As Junior year wraps up for the graduating high school class of 2023, students’ focus will shift from surviving their classes to submitting their college application and preparing everything they need for the process. Learn the best tips for rising seniors applying for college for their fall semester in 2023 and how to make the most of college essays and previous standardized tests.
#1 – Use the Summer to Prepare Your College Application
After a hectic Junior year, it would make sense for many students to want to relax and enjoy the summer, but to make sure students have the best chance of getting into their dream college, they should spend this time working on their college application. Specifically, during this time, students should:
- Take their final SAT or ACT
- Work on rough drafts for Common App essay
- Complete their extracurricular Capstone project
- Make college visits
#2 – Take Standardized Tests for a Competitive College Application
Piggybacking off some of the points made in the previous tip, many colleges have now gone test-optional, but that does not mean students should avoid taking standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT. The Washington Post mentions that more students are applying to Ivy Leagues than in past years due to the forced changes implemented during the pandemic. As a result, the acceptance rate among these schools is dropping. Students can give themselves a much better chance of getting in 2023 by taking the SAT or ACT. Preparing for standardized tests will also help students understand the amount of studying they must do in college.
#3 – Create a Well-Rounded Resume as a Part of Your College Application
A student’s resume is one primary component colleges consider when searching through applicants. Colleges want to accept well-rounded people who are also good students, so make sure there is a good blend of advanced placement classes, strong standardized test scores, volunteering, and extracurricular activities. In a future blog, we will go over how to create a foolproof resume, but for now, students should make sure they can put all these things on their resumes.
#4 – Research Your College List
Students should craft a list of colleges they will apply to based on majors of interest, among other criteria. Research thoughtful questions and find answers about offered majors, study abroad opportunities, and general campus life. Your list should include ten or more colleges, mixing in some reach schools and some schools which you meet all the admissions criteria.
#5 – Check Your Social Media Profiles
An understated part of being a well-rounded applicant is making sure one’s social media profiles reflect your college application. College admission officers can find public social media profiles by simply Googling their applicants’ names. Make sure not to post anything that could damage your reputation and instead show why you could be a great asset to the school you want to attend. While students can delete damaging photos, it’s better to avoid posting anything harmful to your reputation in the first place.
Conclusion
These five tips should help the class of 2023 begin the journey of applying to colleges. We hope that being prepared helps you prevent unnecessary stress. These tips also provide a rough timeline of what needs to be done by the end of the year. Stay on track, and reach out to the team at Curvebreakers if you need help completing your college application.
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