Rising Seniors: What to Do Now

I am often asked by rising seniors what they need to do once they get back to school. Assuming that the senior has done little to no planning over the summer (sadly, this is frequently the case), the first thing the senior needs to do is finalize that college list. Colleges should be visiting the high school, so sit in on sessions, see which ones really interest you, and ask plenty of questions. I would have the college list done no later than the end of September.

Next, start filling out the Common Application - the application used by many colleges and universities in the US. See if your colleges use their own application instead of the Common App, or if they have a supplemental application that needs to be completed in addition to the Common App. You may be asking why a college would be asking for even more information when, in theory, the Common App has asked for all this information. This is because colleges need to make painfully hard decisions between many, many qualified candidates. That extra information often makes or breaks someone's chances of getting in. Do not take them lightly.

Finally, ask your recommenders for letters of recommendation. Ask them early. Do not wait until the last minute.

You may ask how any senior is going to do all this with a full load of classes, sports, part-time jobs, volunteering, and family obligations. The answer is not what you are going to like to hear: most students can't do all of this without help. They will wait until the last minute and wind up applying to schools that are usually only ones they have heard of, are close by, and have easy applications. Don't procrastinate, don't be afraid to ask for help from your school and private counselors, teachers, and parents. This is going to be tough, but remember you are charting out the next four years of your life. Make it exciting by seeing it that way.