I’m currently in the 9th grade (freshman) and I’m already looking into colleges and trying to figure out what I need to do in order to prepare. As of now, I would like to get my B.S in Crisis and Emergency Management. Can anyone help me? What about PSAT’s, ACT’s, SAT’s? What is the most beneficial thing for me to do as of now in my college application process?
make sure you do well in your classes and are placed at a level that challenges you (you have to work to get grades of B and above) but isn’t overwhelming (which would be if you have to work really hard and are always borderline C to downright C).
take 6 academic classes per year, and each year have English, Math, Social Science, Science, Foreign Language at the highest level you can manage.
get involved in everything that sounds good - later, try to get a leadership role. but for now, explore.
follow where your interests take you. If they take you nowhere, pick up something you could see yourself doing every day and push yourself. It could be raising pigeons or prize calves, training with the ukulele or the atlatl, poertry slams, MUN, bowling…
go visit a couple colleges near your home: a big public one and a smaller private one to start with - to get used to visiting.
do NOT cut on sleep to get “more stuff done”. Until you’re 16, your brain needs 8-9 hours each night in order to function properly and not hurt its growth or functions.
I would get involved in an extracurricular that is vaguely related to Crisis and Emergency Management.
Can you volunteer at a house of worship for teams that help after disasters occur?
Can you get First Aid training?
Can you volunteer at a hospital?
Can you do community service?
Join or attend a Red Cross Club http://www.redcross.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities?
Join a service club and raise money for Hurricane/Fire victims?
** Freshman year:**
What @MYOS1634 said.
-Basically establish yourself academically.
-And join clubs/groups that I mentioned.
-Keep track of service hours.
** Sophomore year: **
-You will take PSAT at your school. This will give you an idea of where you are with regard to the SAT.
-Study for the SAT/PSAT over the summer. Use Khan Academy online.
-Take 6 academic classes per year, and each year have English, Math, Social Science, Science, Foreign Language at the highest level you can manage. If you are not on track to take Calculus Senior year, and are good in math, double up on Geometry/Algebra 2.
-If you do well in classes freshman year, then try to take Honors versions if you are not already.
-Continue in your clubs/activities. Drop those you don’t like, and start thinking about leadership positions next year.
-Keep track of service hours.
Junior year
-Take the PSAT at school. This one will count for National Merit Scholarships.
-Apply for leadership positions in your clubs. Even if you don’t get to be President, take leadership of a project.
-Take the SAT sometime in the spring of Junior year.
-Start investigating colleges.
-Visit some local colleges in the fall.like your State flagship, a smaller private school…see what you like and don’t like about them. Or take a trip and visit more schools.
Come up with a list of what you want in a college…major, location, urban/rural, size, etc etc
-Based on that, use Naviance, Supermatch (here on CC), Fiske Guide, etc to come up with a list of colleges
-Visit those colleges over Spring break if possible.
Junior year summer, do the following:
Make a list of all your ECs, when you did them, about how many hours a week, and descriptions.
You only get 10 slots for ECs on common app, so start categorizing them. Like you may want to categorize all music ECs together, or split them up somewhat.
Make sure to mention what leadership you have in those ECs, even if not a formal position…and talk about what you did as a leader.
Choose a Common App essay prompt
Write a draft of your essay this summer. Give it to your GC/English teacher to review in the fall.
If you haven’t already, choose who you want to ask to write recommendations for you. If your major is STEM, ask a Math and a science teacher.
See what your HS Guidance office wants you to do for college apps…(look on their website)…Do they want you to complete a brag sheet or something else to help the GC?
Visit some local colleges if you haven’t already…
Find out from your parents how much they can spend on college each year
Run the Net Price Calculator on those colleges to see if they are affordable
Try to visit some of those colleges over the summer if possible if you haven’t already
DO NOT APPLY TO A SCHOOL YOU WOULDN’T ATTEND. Also known as “Love thy Safety”. Pick your Safety first. I don’t know how many stories I read about people who didn’t get into an of their reaches and what they thought were matches and are only accepted to the safety and have a fit…find one that you like.
Yes this seems like a lot of work…but imagine doing it when you have classes and ECs too!
Senior Year
-Choose a rigorous schedule, but not one so rigorous you will regret it in the spring when you get senioritis.
-Make sure you have taken Bio, Chem and Physics. Try to take Calculus.
-Take the SAT one more time if you want.
-Apply to colleges.
-Make sure you have safety, matches and reaches.
-Apply to at least one school early action…particularly the safeties so you have an acceptance in the bag.
-Continue doing well in your courses.