A student getting coffee — Preparing For College

Preparing For College in High School

Some people see the college process as a sprint to the finish that begins near the end of your junior year, but the application process can be made so much easier by preparing for it throughout your high school experience. Below are a list of things you can do during each year of high school that will position you for success by the time application season rolls around.

First Year

Course Selection
Select courses that will challenge but not overload you. Most of the preparation for college happens daily through your classes. A good start makes everything else run much more smoothly.

Getting Involved
Start finding ways to get involved in something outside of class. Many times, it’s not necessarily what you do, but how committed you are to the task. This could include activities like school clubs, athletics, community service and part-time jobs.

Focus on Your Passions
Start thinking about what you want to study in college. Sometimes this can come as an extension of the kind of job you want; sometimes you simply gravitate toward the classes you excel in or that interest you the most. There’s no right or wrong way to go about this process, but it’s important to narrow down your academic interest throughout your high school journey.

Sophomore Year

Consult With Your Counselor
Meet with your school counselor and let them know about your interest in going to college. Counseling offices work with many colleges and know the type of students that tend to be a good fit for a certain school. If you have a specific question and can't get an appointment with your counselor, reach out to your teachers, relatives or even directly connect with the schools that interest you most.

Take Challenging Courses
Ask your counselor or teachers about honors or advanced course options and how to enroll. Most selective colleges want to see that you’re prepared to take the next step, especially in your area of interest. If your school doesn’t have the advanced course options you want, explore online options that can help you demonstrate your mastery of a particular subject to schools. Some colleges partner with programs like Schoolhouse.world from Khan Academy and take into consideration your course completion in the admission process.

Explore a College Campus
Visit a local college to get a feel for a campus, and a sense of what your ideal campus might look and feel like. During your visit you can start thinking about size, location, lifestyle and other things that are important to you.

Consider The Finances
Begin exploring the financing available at different schools, including grants, scholarships and loan options. And remember — just because a school’s listed cost of attendance seems high does not mean that you can’t afford to go there! Many schools have robust financial aid programs and initiatives, like our CMU Pathway Program, that help students from all backgrounds get the education they desire.

Build Relationships
Focus on building relationships with your teachers. These relationships will serve you well in your studies, and these teachers might one day write you letters of recommendation for your college application.

Connect with Colleges
Join college mailing lists to receive information through mail and email about academics and student life at their school, as well as updates regarding important dates and visit opportunities. If you’re interested in Carnegie Mellon, we encourage you to join our mailing list (opens in new window)to learn more.

Junior Year

Decide What’s Important to You
Hone in on what is important to you in a college. Talk to your parents, school counselors, teachers and anyone you know and trust who has gone to college to help you identify what’s important to you in choosing a college, like size, location, rankings, academic offerings, social culture, research opportunities, internship placements and career outcomes. Browse sites like Niche(opens in new window), Scoir(opens in new window) and U.S. News & World Report(opens in new window) to see how schools score on factors that are important to you.

Make Your Testing Plan
Review the standardized testing requirements and recommendations for any colleges you’re considering. Some schools require test scores while others are test-optional or test-blind. Both the SAT and ACT offer fee waivers, if you’re concerned about the costs of taking these exams.

Once you’ve made your plan, prepare to take the appropriate standardized tests — if you’re planning to submit scores. Many high schools offer SAT/ACT prep courses, but there are also a wealth of resources online to aid your study, like Khan Academy and Bluebook.

Plan Your Essay
Consider what you might want to write your personal statement/college essay about. This is a great opportunity to convey your personality, your academic and personal journey, as well as your ability as a writer. It’s a good idea to begin drafting something in your junior year, so that you have plenty of time to edit and refine it.

Visit Colleges
Look for virtual or on campus visit opportunities at colleges you’re interested in. Many schools will offer information sessions, tours, chats with current students and more to help you learn more about their college.

Attend College Fairs
A college fair is a gathering of college representatives who are looking to speak about their college to interested high school students. Ask your counselor about how to find college fairs in your area, or start by checking out sites like collegefairguide.com(opens in new window).

Build Your List
Use everything you’ve learned from your visits and research to build an initial list of colleges. Talk to your school counselor about your list and how your grades and exam scores compare to students admitted to those schools.

