Is it really possible that your high school junior will be graduating in a little over one year?
It may seem like it was just yesterday you were helping with their first book report, but today you need to be helping them plan for next year’s onslaught of college admissions assignments.
Here are some critical items to accomplish between now and the fall of their senior year:
• Think summer. This summer is their last big opportunity to set themselves apart from the sea of college applicants. What she does during summer break will likely provide great essay-writing material and may provide the competitive edge. Start investigating jobs, summer enrichment opportunities, volunteer/community service, international travel, leadership programs, internships, job shadowing.
• Know thy counselor. Set up a meeting with the guidance counselor to discuss a preliminary list of colleges. Discuss whether the list is an accurate reflection of your son’s needs and interests (academic program, size, location, cost) and whether he is likely to be admitted there.
It’s important to be optimistic and realistic when applying to colleges. Have the guidance counselor take a look at your transcript. Review senior course options. Make sure all graduation requirements will be fulfilled and be sure to continue to be challenged academically.
• Think strategically about testing. Clarify the testing schedule. Register for the May SATs and ACTs. Determine if any of the colleges being considered require or recommend SAT IIs. These are in-depth subject-area tests. It is important, for example, to take the SAT II in chemistry as soon as the chemistry course is completed. This becomes especially important with the change from yearlong courses to semester-long courses.
• Prep for tests. Prepare for testing by signing up for a prep course, finding a private tutor, using computer software, or doing the SAT/ACT practice tests. Since SAT scores are the only tool used for National Merit Scholarships, an increase could improve your chances and mean big dollars.
• Get educated. Research the colleges on your list. Use the Internet to request admissions literature and financial aid information. Take Virtual Tours (www.campustours.com).
• Visit colleges. Plan spring/summer campus visits. Identify the colleges that are most important to visit. Make sure to have as wide a representation (large/small, urban/suburban) as possible and have “reach,” “target” and “safety” schools on the list. You don’t want to find out late in the process that your child refuses to attend her safety school.
• Pump yourself up. It’s time to brag. Prepare your “Brag Sheet” — a listing of all the volunteer/community service activities, honors, awards, extracurricular activities, employment and internships.
• Get started. Colleges begin posting their applications online during the summer. Start preparing for the application process: Draft application essays, collect writing samples, and assemble portfolios or audition tapes.
GET ORGANIZED
• Create a College Organizer for catalogs, applications, Brag Sheet, letters of recommendation, transcripts, SAT scores.
• Talk to everyone, ask where they went to school, what they liked about their experience, what they didn’t like.
 
Bierer is an independent college adviser: lee@collegeadmissionsstrategies.com;
www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com