What Students Need to Know
Get yourself ready for college.
You are about to begin the search for the right college. You’re juggling classes and social life, sports and facebook. You’re considering where you parents went, where you siblings have gone, and where you friends are going. You are probably asking yourself, “Where do I even start?”
1st Steps –
Thinking about college? Get started here…
The first step is actually preparation for college. Although some colleges make admission decisions based on grades and test scores only, many colleges consider all aspects of the student’s background: grades, college preparation courses, quality or reputation of the high school, writing and communication skills, test scores, rank in class, participation in activities and athletics and the admission interview in the evaluation process. In a highly competitive environment, the quality of other applicants will also be a factor.
For more information about preparing for college, please visit:
NACAC:
http://www.nacacnet.org/PublicationsResources/steps/Articles/Pages/collegesearch.aspx
http://www.nacacnet.org/PublicationsResources/steps/Articles/Pages/forseniors.aspx
2. Activities and Athletics -
Extracurriculars and academics…the balancing act.
Are activities and participation in sports in balance with academic development? Most students today are members of clubs and groups in high school and spend many hours participating in competitive sports. Learning to juggle competing activities and manage time are important skills for success in college. Many colleges report that athletes, for example, are more likely to complete college. This may be attributable to the expectation that the student will achieve good grades but it is also the result of self-discipline. Many athletic programs require student athletes to study at set times each day and provide tutoring to help the student succeed. This practice can be translated into the home setting to ensure that students spend sufficient time learning outside of the classroom each day.
For more information about how high school activities can boost success in higher learning, please visit:
NACAC: http://www.nacacnet.org/PublicationsResources/steps/Articles/Pages/HSActivities.aspx
The College Board:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/high-school/113.html