Explore Pre-College Programs
Search for opportunities in the summer that allow you to live on campus and attend courses, like CMU’s Pre-College programs(opens in new window). These programs give students the opportunity to explore what life is like on a college campus over several weeks, and in some cases, even earn college credit.

Senior Year

Consider Your Test Results
If you feel you can do better on your chosen standardized test, consider retaking it. Remember that this score is not the only deciding factor, but it can help application readers get a better idea of your academic potential.

Apply
Begin your college applications, making note of each schools’ deadlines for both the admission and financial aid applications. Most U.S. schools accept the Common App(opens in new window), though some have their own application or use the Coalition App(opens in new window). For guidance on completing the common app, we recommend consulting the free AXS Companion for the Common App.

Request Letters of Recommendation
Decide which teacher(s) you will ask to write you a letter of recommendation as part of your college application. Focus on identifying a teacher who can speak to your academic abilities as well as your personal qualities and character. And don’t be afraid to ask! It might feel intimidating, but most teachers are eager to help their students reach their goals, and will be honored that you’ve chosen them to recommend you.

Choose Your Application Plan
For each college you’re applying to, decide which application plan you’d like to utilize (Early Decision, Early Action or Regular Decision) and review the application requirements. Only choose Early Decision if you are absolutely committed to attending that college, and remember that binding Early Decision plans will not give you the opportunity to compare financial aid offers from other institutions, so be sure to complete a financial aid estimate with the college before opting to apply ED there.

Coordinate with Your Counselor
Communicate with your school counselor to make sure that your transcript and letters of recommendation are submitted to all colleges to which you are applying.

Keep Visiting!
Continue attending online or in-person college visits. Many schools will also offer evening or weekend sessions in your local area.

Apply For Aid
If you’re eligible, complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)(opens in new window). Some colleges, such as Carnegie Mellon, also require you to submit a CSS Profile(opens in new window) along with the FAFSA. Typically, these applications open in early October to apply for the next academic year. In addition to financial aid, some schools may offer scholarships; be sure to check deadlines and material requirements for those as well.

Visit Colleges as an Admitted Student
Plan to attend an admitted student program for colleges that offer you admission. College visits held specifically for admitted students can be different from visits held at other times of the year, often offering a more inside view of what it’s like to be a student there. These events are also a great way to connect with other admitted students.

Submit Your Deposit
Make note of deposit deadlines. Each school you’re admitted to will set their own deposit deadline, although for many schools, this date is May 1. You must notify a college of your intention to enroll, usually by submitting a monetary deposit that applies to your first semester’s tuition.

Give Yourself a Round of Applause
You put in a lot of hard work to get to this point — don’t forget to congratulate yourself! Be proud of your accomplishments, and get excited for all that is still to come in your college experience.

Discover Your Passions

One of the most important factors in finding the college that fits you best is knowing what engages your academic and personal passions. What do you love to study? What do you want to do in life(opens in new window)? What steps do you need to take to get there? These big questions might seem daunting, but they can be broken down into smaller pieces that help guide you along your journey.

Think About Where You Excel

Think about what subjects you thrive in, and what classes you enjoy. What kind of careers might they lead to? What college major would best suit this academic interest? Perhaps most importantly, don’t limit yourself! There are likely plenty of subjects you haven’t tried that could spark something in you. Some students think they hate math until they reach geometry or calculus, some students think they dislike literature until they read the right novel — don’t write something off just because you don’t think it’s for you.

Work Backwards From Your Goal

Some people find it easiest to work backwards: you might not have a strong sense of what you like to study, but know exactly what you want to do as a career. If this is you, think about how to get to that end goal. What fields of study best position you for success in that career? If you know someone who is working in that field, don’t be afraid to ask them questions. What was their college major? How did they get to where they are today? What tips do they have for success?

Explore Pre-College Programs

Some colleges offer pre-college programs that allow high school students to sample what it would be like to study a certain field at the college level. These can be a great way to test out and solidify your academic interest if you are stuck between options or in search of the right fit. Many pre-college programs, like Carnegie Mellon’s, also give students the chance to live on a campus and explore the community and residential life aspect of being a college student.

Don’t Overthink It

Some students put a lot of pressure on themselves to find the subject that will become their college major before they finish high school. In many cases, you can sample courses once you’re enrolled in a college before you have to make this determination. Don’t get discouraged, and don’t get too caught up in what comes next that you forget to enjoy the education and community experience that you are a part of right now.

