3 Things Every High School Student Applying to College This Fall Should Know

I remember the tangled ball of stress that I was as a senior in high school. I had no clue what I wanted to study or where I wanted to go, and I wasn’t sure whether my grades and test scores would get me into any colleges - let alone some of the good ones I liked. Here are some tips for college applications:

1. Start early!

Senior year was by far my busiest year in high school. Some of the early application deadlines are early in the year. Be careful not to get too caught up in the craziness of senior year and miss those early apps! Make a helpful list of the important dates in a Google Doc or a Sticky note in your room (or both!) and get into those amazing schools!

2. Proofread those essays

The essays are an incredibly important part of the application process. They’re definitely the most time consuming, and now that I know plenty of people in the admissions departments at universities, I know just how important it is to proofread. The admissions committee can simply put your application aside if they find too many grammar mistakes. Pay attention in AP English and get some friends and teachers to proofread your essays before submitting them!

3. Take a breath

Don’t forget to take a break and enjoy the time you have left in high school. College is fun, but difficult. Enjoy yourself. Spend time with your friends. Don’t skip the Friday night football game. Take lots of pictures. It’s going to fly by, and college applications aren’t the only important thing to focus on during your senior year.