BE CONFIDENT, BE YOU – AUTHENTICITY IN THE COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS!

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“Be true to yourself.” “It doesn’t matter where you go.” “Find the college/university that is the best fit for you.”  These phrases are like guide posts in the world of college admissions – at least in my little corner of it.  Yet, students are bombarded with messages like “You need at least 10 AP courses to be competitive,” “It takes a 1600 on the SAT to be accepted to Highly Selective University,” “You’ll never be admitted to Selective College if you haven’t launched your own company.”  And that line of messaging continues.  As I reflect on the college admission scandal dominating the evening news and social media, the work I do with students on a one-to-one basis, and the many students I advise in workshop settings, I feel compelled to share a few thoughts.

Did you know that the average acceptance rate for all four-year colleges in the US is approximately 66% (~2/3 of applicants) according to a 2017 report from the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC)? But we don’t hear much about those schools because the emphasis is typically on a small number of ‘elite’ institutions with single-digit or less than 20 percent admit rates. A broad brush is painted over schools with a higher admit rate, and without a deeper dive, we are led to believe that such schools are inferior. As the stress levels for students, parents and counselors continues to climb during the college application and admission process, unfortunately some are compelled to engage in unethical actions.

I prefer to challenge students and parents to think differently and I choose messages to help families broaden their own thinking about this process.  Here are a few examples:

  • With 3,000+ post-secondary institutions, there is a college right for you/your child
  • Be open-minded about exploring colleges/universities
  • Don’t limit yourself (and your options!) by focusing only on “name brand” schools
  • Know yourself and the “gifts” you would bring to a college community
  • Work hard, do your best and know that you still may not be admitted to your first choice school
  • Keep your college list manageable: 12-14 schools is reasonable; 20+ is excessive
  • Be your authentic self throughout this process; stop trying to second-guess admissions officers

March and April tend to be agonizing for seniors, awaiting college admission decisions. And yes, many of them will receive unfavorable results. I recently shared the following words of encouragement to all of my seniors, and I include them here, as they can never be said too often:

“PLEASE DO NOT INTERNALIZE THESE ADMISSION DECISIONS AS A REFLECTION OF YOUR SELF-WORTH. Each one of you are smart and talented young adults, with many gifts to share.  Do not allow these admission decisions to define you to be anything or anyone less.”

I have never been more proud to hold memberships in 5 professional organizations that enforce adherence to a code of ethics, and require ongoing training and professional development:

  • Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)
  • Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA)
  • National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC)
  • Western Association for College Admissions Counseling (WACAC)
  • Southern Association for College Admissions Counseling (SACAC)

All of these organizations have a wealth of information and resources for families navigating the college admission process and even resources to support middle school students.

And on that note, I close with a simple reminder that The Journey Begins with You…!  Good luck!

Antoinette Battiste is an Independent Educational Consultant and 20+ year resident of Evergreen.   She is an active volunteer with many community organizations in Silicon Valley, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators (SCCABE), Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, the African American Community Services Agency (AACSA), and the Northern California Association of Morehouse Parents (NCAMP).

FINDING A HIDDEN GEM – LET THE DISCOVERY BEGIN!

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A few weeks ago, while shopping at the Evergreen Village Square farmers’ market, I noticed one of the vendors was wearing a shirt that had the UC Merced logo on it.  I asked him if he attended Merced and his replied “yes”. I then began a conversation with him, asking the usual questions – how do you like it? What are you majoring in? What made you choose Merced? Etc.  The young man was very enthusiastic in his response, stating he loved it and that he’s majoring in mechanical engineering. He also mentioned that it was ideal for him because he’s from the Central Valley and attending Merced allows him to be close (but not too close) and still help his family out with their farming business.  We both remarked about how so many students and parents look down on Merced as the “undesired” UC campus, yet there are indeed great opportunities there for students interested in the sciences.  He talked about the variety of clubs on campus, and various field trips to companies like Tesla that occur on a regular basis.

Fast forward to this past week.  While again shopping at this vendor’s booth, I overheard a woman asking the same young man the questions I first posed to him – Do you go to Merced? Do you like it? She went on to say, “My son applied there and he’s interested in engineering, so I was just wondering.”  I smiled as I listened to the conversation and then remarked to the mom “I asked him those same questions a couple of weeks ago.  I’m a college counselor and I’m always interested in hearing what students have to say about different schools.” As I paid for my produce, I told the young man, “it’s great that you are representing your school” and he beamed with pride.

