LearnHub

Ask The Experts

An important checklist to get you from high school to college

This checklist, adapted from About.com's list, contains simple and important steps you should take while in high school to get admitted into the college of your dreams!

What you should do early on, grades 10-11

1. Write the PSAT. This is an non-mandatory SAT Prep test you can take as a junior in high school, which can not only help you determine how ready you are for the SAT but also can make you eligible for a National Merit Scholarship!

2. Prepare for SATs. You can never be too ready, especially when so much is at stake- your SATs. Start preparing as early as you can, and while you're in lower grades your teachers can help point you in the right direction. To find out what kind of SAT score you'll need, read this lesson

3. Consider taking the SATs or ACT. These are, of course, the tests used by most American colleges for admission purposes. You can take them multiple times and colleges use the highest score only, so why not take them a year early and perfect your score by the end of grade 12?

   

4. Think about colleges. There are plenty of resources online, like the LeanrHub School Finder, which can help you decide on the college you want to go to. Keep your options open, and talk to relatives and friends about what kind of environment would suit you best- a large, prestigious college, a small community one, or an international experience?

5. Plan for international studies. if that's your goal. If you're not an American student but still want to go to a North American school, check out our Study Abroad community for lessons that should get you going, but make sure to know what you have to do and be ready to apply early, since this process may take a long time.

What you should do in great 12

1. Smash the SATs! Use preparation material like the ones in the LearnHub SAT Prep community, and take the SATs early in senior year to meet admission deadlines .

   

2. Decide on potential schools. the ones you really want to go study at, as well as the area of study you want to get into. You can always switch later if you don't like it, but for now, choose something you enjoy and are good at.

3. Request applications. Get applications early so you know what you have to do and by when. Prepare a checklist of deadlines and start working fast so you're not stressed out and so that you apply with the best material and get admitted easily.

4. Admission essay. Many colleges require you to write an essay as part of the admission application- make sure you start early and get feedbacks from teachers and counselors to make sure this is the best piece of writing you've ever submitted yet. This is what will get you into college even if you haven't aced the SATs completely.

5. Letters of recommendation. By the application deadline, your teachers are way too busy- ask for letters early on and be sure to get them signed. Make sure you ask for letters from the teachers who like you and know you best to get the most positive feedback.

6. Mail the application. Keep a photocopy to yourself in case it gets lost in the mail, and don't rush- make sure the application is complete in its entirety before sending it off, otherwise you won't be considered for admission.

What you should do all throughout high school

1. Get involved. in extracurricular activities. These days, colleges aren't just looking for the smart- they're looking for the leaders of tomorrow, and these people aren't just studying all day. True leaders are members of their Student Council, they run a club or two in their school, participate in a band, a school play or a sports team. Extracurriculars show schools that you're more than a brainiac, you're a passionate, engaged, well-rounded future ace.

2. Get the grades. Obviously, to get accepted to the big universities you'll need both great SAT scores and a great GPA and class rank. This doesn't mean you can slack off in grade 9 and go nuts in grade 12- colleges get to see all your high school grades, so make sure you're doing well from the start to show you're not just taking a nosedive towards the end, you're a serious, hardworking guy.

3. Take the right courses. If you've got good grades in drama class, it won't help you much when applying to med school. Make sure you take the right challenging classes, an 80 in biology looks better than a 90 in woodwork class. Also, take AP courses in senior year if your school offers them, as this will both impress your college and will give you more freedom while in college.

Another word of advice…

If you follow these steps, you should be right on your way to that dream college of yours. But don't worry, even if you're not President of your School Council, have 100percentage course average with a perfect SAT score, a great admission essay and impeccable recommendation letters… you can still get in. Don't kill yourself trying to get into Harvard, just do your best, and be happy with your accomplishments even if they're not perfect.

After all, a lot of people don't go to Ivy League schools and they still get a great education. There are lots of nice, smaller universities out there where the admission criteria isn't too harsh, the environment isn't too competitive and the atmosphere is friendly and fun. And you can still get a great job and have a bright future later on even though you don't have a degree from a top college. Take another look at the LearnHub School Finder to check out some great colleges in the US and Canada.

Good luck! Your dream school awaits!

Ask The Experts