Top 10 College Prep Tips for First-Year High School Students
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined.”
We are now about a month into the high school spring term, which means first-year high school students have completed their first full term. They’ve received their grades and have a sense of what the high school experience is all about. For any student thinking about college, there are some things they should be starting to focus on at this point. See my Top Ten tips below for college-curious and college-bound students and see how you are doing.
#10 - Get to know your guidance/academic counselor
You may not it now, but the school’s guidance/academic counselor will play a significant role in your overall college planning. From scholarships to letters of recommendation, your counselor is someone who should know you well and help you achieve your future goals.
#9 - Focus on academics
Get the best grades you can while taking courses you find interesting and challenging. Your grades from first-year to junior year are what schools will see when you apply and what you do academically in high school is more important than what you may do on the SAT and/or ACT standardized tests.
#8 - Explore careers
No one expects you to know what you want to do for the rest of your life. In fact, the majority of people at your age who think they know will ultimately change college majors and careers during their lifetime. Heck, I graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and I’ve spent the majority of my career as a leadership educator at two different colleges. And today I’m an independent college success consultant. You just never know. But you should start learning how education and career may go together. Want to become an electrician? Talk to a successful electrician and find out how they learned. Thinking about starting your own business? Visit with a local business owner, or connect with some via LinkedIn, and find out how they got started.
#7 - Get a Job
Even if it’s just a few hours a week, some kind of a job will get you in the mindset of earning money for your personal expenses and even saving for college. You’ll also start developing critical life skills that colleges and future employers appreciate. This can be painting in the summer or walking your neighbor’s dogs on the weekends. Make the job something you enjoy and you’ll find numerous benefits. Talk to your friends and start doing something together, like creating a dog-walk in your neighborhood or shoveling sidewalks when it snows.
#6 - Get Organized
Get used to using a planner/calendar and figuring out how you spend your time. Everyone you know, regardless of how much money they have, has 168 hours in a week. That’s right, even Elon Musk. No one can buy or sell time. Understand how you use your own time and you’ll be much better at managing it when your life gets busy.
#5 - Learn about yourself and your interests
Participate in clubs, sports, community service, or other activities that interest you. This will help you develop important skills, such as leadership and teamwork, and will provide you with experiences to talk about in interviews. Like big events? Join your student programming board and help put on events like prom, Homecoming, and more. Like animals? Consider volunteering for the local animal shelter. I was an advisor for student council and student government for nearly two decades. This is a great experience for students who want to make a difference at their school regardless of what they may major in at college.
#4 - Connect with your teachers (and coaches)
Did you enjoy the geography class you took last term? Let your teacher know that and talk to them about what made it special for you. Teachers are teachers because they love teaching and mentoring young people. Use this to your advantage and make sure your best teachers know about you and your interests. My science and chemistry teacher was also my head basketball coach throughout my high school career and I am still in contact with him today. He was incredibly influential not only as my coach but as a caring teacher who impacted me greatly.
#3 - Get real about college costs
Talk to your parents/family about your ideas for college. Planning now will pay off in the end and save you money in the long run. The average student load debt is $30,000 per graduate and some parents have taken on considerably more through Parent PLUS loans. Start talking now so you and your family can work together to realistically meet your educational goals.
#2 - Learn from others
Have a sibling or friend who is already in college? Talk to them about their experience. What do they enjoy the most? What are their struggles and what do they wish they had known more about? Why did they choose the college they are attending? Talk about college with your parents and family, too, but realize that college today is different than when they attended. Input from more recent college graduates and current college students is super helpful.
#1 - Have fun!
Yes, this is definitely number one! Don’t spend too much time thinking about college - be a high school student. This should be a time for fun! College will be there and you’ll be just fine. Seriously.
