As you review your high school's course offerings, consider challenging yourself in one or more subjects you enjoy by taking honors classes (if available at your school).
Spend time looking into relevant career paths that align with your interests and/or the subjects in which you excel. You may want to keep a list of career opportunities that appeal to you the most.
Sophomores may want to start setting up meetings with their high school guidance counselor to discuss college planning. These professionals can explain schools' requirements and help students identify schools that most closely match their academic and career interests. Counselors can also provide valuable information on topics like financial aid, college applications, and entrance exams.
Tenth graders can benefit from exposing themselves early on to the types of standardized tests they'll most likely need to take to get into college. Instead of jumping straight into the SAT or ACT, however, many students prefer to take practice versions of these exams, such as the PSAT, the PSAT 10, and the PreACT.
You can use your performance on your chosen practice test to help you identify areas for improvement and begin preparing for the actual SAT or ACT as a junior.
If the extracurriculars you chose the previous year no longer match your interests, feel free to switch activities. That said, you should try to commit to any new activities for the remainder of high school. Colleges like to see passion, consistency, and dedication.
Most colleges look for extracurriculars that demonstrate leadership, community service, and/or exceptional ability. While sports remain a popular activity, students may explore other options, such as debate and student government. High schoolers should also consider engaging in service opportunities to give back to their communities.
Your high school or another organization in your local community likely hosts one or more college fairs throughout the year. Attend a fair to network with representatives and learn more about colleges in your state and beyond.
Held in October each year, the PSAT helps you prepare for the SAT (or ACT). Doing exceptionally well on this exam can qualify you for a National Merit Scholarship as well.
Juniors should take the ACT or SAT in the fall or spring (or both, if desired). Create a study plan at least a few months before your test date to help you earn a high SAT or ACT score.
You might also consider using free SAT or ACT resources, buying SAT or ACT prep books, or signing up for online SAT or ACT prep classes.
AP classes and tests give you the chance to earn college credit and impress college admissions officers. Talk to a teacher or advisor and consider taking 1-3 AP classes in your best subjects.
Alternatively, you may take IB classes if your school offers them. Earning an IB diploma can reflect positively on you during college admissions, and high scores on IB exams can similarly earn you college credit.
minus icon Research Schools and Financial Aid Options
Juniors should start putting together a tentative list of colleges. You can further prepare for the future by researching student loans, scholarships, and other financial aid opportunities.
As you research colleges, compile a "top schools" list of institutions that interest you the most. Aim for 5-10 schools. Feel free to modify this list as your interests and goals evolve.
Senior year of high school is a pivotal time in teenagers' lives. For college-bound students, 12th grade is particularly busy.
minus icon Retake the SAT/ACT If Needed
Many students improve their SAT/ACT scores on a second go-around. Make time to study for your chosen exam, taking care to focus on your biggest weaknesses and content gaps.
Kampala International UniversityA college tour can help you decide whether to apply. Also, keep track of all your application deadlines and application materials with a planner.
Some of the most common college application materials are as follows:
General application form with your personal and contact information
To see whether you qualify for federal aid and certain institutional scholarships, file the FAFSA. Since aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, you'll want to submit your FAFSA on or as soon as possible after October 1 when it opens.
It's also a good idea to apply for private scholarships at this time. You can search for scholarships online, narrowing your options by factors such as demographic, major, and location.
Receiving acceptance letters from colleges is a tremendous accomplishment. After celebrating, you must weigh your options. Consider asking a parent, guardian, or teacher for advice before committing to a school. You typically have until May 1 to make your decision and submit your nonrefundable deposit.
University is full of opportunities, but sometimes it can be hard to know which way to look first – or at least know where you’re headed – especially when your peers seem to know what they’re doing.
University is full of opportunities, but sometimes it can be hard to know which way to look first – or at least know where you’re headed – especially when your peers seem to know what they’re doing.
Sometimes the best place to start is with the basics. What’s important to you? What motivates you? What do you want to achieve in life? What do you think your purpose is in life?, it might feel a bit overwhelming. But this is what one university in Mexico wants its students to think about.
Designing a university around the realms of happiness, positivity, engagement and wellbeing might be hard to imagine. How do you learn it? And more importantly, how do you even teach it?
While many consider attending university a way to leverage promising career prospects, university is also a unique opportunity where you can look at yourself and think about how you can benefit and grow personally from the experience.
After graduating, many students are left standing at a cross-roads. What do I do now? Do I go out in search of my dream grad job? Shall I go travelling? What about going one step further in my academic career and pursuing a master’s degree?
Being confident in yourself can take time, as does building your self-awareness. This is why, in 2012, Universidad Tecmilenio introduced the Institute for Happiness and Wellbeing and overhauled its teaching in order to meet the needs of students and current industry trends.
“I was delighted when I heard about what is happening at Tecmilenio and creating a different education model,” said Professor Rajendra Sisodia.
“Actually teaching students about the meaning and purpose of life, and about happiness and about mindfulness and the art of living. Nobody teaches us that and we go through life unnecessarily suffering and not knowing how to think about life, how to think about work, how to think about family and so on.”
“I think it’s a unique institution in the world, the world’s first positive university, and all of us have a lot to learn from the experiences and the learning that happened here.”
Universidad Tecmilenio has set itself up to become a pioneer in higher education and lead the way in teaching its students how to find their own meaning and purpose in life. It believes that university is more than just about getting a degree, and puts life purpose, positivity, wellbeing and happiness at the epicenter of its student education and teaching.