I share this story because it reflects one of the many ways I learn about different colleges – from a student perspective.  Conversations like these are not scripted or with student ambassadors on a formal college tour so often they represent a truer picture. Yes, it’s only one student’s response, but it opens up areas for further research or discussion. I’m always happy to hear students clearly articulate why a particular institution is a good fit for him/her specifically as this young man was able to do.

The beauty of working with students individually is that I get to build relationships with them over time. As we work together to build a college list, I press them on the things that really matter to them as part of their college experience. Sometimes they aren’t really sure or they only identify attributes that comprise the “outer layer” of the experience – name familiarity, geographic location, size, major. I challenge them to explore more deeply and consider attributes like collaborative environment, political climate, hands-on learning, disability support, test-optional, and more. One of the best tools I’ve found to use with my students is Corsava Card Sort (https://corsava.com/) which allows students to assess 100+ attributes and categorize them into 4 categories:  Must Have, Nice to Have, No Way, and Don’t Care.  These ratings are used to open dialogue about their categorization (which often leads to a few being moved around) and begin building a list of colleges based on those attributes for the student to explore.

The process comes full circle when I’m able to follow up with students, especially after their first year of college to get an update on their college experience.  I absolutely love these check-ins! After arriving on campus students may change majors, explore new interests via campus organizations, engage in local community activities, get a part-time job, or pursue a club sport.  The stories and experiences are endless! As I visit campus across the country, the joy I get from actually seeing former students in their new “homes” is absolutely priceless!  Staying in touch with students – and even parents – is a bonus for me because it provides me with a source of students who are able to speak to their experiences at a particular college much like the young man at the farmers’ market.

So what are the takeaways?  College students, “rep your school”, because you never know who’s paying attention and it’s always a great conversation starter.  High school students, if you’re curious or want to know more, just ask; be open to gathering a variety of data as you research schools, including current and former students.  Parents, just like your students, I encourage you to continue being inquisitive – and open to learning about new schools that may not have been on your radar previously.  Remember, the rock you turn over may reveal a brilliantly shining jewel.  The Journey Begins with You…!

Antoinette Battiste is an Independent Educational Consultant and 20+ year resident of Evergreen.   She is an active volunteer with many community organizations in Silicon Valley, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators (SCCABE), Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce, the African American Community Services Agency (AACSA), and the Northern California Association of Morehouse Parents (NCAMP).

 

THE COLLEGE ESSAY – A TIME TO EXPRESS YOURSELF

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Whether you are a parent, student, teacher, coach or neighbor, there’s a good chance that you know it’s college application season.  How can you tell?  Because it consumes the conversation at the dinner table, fills the air while in the car riding to school, becomes the distraction during class or on the field, and causes angst for the entire family of a college senior in the midst of the process. These students are no doubt pulling their hair out trying to respond to questions and prompts like:

  • What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give younger siblings or friends (assuming they would listen to you)?
  • Describe the world you come from and how you, as a product of it, might add to the diversity of this university.
  • What historical moment or event do you wish you could have witnessed?
  • Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

And two of my favorites:

  • Hashtag to describe yourself:
  • What is your theme song?

During the last 5 years or so, I’ve seen a tremendous uptick in the number of colleges to which students apply.  This has been made easier to do with the advent of the Common Application, the UC Application and recently, the Coalition Application.  Utilizing these platforms, students can complete one basic application, write one main essay of 650 words, and submit to multiple colleges and universities.  Sounds simple, right?  While it is more efficient than completing multiple, separate applications, there are still two important caveats.  First, some schools require additional essay questions, which could be more essays, short answer responses, lists, etc.  Second, although there is one main application, each school typically has a separate application fee. For example, the fee for each UC is $70 and $55 for CSUs; private colleges range from about $60 to $90 for Stanford’s application.

I often caution students that although the application process is streamlined, each application submitted will have its own admission decision rendered.  In other words, if you apply to all of the 9 UC campuses, you will be waiting for 9 separate admission decisions – even though there was only “one” application.  For the first time, I am working with several students who have 20+ schools on their college lists! I implore my students (and their parents!) to focus on having a quality list, that is balanced in terms of selectivity (reach, target, likely) in terms of the student’s academic, standardized testing and extracurricular profile.  Once the balanced list is developed, then the student can focus on enhancing his/her profile with thoughtfully written essays that provide the reader (admission officer) with an opportunity to learn more about the student, how s/he would fit at and contribute to the specific college community.

