How Early Should You Start Planning for College?

Most of the "college buzz" starts midway through junior year and explodes when senior year begins. Yet, if you think about it, preparation for college begins much earlier--as soon as grades appear on your academic transcript and you start to develop a list of extracurricular activities. Here are some guidelines on what to do each step of the way to build a strong resume for college applications...

Landing in the college of your dreams takes time and effort.

9th GRADE:

-Continue to do the activities that interest you from before high school. Were you actively involved in music or competitive swimming? If you still love it, continue it! Silly as it might be, activities on your resume only count (for college application purposes) if you've continued them into your high school career.

-Try new things that span a host of interests. Get involved in school clubs and sports; look for organizations within your community; consider a part-time job; investigate volunteer opportunities in your area or through non-profits. The more you explore, the better chance you will have to hone in on the activities you love and build on them in the years ahead. College admissions officers highly value "sustained interest" in an activity and look for it on college applications. Think "quality over quantity."

-Meet with your 9th Grade dean or school guidance counselor as you plan your courses for 10th grade. Do you qualify for Honors in some subjects? If so, do you need to take a placement test to be admitted? In 9th Grade, you are setting the path for your academic journey. It makes sense to plan the direction in which you hope to head.

10th GRADE:

-Start sifting out the activities that are not worth the time that's put into them. For example, many sports fall into this category where the love or skill level of the sport won't outweigh the 12+ hour commitment per week that a school team may require.

-Consider taking on a leadership position in one or more of the activities that you are currently in. This might look like taking on a treasurer or secretary role in a school club, taking on larger projects at a volunteer organization or coaching younger athletes in a sport you love.

-Think about an interest of yours that you can expand by founding your own club or community organization. Perhaps you love singing. Consider starting a volunteer a cappella group in your community where you perform at senior centers? Do you love skateboarding in your spare time? Why not start and lead a skateboarding club at your high school? By taking the initiative by starting your own club/organization, you become the "founder" of that group, and you can even develop a website that you can share on your college applications one day.

-Plan with your 10th Grade dean and guidance counselor how you will map out your academic schedule in the years to come. Honors and AP classes are abundant in 11th Grade and expected if you are applying to highly selective colleges. Admissions officers also look for sustained participation in the major subjects over your high school career. Taking the "Big Three" in Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) is highly valued. The same goes for Mathematics (Geometry, Trigonometry, Calculus). Keep a well-balanced transcript in mind.

11th GRADE:

-This is when you should narrow down even further and deepen interests and increase leadership activities in which you are involved. This will look different for each person and each activity. For a cellist, that might mean auditioning for First Chair. Athletes might take on club participation outside of school when their sport is no longer in season. For a school club member, that might mean running for VP or President .

-Start considering favorite teachers for possible letters of recommendation. Most colleges require one or two letters from Senior Year, but they often permit one from Junior Year. Make sure you ask a teacher before the end of the school year if you can count on their recommendation, and then don't forget to follow up when you begin filling out the Common App during Senior Year.

-The second semester is the time to start getting all your ducks in a row! Schedule your first go at either the SAT or ACT after exploring which test may be best suited for your learning style and skills. If you have a diagnosed learning disability, apply early for possible accommodations on the test. The College Board and ACT Board must approve any requests for accommodations, and this process often takes months.

-Start the college visit process in the spring. Many students use Spring Break to take a whirlwind tour of colleges in a particular region with a parent. It is even more fun if you pair up with a close friend or two and their parents and make a vacation out of it. Block out some days in the summer when you can explore more colleges that might be spread out across the country. If you go on vacation with your family, think about colleges in that area that might be worth a visit.

-The late spring or early summer is the ideal time to start working with a college admissions counselor. This allows for plenty of time to give thought about ideas for your Common App Essay and start with early drafts. It is also crucial to plan your Senior Year coursework carefully so that you present as strong a, academic record as possible. Some students choose to bow out of subjects that give them some trouble or stress, but remember what admissions officers seek: evidence of sustained participation in the major subjects.

12th GRADE:

-Time to hunker down and get the job done! This is when it all comes together and the big decisions are made. Dialogue frequently with your school counselor, dean and private counselor about your college list, and make sure it is well-balanced with reaches, 50-50's and likely schools. It is a good idea to connect your school counselor with your private counselor so that they may work seamlessly together to help you with an action plan. They may take on different roles at this time (school counselor keeping abreast of letters of rec and transcript while private counselor focuses on essay revisions and time managing the Common App). It takes a village, right? Get everyone involved on the same wavelength.

-Time management is key during the first semester. There is so much to do--taking a last crack at the SAT/ACT, rounding up letters of rec, fine-tuning your essays, plowing through the Common App--all while trying to keep up your grades and enjoy time with your friends! It will get done; millions of high school seniors before you have done it. Take a breath and recognize that in order to make it through the application process, you need to plan nearly every hour outside of school.