With 22 years of experience guiding students through their college application journey, I've learned that preparation is key to success. As we navigate this exciting process, I wanted to share some advice I give to my rising seniors. This advice is designed to help them make the most of their summer break and prepare for the college application process. The more they can accomplish from this list before returning to campus to begin their senior year, the better.
Complete the Basic Applications. Encourage your students to start their college applications over the summer. Platforms like the Common Application, the Coalition Application, the UCAS application (for the UK), the University of California application, the OUAC (for Ontario, Canada), Studielink (for the Netherlands), and others require a significant amount of basic information. Encourage your students to use their official names as they appear on their passports and to use their school email addresses when creating these accounts, and try to have them done by the time senior year begins.
Craft a Compelling Main Essay. Regardless of the countries your students are applying to, they should draft a "main essay." This essay can be based on the prompts provided by the Common App or the UCAS Personal Statement worksheet. Encourage them to write about their experiences, aspirations, and what makes them unique. (If a student is applying to universities in the USA and elsewhere, I ask them to have two essays done by summer’s end: one US-style and one UK-style!)
Thoroughly Research Colleges. Students should be encouraged to dig deep into their college list. They should explore college websites, follow social media accounts, look at their prospective majors, and even talk to alumni. This research will help them answer the critical question, "why this college?" I ask my students to be able to answer this question verbally when we meet in person after the summer for any school on their list. Social media, YouTube, and university websites are essential for this work.
Finalize the College List. By the end of the summer, students should have a finalized list of colleges they're interested in. This list should contain a mix of reach, target/possible/match, and likely/safety schools. Encourage them to use tools like Cialfo to streamline this process.
Demonstrate Interest. For US applicants, demonstrating interest can be a crucial part of the application process. Encourage your students to engage with their prospective colleges through campus tours (virtual or in-person), emailing representatives, participating in online forums, and signing up for interviews. Regardless of whether an institution tracks or values DI, I like to explain that effective demonstration of interest is just good research, so, as students go through the process of researching their schools and finalizing their lists, they should come up with questions that they need guidance from an admissions representative in answering. In these cases, they should reach out! If they don’t have such questions? Then they need to keep digging at the research process!
Complete a Resume. A well-crafted resume can be a valuable asset in the application process. Encourage your students to create a comprehensive resume that highlights their extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and achievements. (See this post for more details!)
Prepare for Standardized Tests. If your students are planning to take standardized tests in the fall, encourage them to use the summer for test prep. This can be done through self-study or with the help of a tutor.
Map Out the First Semester of Senior Year. Help your students visualize their fall semester. This includes application deadlines, testing schedules, and other important dates. (More coming soon on this topic in the form of an AI mega prompt to assist with this task!)
Pursue Passions. While the college application process is important, it's equally important for students to continue pursuing their passions. Whether it's a hobby, a sport, or a community service project, these activities can provide valuable material for their college essays and interviews. Keep doing what you love!
Leverage Technology and AI Tools. In this digital age, there are numerous tools at our disposal to streamline the college application process. Encourage your students to leverage these tools, including AI-powered platforms, to manage their applications, track deadlines, and even get help with essay writing.
Remember, the more your students can accomplish over the summer, the more time they will have to focus on their academics and enjoy their senior year. Let's continue to support our students in their college admissions journey and help them reach their full potential.