So the next time a high school senior comes to you seeking input or asking you to help them brainstorm for their college essays, consider passing along these reminders:

  • Follow directions and make sure to answer the prompt – all parts of it!
  • Don’t write to impress by using flowery, thesaurus-driven language
  • Do not procrastinate, as this type of essay writing is different and it’s an iterative process

Most importantly, I tell students: “Be your authentic self in your response.”  That really is the goal.  Good luck, and remember, The Journey Begins with You…

 

Antoinette Battiste is an Independent Educational Consultant and 20+ year resident of Evergreen.   She is an active volunteer with many community organizations in Silicon Valley, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators (SCCABE), Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce the African American Community Services Agency (AACSA), and the Northern California Association of Morehouse Parents (NCAMP).

IN HER OWN WORDS – REFLECTIONS ON MY FIRST YEAR OF COLLEGE

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Welcome to July! This month always means transition for me – winding down my work with recently graduated seniors, ramping up application and essay work with rising seniors and checking in with my freshmen and sophomore students.  But I always try to find time to re-connect with my former students who have just completed one or more years of college. Sharing their reflections about their college application process or experience of transitioning to college is fun and I hope informative for students embarking on the process.  This month features an interview with a former student, Kira Griffin, a sophomore at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.   Here’s what she shared about finding the right college fit and her first-year experience as a college student.

With so many colleges to choose from how did you build your list of prospective schools? I first built my list of colleges simply by doing research online and seeing which schools grabbed my interest. I had a few local schools and I had a lot of schools in Southern California. I’ve always had the idea that I wanted to attend school in Southern California so those universities were higher up on my priority list. I applied to a few schools that were very new to me (schools I hadn’t heard of), which I then later researched more.

Did you visit all of the schools to which you applied? During the spring break of my Junior year in High School, I went a college road trip with my best friend. We looked at five schools in Southern California and three schools in San Diego. I did not visit all of the schools that I applied to because some of those schools were safety schools. I didn’t see a point visiting schools that I wouldn’t want to go to if I had already gotten into schools higher up on my priority list.

How did the campus visits impact your final decision? After I got all of my results back regarding the schools I got into, I was able to narrow down my list to the ones I was really considering. I thought back to the campus visits and which campus I felt most at home at. As I was on the college tours, there were certain campuses where I literally couldn’t picture myself walking around as a student on that campus. When that was the case, I instantly knew that it wasn’t the school for me to attend. I believe campus visits are a ​very important part in the process of choosing your college. Loyola Marymount University’s campus instantly attracted me with all of the palm trees and modern looking buildings. Also, when visiting my final schools there were just some things that LMU had that others didn’t and I really took that into consideration. I just really believe that visiting and picturing yourself on the campus is very important because you could read about the school online, but you don’t truly know what it’s like to be on campus until you actually are there.

What made you consider out of state colleges? Was that scary/uncomfortable for you? To be completely honest, I wasn’t really interesting in applying to out-of-state schools. After having meetings with Ms. Antoinette, she really encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and apply to at least a couple of out of state colleges. I ended up applying to Arizona State and University of Nevada Reno, and was accepted to both schools.  Applying to schools that weren’t in California was scary for me because I never imagined myself going out of state for college. I was worried and anxious about how diverse those universities would be compared to California schools, because diversity is very important to me for my college experience.

What strategies helped you acclimate to college life? Joining different clubs and also attending a lot of school events definitely helped me become accustomed to college life.  Going to these things really got me involved in the campus activities and I was able to meet so many new people.

Did you declare a major when you arrived on campus?  If so, what was it? When I was applying to Loyola Marymount University I chose Business Marketing as my major. I chose this because it is really something that I am interested in and I believe that with my creativity and leadership skills, this field would be something that I can excel in.

What surprised you the most?  Something that has surprised me the most is how welcoming college is. I feel like in college people are able to do whatever they want without being judged, unlike high school where everything is like a competition between one another. The sense of community, specifically at LMU, really surprised me. When I came to visit LMU I was only here for a couple of hours so I couldn’t fully experience the people. Living on campus this past year showed me that everyone is so inclusive, no matter what, which makes me feel really supported.

