Just because you're not a senior in high school doesn't mean you shouldn't be planning ahead. Here are some tips on areas you can concentrate on right now that will help you prepare for your college application process:
* Are you taking challenging courses in school?
Speak with your school counselor about your course load and find a realistic yet challenging balance in your academic schedule.
* Will you apply to a UC or CSU?
Visit the University of California's A-G website or California State University Mentor to cross-reference class requirements.
* Do you have any extra curricular activities?
Any type of activity you do outside of the classroom will help you learn more about your personal interests. So not only are you gaining an understanding of your self, but when you fill out your college applications and write your essays, you can speak about your activities and why they are meaningful to you. Some examples of extra curricular activities are:
- Working a part-time job
- Volunteering in your community
- Getting involved on campus in various clubs or activities
- Club or high school sports
- Taking personal growth classes (e.g., art, music, etc.)
- Starting a club on campus
- Starting a campaign to raise awareness for a cause/issue that is important to you
* What are your summer plans?
Because your summer schedule is typically less hectic, concentrate on other activities you find interesting but might not have time to participate in during a normal school year. For example, you could volunteer or find a part time job in your community. Or, you could take a class for either academic or personal enrichment. Some students even participate in pre-college programs. Regardless of what you decide, plan in advance. Now is the time to begin speaking to organizations about volunteer work, applying for pre-college programs, planning summer school schedules, and applying for summer jobs.
* Visiting Colleges.
College may be the furthest thing from your mind right now but the sooner you can determine what kind of college is a good fit for you, the easier your college application process will be. If you have local colleges in your area, check them out. For example in the Bay Area, you can visit UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, Santa Clara University, University of San Francisco, Notre Dame de Namur, Menlo College, Foothill College, Canada College, and Mills College, to name a few. When on these campuses, look at their size (30k students, 10k students, 2k students, etc.) the location (city, suburban, rural, etc.) and type of college (public, private, religious affiliated, all women's, etc.). With over 3,000 colleges in the United States, determining the size, location, and type of college that works best for you will help narrow your search.
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