Build Your College List

Building a college list is about finding the schools that match your interests and preferences in terms of academics, campus culture, location and more factors. Many people develop an initial list of about eight to twelve schools that interest them, but that general guideline does not have to be an exact template for your search. Everyone’s search is different, because everyone’s preferences are different. Read on to learn what to look for and how to go about constructing your list.

Know What You’re Looking for

The first step in building your list is knowing what you want. Many people start from their academic interests — searching for schools that have well-regarded programs that match their passions by using platforms like Niche(opens in new window), Scoir(opens in new window), Zeemee(opens in new window) or just a simple google search. From that list, you can narrow your search by deciding what kind of campus you want — urban or rural, big or small, collaborative or competitive campus culture.

Research Your Options

Now that you have a good idea of your main criteria for the right college, look into the finer details. If research opportunities are important to you, identify schools that offer undergraduates the opportunity to get involved. If you really want to be a part of a specific kind of club, explore which schools offer that as part of their extracurricular programming. Research how the faculty at the school are rated and regarded as teachers and as scholars. Explore career outcomes from the school, and from your specific program of interest. Many schools have this information publicly available on their webpages, like CMU’s Career Outcomes and Internship Placement dashboards(opens in new window). And, one of the more overlooked parts of the search: explore the schools’ alumni networks! Many alums are excited to help out graduates who attended their alma mater, and having support from people who are already working the kinds of jobs you want can make a big difference.

Refine Your List

Now that you have a list that matches your academic interests and personal preferences, look into how you stack up against the profile of students each school typically admits. Benchmarking average standardized test scores and GPAs of a school’s admitted students is a good place to start; you can typically find this information on the school’s website. That being said, don’t let these numbers scare you from applying to a school you’re really interested in. Oftentimes, things like your essays and extracurriculars can elevate your application if your numbers don’t exactly match up with a school’s averages.

It’s generally advised that you apply to a few schools where you feel very confident you can be admitted, a couple of “reach” schools that really excite you but might seem difficult to attain, and form the rest of your list with schools that match your preferences where your numbers are more or less on par with the kind of students they’re looking for.

Consider the Finances

College can be a big investment, but if you plan well and make use of all the resources available, it can be a lot more affordable than you might think. In this section, we’ll explore the main resources to help you pay: need-based financial aid, merit-based scholarships, private scholarships, loans and personal savings. A good plan to take advantage of all the available resources will allow you to choose the best education and experience possible, rather than letting the numbers make your decision on where to apply and enroll more difficult. For a better understanding of financial aid terminology, view our glossary.

graphic of hand with money and a graduation cap

Need-Based Financial Aid

Need-based aid is financial assistance provided to students and families by universities or the federal government, and is based on their demonstrated financial need. Your demonstrated financial need is determined by information available to schools from your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)(opens in new window) and, at some schools, your CSS Profile(opens in new window). Factors like your family size and assets will be accounted for to determine your demonstrated financial need, which is the difference between a school’s cost of attendance and what your finances indicate you are able to pay. Some schools, like Carnegie Mellon, guarantee to meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need and offer programs, like the CMU Pathway Program(opens in new window), that guarantee families under certain income thresholds can attend tuition-free. We encourage any students who might be eligible to complete the financial aid process; historically at Carnegie Mellon, students with family incomes up to $400,000 have been eligible for need based institutional grants. Financial Aid offers are typically distributed with your admission decision, depending on when you submit your documents.

Merit-Based Scholarships

These scholarships are typically financial awards granted to students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the classroom and in their community. This money does not have to be paid back, and can substantially help limit debt and make college more affordable. Note that some of these scholarships require a separate application for the award, and not all schools offer merit-based scholarships; be sure to explore what’s available at each school on your college list.

Private Scholarships

There are many resources available to help students pay for college outside of those offered by universities or the government. You can explore scholarship directories like FastWeb, and look into scholarship opportunities(opens in new window) provided by your local community organizations and national corporations. Groups such as the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, Rotary Clubs and more routinely provide scholarship opportunities, as well as companies like Coca-Cola, Google, Microsoft and more.

Loans

Loans are when students or families borrow money to pay for college. When exploring loans(opens in new window), there are many factors to consider, and interest rates can vary, so explore all of your options to get the best rate for you and your family. On most loans, interest will begin accruing while the student is in school, so be sure you understand the terms of your loan and make a plan for paying it back.