In what ways did you feel the most (and least) prepared for your transition to college? Honestly, coming into college I felt like I was very prepared. My high school, Moreau Catholic High School (Hayward), is a college-prep school and I believe they did a good job on preparing the students. I also, have a cousin that is a year older than me who also attends Loyola Marymount University, so she was very helpful in telling me what to expect especially at LMU. I would say that coming into to college I wasn’t prepared for how much free time I would have. However, with that being said, managing your time is very important — Just knowing what you can and cannot handle in terms of putting too much on your plate, while also learning not to let the free time lead to you procrastinating.

What do you look forward to doing differently next academic year? Something that I look forward to doing differently my sophomore year is participating more in class. I’m the type of person that talks a lot, but I’d rather listen. These past two semesters I feel like I participated an average amount, but next year I want to get more out of my comfort zone and push myself.

What advice would you give recent high school grads who are transitioning to college this fall? I would tell them to really make the most of it. It sounds cheesy but I can’t even explain how fast this year has gone for me. It feels like yesterday I was filling out college applications. I just truly suggest to have fun and make lots of memories, but also don’t forget what you’re there for… your education. Another thing that I would advise upcoming college freshman is to go to their professors’ office hours. It may seem intimidating, but they are here to help you succeed. I can say that creating that bond with your professor for them to get to know you, can help you throughout the class

What advice would you give to rising high school seniors about the college application process? My biggest piece of advice is to be patient. It is a process that can feel so long and so tiring. Once you start to research different colleges, seeing their averages for test scores or GPA can be very daunting. I would just say don’t let that discourage you from applying to a school because honestly, you never know. Sometimes you may not have the best grades, but your extracurricular activities could make up for it. Finishing all of the college applications can be a very stressful process as well but working with Ms. Antoinette and her giving me deadlines to have certain applications due was very helpful in my experience. Regarding patience, after you submit all of your applications, you will be playing the waiting game. I actually think that this part of the application process is the worst because the mystery of not knowing what will happen can drive you crazy! You will start to see your friends getting acceptance letters which also makes it hard because you start to question where your letter is or why you haven’t gotten that email. Just be patient. It’s all a process (a long one), but in the end it will be worth it.

Antoinette Battiste is an Independent Educational Consultant and 20+ year resident of Evergreen.   She is an active volunteer with many community organizations in Silicon Valley, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators, Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce the African American Community Services Agency, and the Northern California Association of Morehouse Parents.

GRADUATION SEASON – CELEBRATIONS, REFLECTIONS AND TRANSITIONS

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Humans are the only creatures with the ability to dive deep in the sea, fly high in the sky, send instant messages around the globe, reflect on the past, assess the present and imagine the future. ~~ Sylvia Earle

June has arrived!  Many of you have recently attended one or more graduation or promotion ceremonies for your children, relatives, or friends.  This is a wonderful time of celebration, acknowledging the hard work put in to get to this very special day. By the time this article is published, I will have attended 3 graduations on the East Coast for family members – two from high school and one from college – as well as celebrated the middle school graduation of my grandson.  Every week I smile when I open another graduation/commencement announcement.  My summer travel will include more graduation celebrations and an opportunity to visit colleges in the cities where my family will gather.  Supporting, Nurturing and Celebrating the accomplishments of young people is my calling – it’s in my DNA!

Last week my family and I toured the Charles Widger School of Law at Villanova University, where my granddaughter will be attending in the Fall.  As we strolled along, I asked my daughter how it feels to have all three of her children in a state of transition – to high school, college and law school.  Her perspective as a psychologist and an educator was clear – you acknowledge the emotional turmoil that exists, get everyone to where they need to be, and keep moving to the respective finish lines.  She also mentioned the need to pause and reflect on the journey, with all of its twists and turns.

Transitions are inevitable, but reflections are intentional.  When was the last time you paused and thought about your path to your present? Did things go according to your plan? Are you happy where you are in your life?  What would a ‘do-over’ look like for you? With each accomplishment and milestone achieved, did you stop to pat yourself on the back?  My guess is that it’s been way too long since you gave yourself permission to celebrate and reflect.  And as parents, we are far better at managing the celebrations than we are at encouraging our children to pause, reflect and be “in the moment.”

I get excited when I am contacted by former students who reach out just to let me know how they are doing, especially during their freshman year of college. When I connect with the students, my check in consists of questions about what they feel they could have done differently (especially first semester of freshman year) and what they will do differently the next semester.  I also suggest that parents encourage their own children to do the same.  Even if the student never shares the information with anyone, the exercise provides them with an opportunity to really give a hard look at what they learned and how they wish to change the experience – and possibly results!

