Articles

Attention High School Juniors: The College Admissions Process is About to Heat Up!

November 23, 10:37 PM

by Craig Meister, Baltimore College Prep Examiner

Those who aim high start early.

If you are a high school junior or a parent of one, now is the time to plan and organize for the hectic college admissions process that lies ahead. While many students and parents think it's too early to prepare for the college search and application process – it isn't. Here are three key tasks to complete now, so you won't be burdened by them later on when you should be focusing on visiting schools, taking tests, interviewing, and completing applications.

1. Organize your academic and extracurricular highlights: Increasing numbers of colleges now require you to submit a previously graded essay to get an idea of your writing skills. Others want to see a portfolio of your artwork. Still others will want to see some footage of you on the field. Start organizing your best work now. Organizing your best work now will help you find them safe and secure in one place later.

2. Make sure you have all your report cards, transcripts, and standardized test scores in one easily accessible location. These are the key stats that schools will want to gauge your academic aptitude. You will refer to these stats often, whether in determining if you fit the average student profile of a school, or in preparation to talk about your academic record during college interviews.

3. Finally, for every college that you become interested in, create a separate folder or electronic file. In this folder or electronic file you will put anything the college sends you by mail, any literature you collect when visiting its campus, or other information you want to remember about the college. If you create an electronic file about each college, it’s important to include key dates for that particular college that answer the following questions:

When is the application deadline?

Do the college accept early applications, and if so, when are they due?

What is the latest date the college will accept standardized test scores?

What is the college’s financial aid deadline?

If you organize yourself now, you will save yourself a lot of time and anxiety later in the process.

Finding the Right College for You
Putting the Pieces Together

Choosing the right college can be puzzling.

Studies show that students often limit their college choices to institutions their friends attend or those close to home. What factors should be considered when selecting a college? How do you know if it's right for you?

School guidance counselors provide much of the help students need. However, school-based counselors are often burdened with other duties and simply do not have the extra time they would like to spend on college placements. Independent educational consultants can be a welcome resource for families who recognize they need more help than school counselors are able to provide. Consultants also have expertise in advising students with special circumstances such as learning or physical disabilities.

Educational consultants bring to the family the knowledge and skills of an experienced professional, coupled with a commitment to assuring that the child's best interests are met. Independent consultants spend hours with the child and parents getting to the heart of a student's personality, interests, and aspirations. They work with the entire family to help identify what's best for the student and what options are available.

Educational consultants interview each student to find the best college "fit." By learning as much as they can about the student and family, the consultant can help identify the most suitable learning environments. Not tied to any institution, consultants can provide unbiased help in wading through the myriad of letters, brochures, videos and catalogs that students collect in their search.

Consultants assist with the application and admissions process. Having someone who understands the system can help ease this stressful time. Consultants regularly attend conferences and workshops to stay current on developments in their field.

An educational consultant brings to the family the knowledge and skills of an experienced professional, coupled with a commitment to assuring that the child's best interests are met.

An educational consultant can act as a student's guide, interpreter, and facilitator for the entire college selection and application process.

Article excerpts taken from:
Independent Educational Consultants Association