I haven’t started yet! Should I freak out?
Generally, we recommend not freaking out.
The college search process does have stages, though, and the earlier you begin, the less stressful and more productive each will be. Hiring a college admissions consultant (like us!) in the early stages can make the process a little less intimidating and a lot more fun.
Where do I start?
Start with you. What do you know about what a college campus looks and feels like?
By the time she was in high school, my oldest daughter had visited the university where I was a professor dozens of times, so that was her model for college--medium-sized, private, and in the middle of downtown Boston.
In the summer after 9th grade, she went to soccer camp at Williams College, a small college in a charming New England town. Later that summer, on a trip to Washington DC, we toured American University, a college on the larger-size just outside the heart of the city.
She didn’t end up applying to any of these schools, but each gave her an opportunity to imagine herself in a particular environment. She learned she didn’t want an urban campus, but she didn’t want to be in the middle of nowhere either. She didn’t want to be at a school as big as American, but also not as small as Williams.
Thinking about the basics early -- close to home or farther afield? Cold or hot? Northeast or Southwest? -- will make building your college list easier later.
Building a resumé.
In each year of high school, you are building a resumé for college admissions officers. This can sound like a lot of pressure, but it doesn’t have to be. Your classes, grades, activities, hobbies, and interests are beginning to tell a story about who you are that will catch the attention of admissions readers.
A college admissions consultant (us again!) can help you thread the pieces of that story together in a way that best reflects who you are as a student and community member. We might challenge you to join a club you’d be perfect for or to take that additional AP class you’re hesitant about.
Throughout our work together, we’ll help you to think about the connections between your academic and extracurricular activities, and guide you toward a best-fit college list that reflects your interests and potential.
As I wrote in our May 10th blog post, preparing to apply for college is largely about getting to know yourself -- what you love, what you’re good at, what challenges you -- and then telling a coherent story about who that is. The earlier you begin to think about the story, the more compelling it will be.
Give us a call (617.851.9975) or send an email to info@yourmayfirst.com and let’s chat.