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As an educational consultant, I work with many highschool seniors. Every year, I ask my former clients for advice to give my graduating highschool seniors. Time Management Students are in class much less in college than in highschool. Hindsight is 20/20. Therefore, they had lots to say.
Congratulations on completing the first semester of your junior year of highschool! Although there is no cookie-cutter approach, here are some suggestions to accelerate the college admissions process in the second semester of your junior year of highschool. Many test prep companies will provide free resources as well.
Admissions officers mark each individual factor (grades, test scores, essays, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, etc.) Certainly, it’s nice to be a great center fielder, to have led your Model UN team to a regional title, or to be the lead in your highschool musical.
Highschool is the perfect time to start thinking about your future. For most students, taking highschool seriously is driven by the goal of getting into Ivy League schools or other top universities in the country. Some experts even recommend that students begin as early as the 6th grade!
Here’s a comprehensive overview of key milestones and focus areas for each year of highschool, including senior year. 9th Grade: Building the Foundation Freshman year focuses on making a successful transition to highschool while laying groundwork for college preparation. Consider summer retakes if needed.
Academic achievement/Merit-based Academic or merit-based scholarships are awarded based on high academic achievement. These scholarships typically require excellent grades, hightest scores, and sometimes additional criteria like leadership, community service, or extracurricular involvement. How do you write a scholarship essay?
Highschool grades have been on a steady march upward throughout most of our lifetimes. According to the Higher Education Research Institute’s Freshman Survey in 2020, 68.10% of first-year students at 4-year universities had an A or A- average in highschool. Grade inflation is real. Try to listen if you can.
Cornell University is test-optional, but not for long. For Fall 2025 applicants, Cornell remains test-optional, giving students the choice to submit SAT or ACT scores. However, this policy will change for Fall 2026 admissions, when standardized test scores will once again be required.
Harvard takes a holistic approach to admissions, meaning they dont just focus on grades and test scores. Letters of recommendation Harvard requires three letters: two from teachers and one from your school counselor. Lets dive into the key aspects of building a successful Harvard application.
One of the big questions that might be swirling around in your head is: Is Duke test-optional? Dukes Test-Optional Policy Duke SAT Scores Duke ACT Scores Duke University Admission Requirements Frequently Asked Questions Takeaways Dukes Test-Optional Policy For the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, Duke University is test-optional.
Even with high GPA and test scores, your chances may be slim if you dont excel in other areas they value. Your academic history should reflect strong, consistent performance throughout highschool. Letters of recommendation. These letters should highlight your academic potential and personal qualities.
If you are still struggling in the class ask the teacher to write you a letter of recommendation. The letter should illustrate the steps you have taken to improve your grade (i.e. to send additional letters of recommendation to the college. tutoring, seeking help with questions outside of class, etc.).
THE RISE OF THE HIGHSCHOOL GPA Colleges can easily notice school-specific grade inflation by looking at the schools yearly college profile. Many schools provide the colleges with a breakdown of GPAs or a grade distribution chart, like the ones below. Colleges now expect high classroom performance.
Do students need letters of recommendation for Ivy League Schools? For high-achieving, ambitious highschool students, the college admissions process can be very stressful. However, letters of recommendation for Ivy League and top-tier schools are very important! In short, yes!
Do students need letters of recommendation for Ivy League Schools? For high-achieving, ambitious highschool students, the college admissions process can be very stressful. However, letters of recommendation for Ivy League and top-tier schools are very important! In short, yes!
Highschool juniors are at a pivotal stage in the college application process. Prepare for Standardized Tests If you plan to take the SAT or ACT, start preparing now. Plan to take the test at least twice this spring and summer to meet fall deadlines. From test prep to application submission deadlines, include everything.
Admission Requirements : Colleges specify the minimum number of highschool courses in each academic discipline they want to see their applicants have taken. Advanced Placement (AP) : College level courses for highschools students offered by the College Board that have specific curricula in a large number of subjects.
Below is an outline to help you understand the differences and learn how to create a highschool resume. What is the Purpose of a HighSchool Resume? A highschool resume serves as a vital tool for students to present their skills and experiences effectively.
Brown University is a dream school for many highschool students. But before that, the process was test-optional, which is probably why there were record-high application numbers and even lower acceptance rates. Rank in the top tenth of your highschool class and take challenging courses.
If it allows for other submissions, then you may also send other updates, including additional letters of recommendation. Six important steps to take if you are deferred: Read the deferral letter and note what you can or cant submit. Do not submit materials if the school does not allow them.
Back in May 2024, I shared my top strategies for getting into law school and how highschool students can start preparing early. Now, with law school application deadlines approaching in February and March, it’s time to dive into one of the most critical elements: crafting a compelling admissions essay.
This is especially true when it comes to letters of recommendation. It’s easy to get freaked out about which teachers to ask, if they’ll agree to write your letters, and how to guarantee that they won’t secretly write you a bad letter that will torpedo your chances of getting into college.
