It’s never too early to start preparing for college. The more you know about the process, the better you’ll be equipped to take on the challenges that lie ahead. Going to college is a huge investment in time and money, so it’s worth getting it right.
What if you find you don’t like your college?
Before getting into the tips on preparing for college, it can be useful to know that your decision doesn’t have to be final. You can transfer to a different college, visit CampusReel for information on the process and entry requirements.
Here are some tips on how you can ace the admissions process, get your foot in the door with a good school, and make your four years there as productive as possible.
1) Start early!
It’s never too early to start thinking about college. High school is a perfect time to begin laying the foundation for a successful college career. Once you have your feet on the ground, you can start planning ahead and making sure that everything is in order before you apply.
2) Take some general courses in school
It can be a good idea to take some general courses in your first year of high school so that when it comes time to pick your courses for college, you’re prepared and know what you want from your studies.
3) Plan on where you’d like to live
Plan ahead with regards to where on campus you want to live. There may be residence halls that are more suited for students who like quiet surroundings or noisy ones for students who thrive on social interaction.
4) Chose a college that you’ll enjoy!
Some colleges are terrible to attend. You don’t want to apply for something you’re not interested in because then you’ll be wasting your time and money. You should get to know an admissions officer before applying, so you can see what the school is about and what its reputation is for helping students succeed.
5) Take at least one course on how to study!
College is a long period of your life where you won’t have a lot of free time on your hands. You want to make the most out of this time by being prepared with strategies on how to study more efficiently.
6) Hone your communication skills
In college, students are taught to be able to express their thoughts and opinions clearly. A lot of colleges like it when students can articulate what they want from the course during admissions interviews. For example, if you want to learn how to lead in the future, you should be able to communicate your vision when asked.
7) Get some work experience in high school!
It’s not just about showing colleges that you’re a good worker; there are other reasons why it can be a good idea to get some work experience before going into college. For example, you may have extra time on your hands in high school, but you’re unsure as to what you’d like to do with it. If you get some work experience, then hopefully when you do apply for college, the school will be more impressed by the experience on your resume.
There’s never a bad time to start preparing for college. The sooner you get started, the more opportunities are going to come your way. If you’ve never really considered college before, now is a great time to start.
