Higher education opens up many opportunities for people across the globe. If you are considering pursuing a two-year or four-year degree (or more!) after high school, you will want to be prepared–both for the admissions process and for the level of work you will encounter when you get there. Here are several tips to help make the most of your high school years.

 

Freshman Year

MAKE A PLAN! If you aspire to any form of higher education, it is important to plan ahead. Be smart about your course load – do not leave your hardest classes for later.  Additionally – you have four years to build up a resume for college and scholarship applications. Start thinking about extracurricular and volunteer activities that pique your interest (like HOSA!) … and jump right in! 

 

Sophomore Year

KEEP IT UP! You know the high school ropes pretty well by now – so stay the course! Keep your grades up and remain involved in your extracurricular activities. Consider joining organizations that will provide ample opportunity for learning, leadership, and new experiences.  Look for chances to get to know teachers and staff, as their experience, insight, and potential letters of recommendation are incredibly valuable. Think deliberately about your coursework: taking career or technical courses during the next two years can impact a lot of insight and experience that will be valuable to your future. Advanced Placement courses or dual enrollment at a local community college will also provide an opportunity to gain a headstart on your college career.

It is not too early to start attending college fairs or browsing university websites. Begin picturing yourself on a campus or considering career paths and majors. You will have a lot of time to make those decisions, but it does not hurt to begin daydreaming now.

 

Junior Year

CRUNCH TIME!  Junior year, as everyone knows, is crucial in your college timeline. Colleges begin sending information and it can be easy to get overwhelmed. You will want to study for and take the ACT and/or SAT, if you have not already done so. Look for leadership roles – in athletics, in your student organizations, anywhere you would be excited to learn and to serve.

In addition to your extracurricular activities, you will want to consider getting a part-time job, if you do not have one. What type of job you get is not as important as what you make of it. Want to be a doctor? Consider working in the cafeteria of your local medical center. Take every advantage to talk to people who have the career(s) you could picture yourself in someday.

Use the counselors at your school for information – a lot of scholarship money goes unclaimed every year because there are not enough students applying. Don’t miss out on an opportunity because you didn’t know to ask. And keep those grades up!

 

Senior Year

LAST CALL! By the fall of your senior year, you should have taken the ACT and/or SAT at least once – although there is time to retake if you are not pleased with your scores. Visit college campuses if possible, and talk to their admissions representatives. Begin gathering those college applications, working on essays, and collecting recommendation letters. A lot of colleges have early admission deadlines set for mid-fall – and those deadlines often include consideration for certain scholarships. Do not let your senior schedule slide – keep academic classes on your schedule, and don’t downplay the importance of your last semester grades. Colleges may ask for those grades before making final decisions – and keeping up your coursework will help prepare you for college level classes next year.