
After earning my B.A. in Psychology from Duke University, I had the opportunity to serve for 2 years with Americorps as a College Guide. It was in this position that I began my journey as an advisor along the college admissions process. My work in Americorps inspired me to get my M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Cincinnati and then accept my current position as the Admissions Counselor & Coordinator for Kentucky Recruitment and Outreach at the University of Cincinnati Uptown Campus. Through this position I, on a daily basis, assist, guide, and inform students throughout their college admissions journeys!
What is something that you encourage all students to do while on-campus?
While on campus I encourage students to take the time to explore a wide range of the spaces available to them throughout their journey. A huge part of college is academics, so of course seeing the library, study spaces, and classrooms is important but also take time to explore the different identity-based centers for cultural immersion , green spaces for relaxation, creative spaces for collaboration, and supportive spaces for emotional balance. A strong presence of all of these types of spaces will ultimately lead to a more fulfilling college experience.
What makes a student's application stand out?
In general, the strongest student applications are ones that allow us to really see and understand who the student is, how they have spend their time thus far in life, how they came to understand their passion for their future academic/ professional endeavors, how they have grown over their time in high school and why the university they are applying to is a place where they can see that growth continued! These elements can be displayed via extra curricular involvement lists, personal statements, letters of recommendation, etc!
What common issues do you see with students, whether it be with their application or college research process?
There are lots of ways students can feel out the fit of a school! My piece of advice would be to take some time to develop a clear understanding of what a "good fit" school looks like for you personally! After doing this, I highly recommend doing research on the university's website. These webpages have a ton of information on what the school has to offer. I would also recommend looking into the academic programs the school has and make sure they offer something that is alignment with your goals. I would also highly recommend visiting the school! Spend some time exploring the campus AND the surrounding area/ city it is in! Lastly I would recommend reaching out to people who know the school best. If you know someone who goes there, reach out to them to chat about their experience! Admissions counselors know a wealth of knowledge about their universities so they can also be a great resource!
What are one or two of the most important factors you consider in a college application?
The largest piece of advice I have for students going through the college application process is to dedicate ample time! You really are making some important decisions about your life over the next 4-5 years so give yourself time to explore all of your options and to complete all of the necessary steps of the process without feeling unnecessarily rushed or stressed about deadlines!
Dan Carmany, Malone University
Dan Carmany is the Admissions Counselor for Athletics at Malone University, where he graduated in 2020 with a B.A. in Communication Arts. He is currently pursuing his M.B.A. at Malone, and expects to graduate in May 2023. While an undergraduate student at Malone, Dan competed on the NCAA DII Cross Country and Track & Field teams, and was heavily involved with recruiting student-athletes in the Admissions office. He now enjoys running recreationally and coaching the club Ultimate Frisbee team at Malone in addition to his role as Admissions Counselor.
What makes a student's application stand out?
With many colleges moving toward test-optional admission, many students choose to not take the ACT® test or SAT, but those students who do take these exams are beginning to stand out among the others for their commitment to academic excellence. Additionally, students who provide letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or mentors continue to stand out among other applicants.
What common issues do you see with students, whether it be with their application or college research process?
Students are overwhelmed with navigating high school and the innumerable decisions involved with selecting a college, so they do not conduct proper research on colleges. This can be solved by keeping a running list or spreadsheet of all the colleges a student is considering, along with rows or columns for information that is relevant to their search (i.e. majors offered, cost, internships offered).
How can students find out if a school is a good fit for them?
Students should conduct preliminary research and choose 3-5 colleges they would like to visit, then meet with professors, coaches, and numerous campus representatives on their visit. The quality of personal interactions with members of the campus is the most important consideration for a student deciding on a college, once the preliminary research has been completed.
What are one or two of the most important factors you consider in a college application?
1.) difficulty of classes (i.e. AP, honors, college preparatory), and 2.) core class GPA
What is the largest piece of advice you have for students going through the college application process?
If you are remotely interested in a college, you should complete the application and FAFSA process for that college! You might be surprised what information you discover or what scholarships you earn throughout the process.
Grace Dugas, Mississippi College
Grace Dugas is from Denham Springs, LA, and is the LA Regional Admissions Counselor at Mississippi College. She recently graduated from MC with a degree in Interpersonal Communications, Teaching English as a Second Language, and Servant Leadership. She loves meeting people and connecting the two places she calls home: Louisiana and MC. Her favorite place is in the window seat of an airplane, and she loves spending her time crocheting with a mug of hot tea beside her! Her favorite quote is by C.S. Lewis: "My value comes not from what I bring to the table, but from The One who brings me there."
How can students find out if a school is a good fit for them?
The best way for students to see if a school is a good fit for them, or if it is where they belong, is just to take as many opportunities to experience the school as possible! Visiting campus is a great step because you can see the place and environment you will be spending so much time and energy at! Many schools have a "Preview Day" type of event where you can visit and get a glimpse at life on campus, or you can schedule a visit during the week to get a tour! See if it is a place that you can see yourself thriving, learning, and feel comfortable in! Also, talking to any current students and professors, and alumni, at the school that you may know helps. It is very eye opening to talk to someone and hear about their experiences! Lastly, think about what factors are important to you in a school. For example, I knew that I wanted a smaller school so that I wouldn't get lost in the crowd or feel like just a number. I also knew that it was important to me that there were clubs, organizations, and other activities to be involved in on campus to help me to meet people and make a difference!