Personal Savings

The best way to save for college is to plan ahead. If you or your parents have the resources to dedicate towards your education, a 529 savings plan(opens in new window) allows you to save money for future education expenses in a tax-free account. These funds can be used for any education-related expenses, including tuition, room and board, and any technological needs. In many states, contributions toward a 529 can even be counted as a tax deduction.

It's Time to Apply!

Now that you’ve built your list and done your research, it’s time to apply! This can sometimes feel like the most intimidating step, but you’ve done so much of the work already to get to this point — now you just need to get across the finish line. For a comprehensive resource to help navigate the Common App, we recommend consulting the free AXS Companion.

Know Each School’s Requirements

Application requirements and deadlines vary from school to school. Be sure to familiarize yourself with each school’s standardized testing policy, recommendation requirements and any additional required materials. Some schools ask applicants to complete additional essays or short answer responses, submit a portfolio or resumé, complete an admission interview or submit other materials. Most of the time, this information can be found on the school’s website. However, if you have more specific questions regarding your application, some schools offer one-on-one appointments(opens in new window) with an admission counselor, or you can send an email to the office of admission with your questions.

Determine Your Preferred Application Plan

Schools offer different application plans, understanding each will help you determine which is best for you and your goals. Some of the most common plans include:

Early Decision: This application plan is binding, meaning that if you are admitted through this plan, you are committed to attend. This plan is best if you are absolutely certain of your top choice and are willing to forego considerations like the chance to compare different financial aid offers from multiple universities. At some universities, though not all, this plan can slightly advantage students in the application process, as the school knows you will attend if admitted. If cost is an important factor in your decision of where to attend, consider another option.
Early Action: This non-binding early application plan will allow you to get your decision more quickly than you would under regular decision, without the commitment required in Early Decision.
Regular Decision: This is the most common application plan used by students. You apply by the stated deadline, which can vary by college, and receive your decision along with the rest of the applicants to that school. Typically you have until May 1 to submit your enrollment deposit and commit to a school, though this can vary by institution.
Rolling Admission: Rolling admission means the school reviews applications and gives you your admission decision on a continuing basis as they come in, rather than reviewing all apps at once after a specified application deadline. Under rolling plans, the earlier you apply, the sooner you will receive your admission decision.

Make a List of Deadlines

Once you know what you need to complete your application for each school, it’s a good idea to build a list of the important dates and deadlines for each application. If you plan to apply early decision or early action to a school, make special note of these deadlines. If you haven’t yet joined the mailing list(opens in new window) for the schools you plan to apply to, we highly recommend that you do so at this point. They can then email you important reminders and guidance regarding their application process.

Begin Your Applications

Most schools accept applications through the Common App(opens in new window), which allows you to add all of your application documents, like essays, transcripts and recommendation letters, to one central place, and apply from there. Some schools may use the Coalition Application(opens in new window) or other applications.

Request Your Recommendations

Most schools require one letter of recommendation from your school counselor and one from a teacher, though some may require more or allow you to submit more. When choosing which teacher you would like to write your recommendation, it’s best to choose someone who is able to speak to both your academic ability and your personal character. While it is preferable that the teacher be from a subject area that is relevant to what you hope to study, it is not necessary. If you’re still undecided, or feel that a teacher outside of your subject would be better able to write a holistic letter of recommendation about you, feel free to choose another teacher.

Finalize Your Essay(s)

The essay is a great place to communicate things that may be difficult to get across through your other application documents. Focus on telling a story about yourself(opens in new window) where your personality, character and interests come through. It’s a good idea to have peers, your school counselor or a trusted teacher or role model review your essay for content and accuracy. Be sure to complete any additional supplemental essays required by your schools. And if a school offers an optional essay component, it's a good idea to complete that too — it shows that you care enough about the school to put in the extra effort, and it allows you more space to show who you are and what you've accomplished.

Submit Your Applications!

Once all of your documents have been compiled, all that’s left to do is hit submit. Take some time to enjoy the achievement of finishing this part of the process! You should be proud of all you’ve done to get to this point. We wish you the best of luck with your college search journey — and we hope that wherever you end up, you find that it is the right place for you.

Get an Insider's Perspective

Looking for more information about applying to college? Check out recordings of our Admission Insights webinars. This series provides information and insights from our admission counselors and campus partners, with each webinar focusing on a different aspect of the college admission process.

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