Focus on Meaningful Activities and Track Your Involvement
Deepen your involvement in your extracurricular activities. This doesn’t mean that you have to stick with every activity you started or tried in 9th grade– so, if you tried swim team freshman year but didn’t like it, it’s okay to drop it!
Devote your time and energy to a couple of activities that are meaningful to you and that reflect your passions.
Admissions officers like to see sustained, consistent involvement and personal growth.
Create a running list of all your activities. Google Docs is great for this. Include everything you do outside school courses– clubs and organizations, volunteering/service, tutoring, babysitting, playing an instrument, working at a part-time job, etc.
Anytime you start a new activity or have a new accomplishment or leadership position, add it to your list. Include details that focus on your achievements, how your contribution made the club/org better, and why it was meaningful to you.
Admissions officers will be looking for those details to help them see how you will add positively to their campus.
For more tips designed specifically for early high schoolers, check out Opus College Prep’s guide for 9th and 10th graders.
Get Ready for Standardized Testing
Prepare for standardized testing. While many colleges are now test-optional– meaning that you can apply without SAT/ACT scores– some colleges do still require test scores. Plus, strong scores will always help your applications.
Take a practice test for both the SAT and ACT to see which test you like more/which one is better suited to you. Many students ultimately take both tests to maximize their options. Colleges don’t have a preference for which test (SAT or ACT) you take.
Create a test prep plan and schedule. Some students find group prep sessions helpful, while others do best with individual tutoring. Other students use online and print resources like Khan Academy and Princeton Review books. Whichever method you choose, take periodic practice tests to ensure that your scores are improving and that your prep is working for you!
Admissions officers will use your test scores as just one data point that supports the other pieces of your application (transcript, recommendation letter, essays, activities list, etc.).
We’d also love to support you in this process. Reach out and schedule a consultation with us to learn more about how we can help!
Contact Opus College Prep today to schedule a one-on-one consultation and start planning your future with expert guidance.
