Too Early to Apply? A Freshman and Sophomore High School Guide to Preparing Your College Application
While the bulk of the college search and application process will occur in your junior and senior years of high school, some eager freshman and sophomores have started asking what they can do to prepare for their college application. So, we’ve created a guide to help you focus your efforts if you cannot wait to get started!
First, it is good to note that USC (in addition to many other colleges) does not solely look at one aspect of the college application in order to make an admission decision. USC admission counselors use a holistic application review approach, looking at all materials in order to get a ‘whole’ sense of who the applicant is. These aspects typically are (but not limited to) academic records and transcripts, test scores, involvement and activity lists, personal statements and essays, and letters of recommendation. Thus, laying down a strong foundation for a robust high school experience can help grow your passions.
Academics Success is Your Success
Transcripts contain information about your academic rigor and performance throughout your 4 years of high school. Performance is defined in relation to your grades in academic courses, and rigor refers to increasing the difficulty level of courses. While rigor and performance in your junior and senior years showcase possible academic promise in college, freshman and sophomore years can prepare you to take strong, academically rigorous coursework later.
Start study skills early. If you maintain a strong academic performance during your freshman year, you have the potential to build a multi-year record of academic achievements.
Choose your classes carefully. This will ensure that you are well-prepared to take the most challenging courses available to you as an upperclassman.
Take your schoolwork seriously and make efforts to continue earning strong grades.
Involvement, a Loaded Term
While academics are a core piece of an admission review, admission counselors also look for fit within your passions outside of the classroom. Applicants will have an opportunity to list a summary of activities. While many high school students believe this is signing up for organizations ‘that will look good on my college application’ we are more interested in what you’re passionate about and how you show it. This does not just mean student organizations offered at your high school. Involvement can look like: community service, family responsibilities, jobs (paid or unpaid), career related experiences, religious involvement, competitions, summer programs, coursework you have taken outside of high school (even non-college level), sports teams, fundraising, advocacy work, and much more! Starting early can help if you eventually want to take on leadership roles in an extracurricular group.
It is okay to try different things! You don’t have to stick with every activity that you attempt during your freshman year— this is a time for exploration and discovering new interests.
Whatever you decide to get involved with, make sure it is related to your passions, major specific or not. Ask yourself, are you signing up for math club because you are interested in math, or because you think it will look good on your college application.
Be active in your community – school, neighborhood, or family. Colleges are looking to determine fit for their campus community, and your experiences can translate to fit at a larger level.
Make a list! It may be difficult 4 years from now to remember everything you have been involved in. Starting a list on your phone can prove helpful when filling out your application.
An Endless Summer
Summer breaks provide long uninterrupted time to participate in your passions. Look for meaningful summer activities that will contribute to your goals as well as developing your interests. Using your summers during your freshman and sophomore years can prove to be a powerful investment.
Use your summer as a reflection time. Take pictures and make notes of memories. This launching point can help with your personal statement essay.
Public service is a great way to start your involvement history. Look to your local community to volunteer, support those in need, and donate your time.
Summers can be great to pursue non-academic activities. Dive into hobbies that you enjoy and always wanted to start!
Build Relationships Now
Your teachers in your first year of high school generally will not be writing college recommendation letters for you. When you start to collect materials for your application, you’ll likely need to request letters from teachers who have taught you more recently. It is promising to start developing your abilities at effectively engaging with your teachers early in your high school career.
Building relationship with teachers is important. Teachers observe your academic abilities, ways you communicate with your peers and your ability to problem solve. These relationships can help you grow into a mature learner.
Take advantage of any information your high school counselors may be offering to the entire school community. Clearing up misconceptions or receiving additional direction can set you up early for success.
Want to add additional letters of recommendation? Think about other mentors who can speak to who you are. Perhaps you work with a local professor, volunteer at a non-profit, or can connect with other members of your community. These individuals can give a powerful voice to who you are outside of the classroom.
Look at Universities and Colleges on a Surface Level
Familiarizing yourself with what colleges offer and the world of admission now will give you time to learn its ins and outs before you apply. As you research universities, you’ll learn more about what kind of college you’d like to attend, and this new information may lead you to reconsider your original plans. Also, as you begin to acquaint yourself with higher education, everything will seem like less of a puzzle and more of a drive to start your next step in your educational career.
Beginning the college search process can be a bit overwhelming; once you start seeing the countless acronyms used, it can seem like a secret code. Use USC’s Handy Dandy Glossary of College Lingo.
An easy way to start look at many universities is through their social media accounts. Take a virtual look at campus, listen to student stories and participate in live Q&As, this can help get a quick sense to what schools’ value and how they support students. Check out the list USC’s official social media accounts.
Fill out ‘Request More Information’ forms. You will receive the most up-to-date information about upcoming events in your area, major-related information, and overall a better sense to what colleges can offer you.
Your Path is Not Linear
While the path to your career and personal goals may be windy, your research into what you may want to study or ‘major in’ can open many doors. Giving yourself the space to try new opportunities and explore academic interests will permit you to make more informed decisions about what you’re looking for in a college.
You may discover that the career path for your field is not as attractive as you’d thought. This is okay! Most students’ paths are not linear, you are complex and so are your interests.
Need a place to start? Utilize free resources such as Youtube, TED Talks or Lynda.com to start to dive deeper into something you are interested in.
Changing your mind is normal and is expected as part of the college planning process. Even students who are already attending college routinely switch majors or develop new goals.
Colleges do not expect you to have it all figured out in high school. No one assumes you have your entire life pre-planned by the age of 14. The plans you make during your freshman year of high school are meant to be changed and adjusted over time as you discover more about yourself and your passions. Again, it’s important to set goals when planning for college, but it’s equally important to change/update these goals as you learn more about what you want for your future.