“Is it really that big a deal? You pick a few schools, write a few essays and you’re done — what’s everyone getting so anxious about?”
What you do, how you do it and sometimes most important when you do it really does matter. Keeping track of all the moving parts and deadlines in the college admissions process is what turns normally level-headed, savvy adults into nagging, insomniac timekeepers.
Here’s a brief outline with many of the crucial steps that high school juniors need to accomplish before starting the summer break. A little later on, we’ll review summer to-dos.
• Testing: You can still register to take the June 2 SAT and Subject Tests. Late deadline is Wednesday. Online registration is simple at www.collegeboard.com. Review your score report from earlier SATs or last year’s PSAT. Decide if and when you should test again.
If you’re not satisfied that your scores accurately represent your abilities or there’s a clear discrepancy between your high school coursework grades and your test scores, then you may choose to consider test preparation services or to study on your own. According to 2005-06 ACT research when students retake the test, “55 percent increase their scores, 22 percent show no change and 23 percent decrease their scores.”
Check to see if the colleges you’re considering require or recommend taking any of the SAT Subject Tests (formerly known as SAT IIs). Note that not all SAT Subject Tests are given on all test dates.
Schools use these tests in a variety of ways including placement in courses and “placing out” of required classes.
Scores are processed by an administrative team that pulls out the highest Verbal, Math and Writing SAT scores. So the Admissions Committee never sees how many times you’ve taken the test or any lower scores.
• Transcript review: Meet with your guidance counselor to review your senior year schedule. Confirm that all graduation requirements will be met. Understand how the GPA (Grade Point Average) is calculated and how your senior year courses can affect your first-semester GPA and rank in class (if your high school ranks students).
• College Search: Make your preliminary list of colleges that you’re interested in. Research each of the schools using the Internet, talking to friends, family and alumni.
• Summer Plans: This is not the summer to be working on your tan.
Make this summer count. Do something meaningful, volunteer, get a job, travel, take a class on a college campus, intern, job-shadow, create your own summer camp or design a Web site. There are hundreds of opportunities out there.
Try to identify something that you’ll both enjoy and be certain it will add value to your college application.
Tips
• Choose your summer activities by design, not by default.
• Check out www.theu.com for a video low-down on colleges.
• Make sure students have a Social Security number. It is required on many college applications.
 
Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte: lee@collegeadmissionsstrategies.com;
www.collegeadmissionsstrategies.com