School's Out!

I hope everyone has a fabulous summer. I'm looking forward to possibly the busiest summer that I've ever had, but I'm excited for every minute!

Beyond the jump I've put together a list of tasks that rising Seniors should be thinking about in anticipation of the fall. Stay tuned to the blog over the summer. I'm going to be away at various points, but will continue to post when the spirit moves me. Don't forget to wear sunscreen!

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Rising Senior Task List:

1) Register for any Fall standardized tests. By this time, everyone should have already determined if they are better on the SAT or the ACT and should have at least one official exam under their belt. Register now for your 'retest' to see if you can improve your score. I know the SAT registration is already live, ACT I believe should be going live shortly. Seats go FAST, especially in Manhattan. Sign up now! (Remember, ElRo doesn't always offer every exam date, so plan ahead and find an alternate location near your home if you have to). Email me if you qualify for a fee waiver and need a code. Remember, your free score reports that you get with registration will expire, so if you know 4 schools that you know you'll apply to, go ahead and list them so your scores can be sent for free. Applying to CUNY? Use code 2950 to give all CUNY schools access without having to pay for the reports individually.

2) Prepare for said standardized tests. Most people have a hard time improving their test scores without practice. Don't expect a different result with the same ingredients. Do practice exams, drills, and maybe even a class if you are not happy with your score. We offer classes for both the ACT and SAT here at ElRo through Revolution Prep. Go to www.revolutionprep.com to register. Call 1-877-738-7737 if you need a scholarship to make the class affordable, they will provide you with the application.

3) Visit campuses. Do NOT wait until your senior year to see the schools in person. There isn't enough time for you to get to all of the schools and you'll be counted absent if you miss school. For an initial visit, the summer is a perfect time to go. I've already got 7 campus visits of my own on deck for the summer . . . Check the school websites for information on when tours and information sessions are offered and how to register. Always be sure to sign in once you get there (if that is an option) because some schools track 'demonstrated interest' so if you go on a tour or 'walk around' on your own without telling the admissions office you are there you won't get the added boost in your file of having been there.

4) Brainstorm your personal statement. You don't need to set an unrealistic goal and say that your personal statements have to be finished by the first day of school. That will stunt your essay's ability to grown and evolve. However, you SHOULD be getting drafts down on paper. You'll feel much better about your applications if the essay (the hardest part) is 90% complete before you even create your Common App account. There is no one way to write the perfect essay, but almost any school will let you use almost any topic so don't let the fact that your list isn't finalized stop you from getting started. Be honest. Share a small snapshot of yourself, not a regurgitation of your resume. If someone else could have written it, you aren't done writing yet. There are many resources online and many books published with tips and suggestions. Use those things if you need them, but the main goal is to make yourself three dimensional. It should be about 2 pages double spaced in 12 point font, give or take a paragraph. Longer than that, you've said too much. Shorter than that, you missed a chance to give a glimpse into who you are.

5) Update your list in Naviance. As you see schools and do research, keep a running list of schools you are thinking about. If you see a school and hate it, remove it from the list or indicate your interest level on your account. This will help you stay organized and will help me see what you are thinking. The list can only be edited by the student, sorry parents/guardians!

6) Consider Early Decision/Action. You don't need to know for certain where you are going to apply by Labor Day. But, if you have a feeling that you have a strong first choice and that you will be applying in an Early round, it is better to get that plan in motion over the summer so that you can hit the ground running. This means you may be a good candidate for an August senior meeting (I'll send everyone info about this over the summer) and it also means you should plan ahead by sending your scores to the school if required and looking to see the topics of the supplemental essays. Time management is the key to a stress free college process, so if you know ED/EA is in the cards plan ahead so you set deadlines for yourself well before the actual deadlines.

Things you don't need to worry about:

Letters of Recommendation. These will be confirmed with teachers once you return in the fall. If you hear from a teacher individually, obviously help them with whatever they ask for, but in general letters will be submitted in Sept-Dec by the teachers via Naviance and sent by me with the rest of your school documents.

Transcript Requests. I'll go over the process for requesting school documents with you in the fall. Thanks to Naviance, most items go electronically and can be processed within two weeks of your deadlines.

Seeing every single school you apply to. It is totally natural to still need to go on a handful of campus visits during the weekends in the Fall semester. If you can't avoid it, don't worry about it. You can also save a few visits for after you are admitted to the school, though this is not recommended to do this with frequency because you'll run out of time to see the schools.