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College is an exciting milestone for a lot of people, but there's a lot that goes into getting ready for that first day! If you're still in school, you can start thinking about college as early as middle or high school. However, there are still plenty of things you can do to prepare if you're a recent graduate or an adult who's looking for a career change. Luckily, we've rounded up the most important steps you'll need to take so you'll be ready to take on higher learning!
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QuestionHow do I prepare myself for college academically?Alicia Oglesby is an Academic Counseling Expert based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Education at the University of Pittsburgh and working as a Graduate Research Assistant. She was previously employed as the Associate Director of College Counseling at the Winchester Thurston School. Prior to that, she worked as a Director of School and College Counseling at 4 other secondary schools. With over twelve years of experience in academic counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College.If you've done the work in high school and you received good grades, it demonstrates that you've mastered the content necessary to prepare yourself for college. You don't need to spend the summer studying or anything like that.
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QuestionWhen should you start preparing for university?Alicia Oglesby is an Academic Counseling Expert based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Education at the University of Pittsburgh and working as a Graduate Research Assistant. She was previously employed as the Associate Director of College Counseling at the Winchester Thurston School. Prior to that, she worked as a Director of School and College Counseling at 4 other secondary schools. With over twelve years of experience in academic counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College.Technically, you're preparing as soon as you start freshman year in high school. Your academic record is one of the most essential components of getting into a good university, and you start building that record freshman year. Beyond that, you want to build a solid relationship with your teachers so that you have someone to ask for letters of recommendation. You probably want to start scouting schools your junior year and getting ready for the standardized tests you need.
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QuestionDo colleges really care about extracurriuclars?Alicia Oglesby is an Academic Counseling Expert based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Education at the University of Pittsburgh and working as a Graduate Research Assistant. She was previously employed as the Associate Director of College Counseling at the Winchester Thurston School. Prior to that, she worked as a Director of School and College Counseling at 4 other secondary schools. With over twelve years of experience in academic counseling, Alicia specializes in academic advising, social-emotional skills, and career counseling. Alicia holds Professional School Counseling Certifications in both Washington DC and Pennsylvania. She has created a college counseling program in its entirety and developed five programs focused on application workshops, parent information workshops, essay writing collaborative, peer-reviewed application activities, and financial aid literacy events. Alicia holds a BS in Psychology from Howard University and a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology from Chestnut Hill College.Yes, most schools want to see some evidence that you're a well-rounded person. Things like clubs, volunteer projects, and sports are a great way to show schools that you'll be a dynamic addition to their community.
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The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Meet with your school counselor to help go over your college goals and your career path. They can help you brainstorm what majors to choose and which courses will fit best in your schedule.
- If you can, borrow books from friends that have already taken the courses. You could even check the local libraries to see if they have the required books available.
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References
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- ↑ https://www.mycollegeoptions.org/Core/SiteContent/Students/Advice/College-Resource-Center/College-Life/Social-Life/Living-On-Campus-vs-Off-Campus.aspx
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- ↑ https://www.up.edu/ready-for-college/how-to-prepare-for-college.html
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- ↑ https://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=1176
- ↑ https://www.up.edu/ready-for-college/how-to-prepare-for-college.html
- ↑ https://learningpath.org/articles/Is_the_GED_Enough_to_Get_Me_Into_College.html
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristenmoon/2020/03/24/6-ways-students-can-use-school-closings-to-prepare-for-college-applications/?sh=2e163ece6e6a
- ↑ https://www.up.edu/ready-for-college/how-to-prepare-for-college.html
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/noodleeducation/2015/11/20/how-many-colleges-should-you-apply-to/?sh=3eab18d49efb
- ↑ https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/how-many-colleges-should-i-apply-to
- ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristenmoon/2020/03/24/6-ways-students-can-use-school-closings-to-prepare-for-college-applications/?sh=2e163ece6e6a
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