Luke Rector ‘28, Photo Editor
College: the topic high schoolers often avoid as it brings the fear of adulting to reality. Oftentimes, many students get confused on when to start applying for colleges, how, or where to start. The truth is, a lot of that heavily depends on what college is chosen and what degree seems most interesting or valuable to an individual as different colleges are suited to different tastes.
If you are an underclassmen or a junior, touring campuses or preparing for tests, like the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), is a great place to start. Touring campuses is an excellent way to get a feel for the student culture of a college. It will also allow you to get familiar with the campus and the area it is located in. Campus tours typically need to be reserved, so if you have a college in which you are interested, it is important to reserve a date for campus tours. Certain colleges will have special days that will make the tour more impactful such as a Green and White Day at Michigan State University that allow applicants to customize their tour of the campus.
Your ability to get into the schools you tour is boosted by the SAT. The SAT covers writing and reading during the first part, and math in the second. The difficulty of the test is adapted, meaning how challenging the test will be is determined by how well you do during previous questions, the harder the question, the more points they are worth. The maximum score on the SAT is 1600, with the average score being around 1050 points according to the College Board. The higher the score the better, and it is important to study for the SAT to boost your college application. While it is not required to submit your SAT score, doing so will greatly boost your chances of getting into colleges. There are also options to other tests such as the American College Testing (ACT) if you determine the test is right for you. The ACT is a test with fewer questions and optional science and writing portions. Rather than being scored between 400 and 1600 like the SAT, it is scored on a scale between one and 36. They also cover slightly different types of math, reading, science, and English. The ACT is also slightly longer than the SAT. Either test is excellent for colleges, but some colleges prefer one test over the other, so it is up to the student to decide which test is right for them.
It is also important to keep your grade point average (GPA) high. Colleges will generally accept people with a higher GPA over those with a lower one. Though some colleges may still accept you if you have a low SAT or GPA, not all do. You will be more likely to get into your preferred college with a higher GPA. If you have taken any advanced classes, your GPA is higher than it would normally be, a B in an Advanced Placement (AP) class is equivalent to an A in a standard class, boosting your GPA. This allows for you to take more advanced classes without fear of severely lowering your GPA. Colleges also look at how challenging your schedule is; the harder the schedule the more impressed they will be.
While in high school, many colleges look at extracurricular activities to help with the application process. These include sports, clubs, community service, and more. These all boost your chances of your application being accepted as it shows colleges you are committed and willing to put in extra work outside of school. The more extracurricular activities you do and the longer you do them while still keeping your GPA high, the more likely you will have a higher chance of being accepted into colleges. With that being said, get involved early and highlight all your work done, whether it be in the community or through sports, and set yourself apart from other applicants.
Students should create an application on the Common App—a website that helps you apply for multiple colleges easily. The Common App is used by over 900 colleges and universities across the United States. The Common App is a general application with the same dates, addresses, GPA, and general information to make the process of applying for colleges faster and easier.
You should also research colleges based on how they are ranked in teaching the subject you want to major in. A higher ranked college means you will get more out of your studies compared to lower ranked colleges colleges with a higher rank are more equipped and will likely have better teachers. Employers also tend to prioritize graduates from better ranked colleges, meaning you can set yourself up for later success earlier.
In addition to the rank of the college, you should also make sure the college is affordable for you and your family. Better colleges tend to be more expensive, but you will get more out of the experience. Remember this while researching college options. If you have a particular college you want to apply to, but may not be able to afford, consider the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA is a form that allows certain individuals financial aid based on their financial situation. If you are having trouble affording your dream college, the application typically asks about you and your family members’ demographics and financial situation. It is worthwhile to check out FAFSA in order to lighten the burden of student debts and make the decision on which college is best for you financially.
Another way to avoid paying a large amount of money in college is to obtain a scholarship. Scholarships are gifts that give you funds to support yourself throughout college. The money received from a scholarship does not need to be paid back and can be very useful for many students. Students can get scholarships by applying for them. You will need to exceed the college’s expectation for a student in order to receive scholarships. Many degrees are available for students with a 3..0 plus GPA, but there are also scholarships for sports and other clubs. Depending on what scholarships you get, certain colleges may be more appealing to you.
Once you have made a decision of which colleges to apply to, you will need to wait until summer before your senior year to begin the process. It is important to apply to at least three or four different colleges in case you do not get into your top pick. You also want to likely apply for one school as a “safety” pick, meaning it has a higher acceptance rate.
If you want to safely get into your college it is worth considering early action and decision as those will help you get in. The difference between early action and early decision in your college journey is that early action is a noncommittal way to apply for college while early agreement means you have to go to the college you applied to if accepted, but it is easier to get accepted if you decided to go with early decision. In order to apply you will need to go to the college’s website and select the degree or major for which you want to apply. The college will likely use your CommonApp application and ask some specific questions related to the college.
With enough hard work, it is very achievable to go into your dream college. College lets you delve into many career opportunities and helps you learn all about the subjects you are interested in and allows you to make connections with people who have similar interests and ideas to you, as well as people who have different opinions from you, allowing you to broaden your views. College is an essential part of early adult life, it gives you the chance to branch out and discover yourself, to have the best time during these essential years, make an educated choice on what college is best for you and your development as not just a student, but a person too.
Lyon Life 