College Admissions Expert Elizabeth Levine: Preparing to Apply to Colleges

Seniors are graduating from high school, and those that have chosen to move onto college in the Fall have been through the grueling and stressful college admissions journey and feel a sense of relief. Then there are those that are finishing up their junior year in high school and are just beginning the daunting college admissions journey, where the stress is mounting and they wonder where to start. Below are some helpful hints on what to do this summer to make your college admissions journey a bit less stressful when the Fall comes.
+ Take some time to think about what kind of school you would feel best attending and that would set you up for success, academically and socially. Do you work best in smaller classes desiring interaction between you and your professors or can you learn in large lectures? Do you want to be near a city, in a city, on a campus, be in a suburb, near the mountains, involve yourself in the outdoors…etc.? These are just a few of the questions you need to ask yourself to hone in on what school setting is best for you.

+ Whatever you do, don't focus on name brand colleges only. There are over 3,000 colleges out there to choose from and I promise you there is a college, more than 1,that is a perfect fit for you.

+ Write your Common App essay this summer, meaning your 1 general essay that you will need to submit to every college that you apply to. This will alleviate the stress of doing this when school starts since once September 1 comes, you need to hit the ground running!

+ Go visit colleges! This is the only way you are going to know if a college feels right. In the end, it is about how you feel when you are on campus. Prepare for the visit, do your homework so you understand what the college is about and what they offer, and ask current students questions. This is invaluable.
You are going to spend the next 4+ years of your life in college and ensuring you select the right one can mean the difference between being successful and enjoying your college career or leaving school after a period of time since it just didn't work for you. This is the biggest decision you will make in your life, to date, and one of the largest financial decisions you and your family will ever make. Put in the time, it isn't going to be easy but nothing that is this important typically is.
If you have any questions about the college admissions process or the above information please do not hesitate to contact me at info@signaturecollegecounseling.com or by phone, 845.551.6946.