The deadlines, the essays, the test scores, the recommendations. If youre eyeing a state school, a private university, or something in between, understanding exactly what colleges are looking for is important. Before you start stressing over essays or test scores, lets get the basics straight. But at the core of it all?
UT AUSTIN: STANDARDIZED TESTING REQUIRED After four years of test-optional admissions for undergraduate admissions, the University of Texas at Austin will once again require standardized testing scores , beginning with applications for the Fall 2025 semester. Also, with an abundance of highschool GPAs surrounding 4.0,
The junior year of highschool is the most important year in preparing for college admissions. Although there is no cookie-cutter approach, here are some suggestions to kickstart the college admissions process entering your junior year of highschool. Many test prep companies will provide free resources as well.
This is especially true when it comes to letters of recommendation. It’s easy to get freaked out about which teachers to ask, if they’ll agree to write your letters, and how to guarantee that they won’t secretly write you a bad letter that will torpedo your chances of getting into college.
There are many moving parts to the college admissions process, yet most students and families don’t understand the integral role their highschool counselor plays. Highschool counselors can help students with the college admissions process in a number of ways.
To give you an idea, though, nearly 75% of admitted students graduated highschool with a 4.0 Harvard considers other parts of your application if your GPA is lower: The school values students who challenge themselves academically. Admissions officers also consider how your GPA fits within the context of your school.
Earn strong standardized test scores ( minimum SAT scores of 500 verbal and 500 math, or ACT scores of 21 English, 19 Social Studies, 24 Mathematics, and 24 Science). Start Early Begin planning as early as your sophomore year of highschool (if you’re past that, you can of course still apply—planning ahead just makes this relatively easier).
Is your SAT score or ACT score high enough to get into Yale? What about your highschool GPA? The admissions process at Ivy League schools seems hard to understand. How do schools like Yale choose who to accept? Raise your test scores? That means nearly straight As in every highschool class.
What Application Essays Do Ivy League Schools Look For? What Do Ivy League Schools Look for in Letters of Recommendation? After all, Ivy League schools are built on intellectual rigor. Strong test scores, leadership, or unique achievements can still keep you competitive. Academics always come first.
college or graduate school, and have a family income of less than $150,000 per year. The WTS Transportation YOU HighSchool Scholarship The WTS Transportation YOU HighSchool Scholarship is for $2,500. This is available to all female highschool seniors who reside in Oregon or Southwest Washington.
The Class of 2024 was the last class selected before MIT suspended its testing requirement for the first two years of the pandemic. The decrease in applications to MIT this year is likely due to a number of factors, including the reinstatement of the testing requirement, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and the rising cost of college.
The Class of 2024 was the last class selected before MIT suspended its testing requirement for the first two years of the pandemic. The decrease in applications to MIT this year is likely due to a number of factors, including the reinstatement of the testing requirement, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and the rising cost of college.
Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA) The Yale Summer Program in Astrophysics (YSPA) is a research and enrichment program hosted at Yale's Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium (LFOP) for 36 rising highschool seniors. Application Components: Highschool transcripts Letter of recommendation from two teachers.
Youre not cookie-cutteralthough, sometimes, in middle and highschool, it can feel that way. Many teenagers wonder about the next steps after highschool, and these thoughts often intensify as they progress from freshman to sophomore year, sophomore to junior year, and junior to senior year.
80 application fee Official copies of all highschool transcripts. Transcripts must include official grades from all years of secondary school. A school report and a letter of recommendation from a secondary school official. Optional standardized test scores. Start today!
million highschool juniors took the PSAT, but the National Merit Scholarship selected only 7,500 finalists. What exactly is the National Merit Scholarship, and how does a highschool student become a semifinalist or finalist? Students qualify for the National Merit program by achieving a high score on the PSAT.
Holistic admissions policies are very common nowadays, with colleges considering different factors, such as essays, extracurriculars, and test scores. These institutions recognize that not everyone does great academically, so they look at an applicant as a whole by asking for letters of recommendation and personal essays, among other things.
Considered These factors dont hold the same weight as the more important ones, but they still play a role in rounding out your application: Standardized test scores. Look for programs like the Research Science Institute or Cornells own Summer College for highschool students. Secure strong letters of recommendation.
After coaching hundreds of highschool students over the years, I finally had the chance to guide my oldest child through his college admissions journey, and I am thrilled for him to start college this fall at exactly where he wants to be. It took me too long to realize that, and his grades early in highschool suffered as a result.
RSI is one of the most sought-after summer programs for highschool students. Every summer, 100 of the brightest highschool students worldwide come together at MIT for an unforgettable experience. RSI is open to highschool juniors or international students in equivalent academic years.
The average GPA for students admitted to Ivy League schools is about 4.0, indicating that most applicants earn A’s in highschool. So if you’re targeting these competitive schools, put in the effort to maintain strong grades. You might’ve seen it pop up on a test or assignment and thought, “Is this good?
How to Get into Cornell Like other Ivy League schools , Cornell University uses a holistic review process that evaluates students based on various factors. This includes academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, personal qualities, and the context of your highschool and home environment. Build a good academic record.
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