The September College Prep Checklist
September looks pretty different for every grade level when you consider how to prepare for your college application journey. Here are some guidelines and recommendations for each grade, and for seniors, an in-depth College Application Survival Guide is coming your way… September has quite a bit to do, so we will have an entire blog dedicated to you soon!
Freshmen
Sign up for a college fair. The point of a college fair isn’t to choose the university you are attending, but rather, to learn about different colleges and what they have to offer. You don’t know what you don’t know, and experiencing colleges and seeing the differences now can help you plan better and explore now. This is the time when you get to dream and see what might be available to you in the future. College fairs are available to sign up through your school or are open to the community. You can search for college fairs in your area or ask your school counselor.
Start saving samples of your work. If there is a paper or project you are proud of, drop that in a folder you save to reflect on later. That’s a helpful habit to build starting now.
Start brainstorming what you are interested in and ways to give back to your community. Do you love the sport you play? Consider volunteering at a local community center running after-school sports activities. Do you notice a need in your community and see a solution that can help those in your neighborhood? Start a club at your school to address the challenge. You don’t have to create something massive, but start thinking about what you care about and why.
Sophomores
Your job is to do the same as the Freshmen, but you also have one more task:
Take the PSAT a little more seriously this year. The PSAT is in October, and next year, the PSAT doubles as the NMSQT. Your school will likely offer the PSAT in October, and if you didn’t take it last year, try your best this year. It will help you identify which test to study for (SAT vs. ACT) and whether you should study intentionally in the Spring/Summer to prepare for the NMSQT.
Note: The NMSQT stands for the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. In your Junior year, the PSAT is used as a national qualifying test for this particular merit scholarship. Approximately 7,500 students earned the highest honors last year, and it is very difficult to achieve. Therefore, we recommend studying for it if the score is within reach to increase your chances of earning this scholarship.
Juniors
Meet with your school counselor. Hopefully, you’ve met your school counselor at some point during your freshman and sophomore years, and so this will be a reconnection as you prepare for applications next year. However, if you haven’t met them yet, please do so now. They have your transcripts, information about universities, and recommendations regarding local ways to get involved. In this meeting, the focus can vary depending on your goals: You can discuss your plan for the SAT/ACT, how to study if you need support, recommendations for colleges/universities to visit during your Junior year, and recommendations on how to get involved with your community.
Prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT. This year is when the PSAT counts as the NMSQT, which is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. If you are interested in working towards qualification, create a study regimen and study consistently (e.g., ~30 minutes/day) for this test.
Update your resume. In the second semester of your Sophomore year, we recommend you build out your resume. A template can be found here to update or fill out now.
Register for an SAT or ACT. Testing this semester will help you determine which test is best for you if you haven’t already. Once you’ve identified that test, take it once to learn how you need to practice and map your goals to prepare for application season your Senior year.
Seniors
Meet with your school counselor. There are many moving parts this semester. Meet with your school counselor to go over the specific requirements your high school has regarding the application process (e.g., connecting Xello or SCOIR to your Common App account).
Follow up with teacher recommendation letters. If you asked in August, feel free to check in about your teacher recommendation letters kindly and respectfully. If you have not asked yet, that’s a priority this month. Teachers write a lot in this season, and if you have a great teacher, they are most likely being asked by many students. Do your best to ask now in person and follow up with a formal request through the portal of your school’s choosing.
Save all your records. Make sure you know which test scores you intend to submit, application portal passwords, etc. There is a lot to keep track of.
Keep track of your college applications. Again, there are many steps in the college application process, including writing your essay, writing supplementals, preparing your resume, and submitting the SPARK and/or STARS. Since there are many deadlines for each university, we created this tool to help you organize your applications and deadlines a bit more easily.
Finish editing your essay. Once you’ve written your main essay (typically answering one of the prompts from the Common App), have a teacher or school counselor read it. The essay is the portion of the application that allows the admissions team to see you as an individual beyond your accomplishments on your resume or transcript.
Take the SAT or ACT in September if you’re hoping to improve your score. Even though you can submit scores after you’ve applied, you want to try to improve your score as much as you can before you have to focus on applying.
If you haven’t yet, create your Common App account. This portal is where most of your college applications are submitted. If you haven’t created one yet, we highly recommend you do so and become familiar with the platform. However, the focus for this month is finishing your essay.
If you are looking at this list and feel a little overwhelmed, I hope we at least helped you determine the best next step for you or your student. If you have any questions about this process or how to navigate the testing experience or college application season, we’d love to chat and determine the best steps for you and your family. We offer free consultations and would love to connect!
