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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Think beyond GPA and SAT/ACT scores. Colleges are looking for students who go much beyond classroom success. A student’s academic report card will be the most important factor admissions officers will look at; however, it’s also important that students excel in areas outside of the classroom. Get involved in extracurricular activities, volunteer organizations, and/or a part-time job, and become a leader.
Be proactive. It’s important that students take charge of their education. Seek out opportunities proactively rather than reactively. For example, if a club that interests you doesn’t exist at your school, start the club yourself. If the math textbook you are using in your calculus class isn’t working for you, get another calculus textbook that explains the concepts in a way that is more conducive to your way of learning. Be proactive about your education every step of the way.
Develop a sense of personal responsibility. It’s important that students take full responsibility of their lives as early on as possible. Despite the challenges of the educational system or personal/family challenges you might be going through, you need to think of your educational success as your responsibility. If you have this paradigm shift that you are 100% responsible for your life, you will then be able to take your education to the next level.
Use all the resources that are available to you. Many students use only a fraction of the resources that are available to them in their school. There are so many great resources that you should take advantage of. Fully engage in the resources of the library, counseling center, teacher’s office hours, tutors, after school programs, and fellow students. Make sure to get the best education possible by using all of your school’s resources.
Find mentors. It’s important that students have mentors or role models that they can look up to who can help them become successful. These mentors might be a teacher, a counselor, or a fellow student who sets a great example. Surround yourself with people who can help you succeed to your fullest potential in your educational journey.
Cultivate your passion/strengths. Every student has their strengths and weaknesses. It’s important that you cultivate your passions early on. As you are preparing for college, your college application should be centered around your passions. As opposed to getting involved with many different activities, select only a few (perhaps only 1-2) and then really excel in those areas.
Think beyond your high school. Some of your success in preparing for college should come from outside of your high school. Look at local or even international opportunities to help you grow as a student. Some students choose to be a camp counselor in the local mountains while others go to Africa and help with those in need. There are many opportunities outside of your high school that can really help you grow as a student that will help you prepare for college.
Make your summers engaging. It’s important that you keep your mind active during the summer. Have fun and enjoy your summer, but make sure that you keep yourself active. You can take a summer school class, volunteer at a variety of charities, or get a job. Think of the summer time as a way to get involved in those endeavors that you did not have the time to during the school year. The summer months can be an excellent way to help you prepare for college and make your college application stand out.
Develop great relationships with your teachers/counselors. Part of your college application will be getting letters of recommendation from teachers and a counselor. It’s important that you start cultivating great relationships with these people early on so that they know you very well and so that they can write great things about you when college applications come around. Do the best in all of your classes and develop sincere strong relationships.
Start NOW! Many students start preparing for college junior or even senior year. The time to start preparing for college is as early as possible–this means freshman year, and even earlier. Take the most rigorous course load your school has to offer, get involved outside of the classroom as early as possible, and develop your strengths. You should really think of the college preparation process as a marathon, not a sprint that starts junior or senior year. Start taking steps as early as possible to prepare for college. Start now!
Jeff Haig, co-founder of Maximize Your Education, completed his BA from the
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He holds his MBA from the
University of Southern California (USC), where he is currently completing
his doctorate in education on scholarship. Jeff is the chair of the UCLA
Scholarship Admissions Committee.
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