It’s never too early to start thinking about where you want to go to college. In fact, thinking about it early on can actually help you get into top colleges and competitive degrees simply because you will have more time to plan. From joining the right extra-circular activities to focusing more on the right subjects, there are many ways that you can improve your chances of being accepted into your top choices.
· Prioritize Degree over Infamy
It can be easy to focus only on the schools you know already. They are the biggest in the country, the most prolific, and definitely the most sought after. These are the Ivy-Leagues, the top-ranked, and the ones that feature in media around the world.
They are not, however, automatically the best option. They are great for networking, yes, but when it comes to providing top degrees (especially in new subjects), they are not automatically the best choice for you. When searching for options, try to find the best degree, not the best institution, so that you can get the most out of your education.
· Understand Where You Stand Now
You can use the admissions calculator at CampusReel to help you understand your likelihood of being accepted based on GPA and test scores for over 2000 colleges throughout the United States. If you are a senior hoping to make their application money and effort worth it, then choosing degrees from the schools you are most likely to be accepted to is a smart move (so long as the degree itself is worthwhile and the college is reputable.
If you are younger, then you can see where you stand as is. Figure out what GPA you would need and then get in touch with currently enrolled students if you can to see what extra-circulars they had when they applied. This way, you can direct your efforts towards your dream school.
· Learn Now
There is absolutely nothing stopping you from learning right now before you apply. Things like an online course certification can take you far and don’t even take that long to complete. Sign up for an after-school class that teaches you a hands-on skill that will be useful in your career, for example. All of these options will better help prepare you and look great on a college application and should be considered on top of more traditional avenues like internships, volunteer work, and after-school clubs.
· Get in Contact with Current Students and Alumni
Before you apply, it is worthwhile to see if you can get in touch with alumni or even current students to ask them more about the degree you are looking to apply to and what they did to get accepted. Some schools even organize these connections so that alumni can help attract more students to their institution. Take advantage of these programs to get a better sense of the degree and what you need in your application.
· Have a Contingency Plan
If you are not accepted, it is not the end of the world. You can go to a state college for a year and transfer your credits to your dream school later. You can take a year off to volunteer and beef up your application (which will also help with job hunting or internships later on). You have options, so have a contingency plan in place beforehand so you can stay positive and see your dreams through.