Take a strong curriculum and do your best to make good grades. One day a college admissions officer will actually look at your transcript (your grades) and make a judgement of your work ethic based on your grades.
When college representatives visit your school, take time to visit with them and ask them about things of interest to you.
Get involved in a few school activities such as sports, music, theatre, debate, yearbook, etc., and keep track of that involvement throughout all four years of high school. This will be the beginning of your resume!
Take the PSAT 9 (administered by CCS).
Find opportunities for community service. While four or five hours here and there are better than nothing, look for volunteer activities where you want to make a long-term commitment.
Think about taking a summer enhancement program at a local college. Almost every college in the country offers some type of program for high school students. This is a great way to get on campus and investigate colleges.
Attend your College Fair with a list of colleges you want to see and a set of questions you want to ask. Visit with college representatives who visit your school.
Keep up your grades, activities and volunteer service.
Know your range of SAT and ACT scores through your PSAT results. Make some campus visits in the spring of your sophomore year. To visit with a purpose, make each visit with a set of questions you want to have answered.
Complete the YouScience Career Aptitude Assessment to help you brainstorm potential career paths and academic majors.
Make arrangements to take a formal SAT/ACT prep class this summer. Check with your Academic Advisor to see what prep programs in your area deliver the best results.
Make plans to take a summer enhancement course at a college of interest to you. Almost every college offers a summer program for high school students. This is a great way to “try out” a college on your list.
Register and take two SATs and two ACTs. Theses exams are only given six or seven times a year so check your school and personal calendar and register early. Both tests will be offered at CCS twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring.
Attend CCS Junior Lunch & Learn events to prepare for the application process.
Attend the College Fair and speak with representatives of the colleges where you are planning to apply.
Provide your chosen junior teachers (two) with your resume and ask kindly if they are willing to write a letter of recommendation for you. Do this while the teachers have a clear memory of you, your work habits and your class participation.
Narrow down your college choices and decide where you will send applications - no less than three, no more than 10. At least one reach, target and safety school.
Make campus visits. Work on your applications…including the essays! Some schools will offer summer seminar type programs to help you complete your applications which will save you a lot of time and effort once senior year starts.
Attend your College Fair program and finalize your list of colleges. Visit with college representatives who visit your school from the colleges where you plan to attend.
Last chance to secure recommendations! Remember: teachers are not required to write recommendations for you. Make sure you thank them!
Unless advised otherwise, COMPLETE (online application, test score, transcript, recommendation letters, etc.) all applications by October 15, but earlier is better! Make this a goal and you will qualify for many more scholarship and leadership programs and have a much less stressful senior year!
Send additional follow-up information to your colleges if it makes a significant change to your application (updated transcript or test score). Be patient! This is the hardest part of the process: waiting.
Submit the housing deposit at your top two to three schools where you have been accepted, provided you are not required to commit before doing so.
Notify all the colleges where you were accepted that you are either accepting or declining their offer. Colleges will give your spot away if you have not confirmed with them your plans to attend by May 1!
Cypress Christian School