College application prep is upon us! I know all of the juniors are starting the process this year, and some sophomores may be thinking about it already. Speaking from experience, college applications can be quite a stressful process. So, here’s a simple step by step on how to go about preparing for everything from application to graduation.
SCOIR
First of all, students need an account on SCOIR. Any student can make one using their school email. This site can also be accessed on their mobile app. It allows access to a surplus of information. There are many options to filter through regarding colleges, scholarships, surveys, and more. In addition, reference letters, counselor appointments, applications, and more, go through this site. It is incredibly important to have it, as it basically is college prep in itself.
Research
No matter what grade you’re in, it’s never too early to start looking at colleges and programs. It may feel far away, but this part is fairly easy, so make life easier for students in the future by getting an idea of what they want. There are many college fairs and college visits that happen at Cardozo—and, they’re free to attend. Students can also stop by the college office for information, too.
Sophomore and Junior year is the best time to get into research. Gilbert Fletcher Jr., a junior and the running back for the varsity football team, shared, “I’ve started looking at colleges. Penn State is my dream school but I’m focusing on a bunch of east coast schools too.”
Career
Not everyone knows what they want to do just yet. Looking at different options and weighing the pros and cons can help figure things out. Once students figure out a path they are interested in, they can seek out that program. Students may find colleges that specialize in a field or come across one that has a program that they find to be particularly intriguing.
Cardozo junior Ethan Urena shared that despite the overwhelming process of researching colleges, he’s found a few that are good for him. “Surface level things i’ve looked at [are] sports and academics,” he said.
Location
An important aspect for many students is the location of a school. Students should consider if they want to stay to study in state or out of state. Would they prefer going abroad? Do they already have their sights set on a certain college, area, or place? Think about what’s around these locations and imagine what it would be like to spend the next four years there. It can be intimidating at times, but it’s all towards what’s to come.
Budget
Another research topic many would have to look into is the living situation when attending college. Budgeting is important across the board for college prep. Living in a dorm is always an option for schools that are further away, as well as renting nearby whether it’s with roommates or solo. However, all of these situations come with a cost.
Students should look at tuition prices and consider if they can afford to go to school with room and board, or if it is financially better for them to go to a school where they can commute. Of course, students should always consider scholarships, as well. Unfortunately, college isn’t free for everyone, but there are many different ways to score money to help with tuition.
Counselor Meeting
All Cardozo juniors should set a meeting to meet with their guidance counselor once or twice during the year. This will enlighten them on the gritty part of college prep. They will have smooth communication with all parties through “SCOIR,” but sitting down in person can get confusion out of the way. Majority of colleges require a reference letter from students’ guidance counselor as well, so it is most definitely essential to build a relationship to make things easier as well.
Reference Letters
All students need two reference letters from teachers, primarily junior and senior teachers. These teachers need to have seen students in an academic manner. Students won’t be able to read whatever it is that they write about them, but they do get to choose who it comes from.
If a student happens to have a great relationship with teachers, it’s a good time to ask. In addition to the mandatory counselor letter mentioned earlier, students must ask these two teachers to participate. Remember, they are doing this out of their own time and personalize each letter for said student. If a student plan to go into law for example, it would be helpful to get a reference letter from their law teacher.
Bella Fideli, a Cardozo senior, is on her way to SUNY Delhi after she graduates in June. Getting her letters were easy, for her, because she knew who to ask. “I got my recommendation letters from Mr. Torem and Ms. Stumple. I feel like those two teachers know me best as a student and as a human being so I felt like those were good options for my letters,” she shared.
Refer to SCOIR for more information on how to request and submit these letters.
Testing
The SAT/ACT exams are also a vital component when it comes to taking action for college prep. After Covid, many universities waived having to submit your scores due to many not being able to take it, considering social distancing at the time. The exam has been optional but available in the past few years, however this year, they are bringing it back to being mandatory.
Prior to Covid, these scores were essential to college applications and they are now trying to reinstate the standards. Majority of colleges already have it back and many more are to follow for the remainder of the year. It would be helpful to sign up as soon as possible. Let it be known that students can also take this multiple times if they are not pleased with results and choose which scores to submit.
College Essay
Every student has to write a college essay. Writing the college essay is daunting, truly. However, the topic is pretty easy—it’s about you. Senior year English teachers usually help students write their college essay so that they are able to write and workshop it before sending it in.
Some prompts include: a big event that has affected you deeply, your background, how you grew up, your passion, a big accomplishment, an obstacle you’ve faced, a reflection, a time you questioned something serious, and more.
Early Application
If a student knows exactly where they want to go, early application is always an option. There is a deadline of course—October of 2024. The steps are overall the same just at a quicker pace. Talk to an advisor and family about the next steps if you are interested in early application.
Visiting and Applying
After doing all of this, students can start visiting and touring campuses that they are interested in. Now for actually applying, students must buy the applications from each college you want to apply to and the prices can vary. There are common apps for some schools like SUNY and CUNY.
After providing the needed information, students mail in their application whether it’s online or a physical copy. They will receive a letter of acceptance/rejection through mail in a letter or an email. SCOIR will also help here tremendously to keep track of all of the colleges students have applied to and whether or not the student has done all of their prep work.
While college application season can be chaotic and stressful, staying organized and keeping things together help a lot. Good luck to all the students applying!