As we dive into the months of Summer, partaking in graduations and other educational-related celebrations, pause and take stock of the accomplishments and achievements being recognized.  Then use these celebratory events as springboards to plan the next milestone or goal along your educational journey.  Be intentional and honest with yourself – it’s how we grow and improve.  And remember, The Journey Begins with You…!

Antoinette Battiste is an Independent Educational Consultant and 20+ year resident of Evergreen.   She is an active volunteer with many community organizations in Silicon Valley, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators, Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce the African American Community Services Agency, and the Northern California Association of Morehouse Parents.

 

GRATITUDE – GIVING THANKS ALONG THE WAY

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Welcome to May!  For many this signals the last month or so of the school year.  Seniors have made their final college choice, summer plans for family vacations and enrichment programs are being solidified, testing is on the horizon – AP Exams, SAT, ACT, Placement exams.  It is definitely the home stretch on many levels.

As you near the proverbial finish line, crossing all “t’s” and dotting all “i’s”, here’s something to ponder:  When was the last time you took a moment to express gratitude to those who have helped you along the way? Remember the teachers who wrote letters of recommendation on your behalf in support of your college applications? The counselor who reached out to you with information about scholarships for which you were eligible? The coach who helped you identify schools with DIII sports after a “reality check” conversation about the likelihood of playing at the DI level in college? The camp director who tapped you to be a lead summer camp counselor?  These are people who believed in you and supported you along the path to your goals.

Gratitude – the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Expressions of gratitude and appreciation don’t have to be grandiose!  A short, handwritten note, a “thinking of you” card, an email or even a voicemail all work. Not sure what to say? Speak from the heart – there are no “perfect” words.  This is an opportunity to let the person know what’s new with you – progress in school/college, accomplishments in sports or music or the arts, internship experiences, travel adventures – lots of possibilities! You’d be surprised at how well these small actions will be received – and remembered. Yes, you can think of this as a form of networking, which we know is definitely a life skill!

As a counselor who’s worked with a wide variety of students of all ages, one of the greatest joys is reconnecting with former students. Visits and graduation announcements bring a special smile to my face.  There’s a special young lady whom I’ve known since her senior year of high school (2009), and I’ve had the pleasure of staying in touch with her through her undergraduate and graduate programs, and also during her 2 year assignment in the Peace Corps. Now that she has returned home, we are scheduled to meet and discuss her job search.  The mom of a former student sent me one of his cap and gown pictures, as he prepares for graduation from CSU Northridge this month. I chuckled as my eyes watered, knowing this young man’s journey – math was his nemesis, film is his passion – to receiving his degree in Communications and Film Studies.  I recently witnessed a friend beam with pride as one of her former students who is now a local police chief, recognized her and shared fond memories from having her as his 5th grade teacher. It never gets old….

The takeaway is really simple.  Recognize that none of us gets to where we are in life totally on our own.  With that in mind, take action to express your thankfulness for someone’s kindness. They made a choice to support you, now you have the opportunity to let them know it mattered.  Give it a try!  And remember, The Journey Begins with You…!

Antoinette Battiste is an Independent Educational Consultant and 20+ year resident of Evergreen.   She is an active volunteer with many community organizations in Silicon Valley, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators, Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce the African American Community Services Agency, and the Northern California Association of Morehouse Parents.

 

DECISION TIME – MAKING YOUR COLLEGE SELECTION

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Colleges and universities have identified those students who will comprise the Class of 2022 at their institutions. Admission decisions have been communicated via college portals, thick envelopes in the mail and by email. The ball is now in your court – it’s decision time!

Whether you were accepted to your top-choice college or denied admission by a “target” or “safety” school, there are some common things you need to do as you approach the proverbial finish line.  First, let’s address the elephant in the room.  Rejection hurts, even if it comes from a school that was not your first choice.  But remember that it’s not personal – it’s not that the admission officer didn’t like you.  And you are not alone; enrollment management practices at institutions feed the frenzy to be viewed as selective, resulting in admission rates in single digits or low teens. Don’t dwell on the “what-if’s” at this point, as you cannot go back in time to get better grades or test scores.

