As winter passes and spring approaches, seniors begin to close in on final college choices and graduation and saying goodbye to high school. Which can mean only one thing. The Class of 2026 will begin to brace themselves for college admissions. Now, it might seem super early to start worrying about college, but I know many fellow juniors who are beginning their college careers very early. And it’s never too early to start freaking out about college. But many juniors, like myself, have no idea how or where to start. So here are some frequently asked questions, or FAQ’s, about college admissions from high schoolers to ready themselves for admissions.
When should I start prepping?
I would say a perfect timeline where you don’t start too early, but also where you don’t stress about deadlines, is starting between the months of July-September. Most colleges begin early admissions in August and end it in early November or December, so I would recommend preparing your essays, grades, and letters of recommendation during this timeline. Some colleges have spring admissions, so working during the late autumn/winter for those deadlines would also be a good idea.
How do I choose colleges to apply to?
Choosing colleges that are near you, in your price range, and accommodates your chosen major/minor is always the best way to finalize your decision for your future college. For example, if I lived in Oklahoma and wanted to major in political science, but couldn’t spend more than 30,000 for tuition, I would choose SOSU, because their tuition is 20,000 in-state and they have the best political science department in Oklahoma. So make sure to do excessive research on your major, budget, and home state to find your perfect fit college.
Do I need all A’s to get in?
This might be controversial, but not exactly. Before the obsessive scholars come after me, let me explain. If I was planning to major in journalism, I wouldn’t need to be an AP Biology genius. And if I wanted to become an engineer, why would I need to remember the Battle of Midway in WWII? I’m not saying to fail your math or english classes cause you don’t need them, but don’t stress if your grade in Algebra 2 is an A- instead of a straight A. Your GPA is what colleges care about, so make sure you try your best to get that 3.0 a bit higher and don’t freak out over your 95 on your AP English test.
Do I need a million extracurricular activities and charity work?
A common mistake that many high school students make is that they believe that they need to have sports, volunteer hours, leadership roles, extracurricular activities, and even more to barely enter their desired college.While it is true that it stands out on resumes if you have had a few leadership roles or are involved with some in or out of school activities, you don’t need to overwhelm yourself with millions of activities just for your college resume. Gilmore Girls said it best, “If your extracurriculars and volunteer activities are too by-the-book, that says something [they] don’t like… those activities should have a personality behind them, a focus, a direction.” So I recommend being involved with activities, clubs, etc. that show what you want to pursue in college and the extent of your success in it, and colleges pursue those who will succeed in their college.
How can I find scholarships?
You can find scholarships on college websites, where they list scholarships they offer or links that lead to un-related scholarships that they accept. Your school counselor can help you find scholarships that are tailored to you and your specific college, major, or budget. There are quite literally scholarships available everywhere you look. Walmart or Target has some, sometimes the place you work gives scholarships, or other (non-scam) websites offer scholarships if you follow the requirements. Any amount of money or scholarships are essential and helpful towards your college tuition and will save you from paying loans until you’re 41.
If you have any further questions about college, don’t ask me, but ask your counselors, parents, or research your colleges and use as many resources as possible to choose the best college for you in the future.