by Carol Chandler-Wood

The college admissions process involves many steps, and it is important for students to be aware and execute them beginning their freshman year in high school. Following is a list of many of the more important steps to take:

Freshman Year

• Meet with you school counselor to discuss your academic goals and school curriculum
• Begin to review college resources
• Begin to achieve your high school GPA
• Continue saving money for tuition
• Join clubs in which you have a shared interest
• Begin obtaining teacher recommendations

Sophomore Year

• Begin taking a foreign language
• Take the PSAT in October
• Take a career interest survey
• Take on a challenging part time job
• Volunteer for special community projects and events
• Travel if possible
• Continue your studies, achieving good grades, reviewing college resources, saving tuition, participation in clubs, and obtaining teacher recommendations
• Take SAT IIs as you successfully complete courses

Junior Year

• Take the PSAT again and analyze your score for areas of improvement needed and to possibly qualify for the National Merit Scholarship
• Consider taking a third year of foreign language
• Attend a college fair
• Find out if SAT IIs are required by the colleges to which you plan to apply
• Review and revise your list of colleges to which you are interested in applying
• Visit prospective schools in an official visit
• Set up a filing system with individual folders for each college
• Take both the ACT and SAT on one of the spring national test dates
• Look for financial aid and scholarships opportunities
• Continue the steps for the freshman and sophomore years
• Look for a summer job

Senior Year

• Continue steps included during the Junior year
• Take the SAT and ACT again if desired
• Attend college and financial fairs
• Continue college official visits and inquiries
• Schedule interview with admissions officer
• Request college applications
• Complete financial aid and scholarship applications
• Pay special attention to details and deadlines and create a checklist of such
• Obtain additional recommendations from teachers, counselors and others
• Draft your essay early so it does not hold up your application submission
• Fight off Senioritis and maintain high grades
• Take Advanced Placement exams
• Request final transcripts to be sent to colleges