Celebrate the acceptances you received!  Focus on those schools who have chosen you to become a member of their community. If your college list was created well, you should be happy to attend any of the colleges to which you applied; this should have also helped you manage your expectations for admission decisions.  Assuming you received more than one offer of admission, your task now is to narrow down your list and commit to attend one of them prior to the universal student reply date of May 1, 2018.

Narrow your list of schools.  Strategies to do this might include: a simple pro/con chart for each school, or a review of each school to see how they fit key criteria you established early in the application process.  This is the time to ask deeper questions to help you figure out which college or academic program has what you are seeking. Consider which schools offer more assistance with job placement and internships. Which ones offer study abroad programs that enable you to still graduate in four years?

Attend events for admitted students – on campus or locally, and check out alumni-sponsored receptions in your area.  I strongly suggest that you visit the campuses of the top schools on your list – even if you visited before.  Now that you’ve been admitted, the lens through which you view a school as your potential “home” for the next four years is different than when you were “testing the waters” to determine if you wanted to add the school to your college list. Make sure you meet deadlines related to housing, special programs, disability support services, etc.

Evaluate the financial aid offers for each of the schools under consideration. Remember that all financial aid offers are not created equal!  Be certain that you understand your family’s out-of-pocket expenses to attend each of the schools, and beware of aid offers that do not include the total cost of attendance and those that include a significant amount of loans. The conversation and evaluation of finances should definitely be a family discussion.

If you are waitlisted, don’t despair, but do decide whether you still want to attend the school. If not, contact the admission office(s) and let them know you wish to be removed from the waitlist; this will create space for students who remain interested in attending the school. Be sure to understand what the next steps are to remain on the list and improve your chances of admission.  This might include sending updated GPA information or awards, submitting additional test results, or providing letters of support, etc.

Take your time to make a sound decision, but do adhere to the deadlines for notifying schools.  Accept only one offer, as it is unethical to “double-deposit”, and can result in admission offers being rescinded. Notify the colleges you choose not to attend, so that spots will be opened up for other students.

At the end of the day, after you have examined all of the “facts”, sometimes you just go with your gut.  Once you make the decision, and send in your deposit, “own” it!  Now it’s time to enjoy the rest of your senior year and start getting ready for your transition to college.  Good luck!

Antoinette Battiste is an Independent Educational Consultant and 20+ year resident of Evergreen.   She is an active volunteer with many community organizations in Silicon Valley, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators, Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce the African American Community Services Agency, and the Northern California Association of Morehouse Parents.

High School Seniors – It’s Time to get Busy!

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HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS – IT’S TIME TO GET BUSY!

by Antoinette Battiste

The summer before your senior year of high school is rapidly coming to a close.  You’ve spent the summer visiting colleges, working summer jobs, participating in summer enrichment programs and maybe – just maybe – thinking about the dreaded college application process.  And yes, some of you have started – and maybe completed – your personal statement for college applications.  Regardless of how you spent your summer, there’s more work to do!  Let’s chat!

The most important thing for seniors to do right now is to get organized.  You will be juggling lots of activities along with your academic work, so creating a system that will help to keep you on task in each of those arenas will be invaluable. It is helpful to create lists for several reasons – you identify what needs to be done and as you complete tasks, you have a visual record of your accomplishment and that always makes you feel better!

Next, it is very important for you to start the new school year with a strong work ethic.  Now is NOT the time to slack off in classes and let senioritis kick in.  Don’t believe the hype that senior year doesn’t matter.  Poor performance in the classroom can be a deal breaker for many students. Admission officers also frown upon students taking a very light course load during senior year.

So, what should you be doing related to the college application process?

  • Finalize your college list
  • Register and do test prep for the SAT and/or ACT and SAT subject tests
  • Secure teacher and counselor recommendations
  • Write and re-write your personal statement and supplemental essays
  • Have conversation with your parents about college affordability
  • Attend local college fairs
  • Contact the college admission representative responsible for your geographic area
  • Attend information sessions at your school and other locations in your local area

Parents you have a role in the process, too!  Recognize that this is a stressful period in your child’s life. Be supportive. Become familiar with the deadlines to which the student is working. Help them brainstorm about personal statement topics.  Assist without hovering.  Most importantly, ask your child how they would like for you to support them in the process.

Remember this process is a journey.  Students should own it, drive it and give yourself options for many paths to achieve your goals and dreams.  Good luck!

 www.antoinettebattiste.com