Where to begin? ORGANIZE!
- Apr 4, 2018
- 3 min read
One of the best tips I give my current (and past) students is to ORGANIZE! It is amazing how much getting in the habit of being organized will help with the application process and success in college.
1. Schedule.
One of the most important (and most overlooked) aspects of college application is timing.
Buy a planner. Download the same scheduling app across all devices. Develop a system for yourself to help you track what is due when and keep up with important dates. I'm personally a fan of Blue Sky brand. They have many different types to choose from but, the ones with different class periods seem to help my students out the most.
It isn't enough to buy these things, you have to use them, too. Get into the habit of entering in your class assignments and your doctor's appointments. Once you create the habit of recording everything, it will be second nature to put deadlines for college information in.
I'm also a big fan of color coding. I use colored sticky notes, highlighters, and labels. This helps me keep information organized even if I can't file it away right then. Which leads me to my next point.....
2. File. It. All.
Start a filing system that is easy to follow. You will have a lot of paperwork and information to keep up with. I have a couple of binders and some plastic sleeves I keep things in. Collegevine.com has some great tips on staying organized in this process. I've combined some of their tips with some of my own below:
Use one binder for College Applications: Have enough dividers or sleeves for at least 15 schools. You may not use them all or you may need more. It's better to be prepared!
Create a section or other binder for finances: You will have a lot of financial aid paperwork and letters from each school. Have a section for school finances and one for scholarships. I would even go so far as to divide those sections by interested, applied, accepted, and (unfortunately) denied. Keep track of the dates you've submitted information.
Finally, keep a binder, folder, or section for your standardized test scores. We'll touch on this a bit more in later post but, the ACT and SAT are your first keys to college.
Again, color code like your life depended on it. I make a system and tape the guide inside of each binder.
3. Utilize your group!
The school you or your students are in usually have some sort of counselor in place. UTILIZE THEM! Make an appointment to meet with this person early in your search. See if they have any advice to add to the information I've listed above.
Speak with teachers, counselors, coaches, and anyone else that went to college. See what advice they can give.
Ask what they liked the most about their college and what they didn't like.
See if any recently graduated students would be willing to talk about it.
This is called networking. It is a skill that will come in handy again and again at college fairs, career fairs, or college visits. This is a vital skill for getting into the college of your choice and finding a job in your chosen field afterwards.
I highly recommend starting this preparation while you are on winter break during the Junior year. Many colleges offer summer programs for juniors going into their senior year and the application process for those start (and end) during the first half of the spring semester.
Thank you!
ApptoCap
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