Applying for College
Mackenzie Schuessler
Applying for colleges might seem like a daunting idea, but if you start early, work hard, and plan ahead, you’ll be on the fast track toward success.
During your sophomore year of high school you should really start looking at colleges. It doesn't have to be too in depth, but try to get a general idea of what kind of school you want, where you want it to be, and what you want to study. Also remember that colleges look at your cumulative grade point average (GPA), so don’t think that sophomore year isn’t important.
Junior year is a biggie. This is when you should start going on college visits and you will also be taking the ACT or SAT. Colleges use these test scores to see how you rank with students from across the country. If you are stressing about the ACT just remember that you can buy prep books, take practice tests, and take ACT prep classes. The next ACT is on October 25th and you can sign up until September 19th. You can register for the test either online or your guidance counselor can help you. A lot of people aren’t sure what the difference is between the ACT and SAT. According to Mrs. Jones in the guidance office, the ACT is what most schools in the middle of the country look at and the SAT is what the coasts focus on. But don’t worry; most schools will take either one.
Make sure you keep your GPA up junior year. Try to take some AP or Dual Credit classes because they can count for college credits and can save you time and money in the future. Plus, they look really impressive on an application. Clubs and extracurricular activities also help beef up your application. Schools like to see that you are involved in your school and community. So if you have time, participate in a couple of clubs, extracurriculars, or sports each year.
It’s finally here: your last year of high school. Now that you’re a senior, it’s time to get the applications sent out. You should have about 2-6 colleges that you are highly interested in. You will need to send them your application, which also includes your transcript and ACT/SAT scores. “It’s very important to also start applying for scholarships,” says Mrs. Jones. “In January you can also start applying for FAFSA grants and student loans”. There are tons of scholarship opportunities out there, whether they are for sports, academics, or something completely different.
If you are planning to play for a D1 or D2 school on a sports team you need to start registering with the NCAA. If not a D1 or D2, you can register with the NAIA. A lot of people don’t think to apply for some of the smaller scholarships but this means that it will be easier for you to win them. And when if you get a good amount of smaller ones that can really add up and save you a lot of money.
Also, even though it’s your last year and you’re top dog now, doesn’t mean you should slack off. Colleges still look at your GPA from senior year! And if you don’t do so well it can really bring down your cumulative GPA. Senior year is a good year to take more specialty classes if you know what you want to study in college. If you are unsure and have room in your schedule, you can take a variety of electives. Try them all and see which ones interest you the most.
Each college is going to be unique and offer its own different experience. There are private colleges and universities like SLU, Northwestern, or Loyola but these tend to run on the more expensive side. Public schools are generally a little cheaper. There are different kinds of public schools such as a community college (2years) like SWIC, or a 4 year university like SIUE, Mizzou, or University of Illinois. A lot of people choose to go to a community college or junior college to get their general education classes out of the way and for a lot cheaper. Then they attend another school for their major. Mascoutah also has colleges come and visit and talk to students in the guidance office. There is a list in guidance and all you have to do is go down the day before the college you want to talk to is coming, and get a pass. Then the next day you can go down and meet with a representative and ask any questions you might have. These visits are available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Location is also important to many students, whether you want to be in the city or a small college town or even abroad. Instate tuition is a lot cheaper than out of state so if money is a big factor in your choosing, try to look for a college in your state.
Don’t give up if you don’t get accepted the first time because you can always keep applying. Just remember that with hard work, motivation, and a plan you will be able to stay ahead of the game and get into a great college that is perfect for you.
