GETTING ON TRACK IN THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS

With the start of the new school year, it is a good time for students and parents to develop an understanding of the tasks to be aware of while in high school in order to prepare for college.  It has been my experience in working with students through the high school years, that the more they are exposed to discussions around college, the easier it is to manage the application tasks.  Discussions can involve talking about different types of colleges, visiting a college, reading about colleges, talking to older peers or siblings about their college process, etc. It does not have to be stressful for the student, but rather a process of slowly increasing their understanding and awareness of colleges and what they have to offer.  I find that those students who are exposed to the topic of college during the high school years enter senior year less stressed about the application tasks, as they have an integrated sense of the process.

To help with this, here is a link to a resource that I appreciate, as it lists tasks that encourage students to talk to counselors, think about the type of learner they are, etc.  It is not just a to-do list.  Another opportunity for students to get on track with a college-going mindset is to attend a college fair.  This is a great opportunity to learn about different colleges and speak to college representatives.  Similarly, many high schools host college representatives during the fall, so make sure to find out when colleges that could be of interest to you will be visiting your school.  These are all great ways to help students and parents get on track for the college application process.