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College Advice

Need college advice? We're all going through the same strenuous feelings about college. Let me share with you my experience and knowledge about the subject.

First of all, I must admit that I have a stronger knowledge of schools in California because I live in California, but I still however, understand a great deal of this process. I also believe that advice from a 17 year old girl who is going through this process and has researched her stuff is a little less intimidating than a scary college admissions director ;)

Where to start is always the hard part. These tips can help people at ANY stage in this process. Of course, it is better to start building your college resume early, it is never too late to start. I broke down my advice section by section so it can be at your leisure to choose which category fits you best.
Grades, Grades Grades!
I want to address the myth that perfect grades get you into ANY school. But of course, first and for most, you should try your best to keep your grades above averege. However MANY people get lost in the misconception that having a standout GPA will get you into ANY college you apply to. REALITY CHECK: this is not the case. Grades definitely play a very strong role in the admissions process but there are PLENTY of teens around the country with strong GPAs.
Extra Ciriculars: Quality over Quantity
Extra activites you participate in definitely make you stand out. I would suggest choosing 2, 3 or even 4 activites that you feel passionate about and run with them. Try and participate for 2-3 consecutive years. Colleges want to see commitment and dedication. They want to see that you can stick to something and they also want to see the impact that certain activity has on you.
  • What are some good extra ciricular activites?
    -Babysitting.
    -Holding a job.
    -Any sports you play.
    -Band.
    -Dance.
    -Web design.
    -Clubs.
    -Getting involved in your church.

  • Are community service and extra ciricular activities the same?
    No, but you basically want both! What is the difference? Extra ciriculars you can get paid for. For something to count as community service, you do not get paid. (Ex. having a job would be an extra ciricular and not community service because you get paid for what you do.)

    Some ideas for community service include:
    -Volunteering at a local elementary school.
    -Volunteering at a hospital.
    -Volunteering for any private organizations (ex. Cancer walks, etc.)
    -Free tutoring
    -Helping your parents at work.


    • Remember: These are basic, typical suggestions. There are plenty of other activities you can participate in! Just make sure you have both extra ciriculars and community service; they help a lot. They also can help you when you apply for scholarships as well.
    Scholarships
    Scholarships are EVERYWHERE! Many people use sites such as Scholarships.com to recieve news about scholarships to apply for which has its benefits, sometimes. There are thousands of people that apply for those scholarships through sites like that which lessens your chances to recieve that particular scholarship. I would suggest looking for scholarships located in your area! These are the most hidden, but once you find them they can sometimes pay big and continuously. Keep a look out for scholarships as much as you can! Through my research I also found that most scholarships are designed for high school seniors, so do not get let down if you fall into the same problem. Focus your first years in high school on grades and extra activities; the tests, essays, and scholarships will come soon enough!
    SAT vs. ACT
    Most college accepts either or, but I have heard on the east coast that the ACT is generally more popular. For the UC system in California colleges accept either or and take the highest score. A conversion chart and detailed differences between the tests can be found here.

  • What should I aim for?
    This all depends on what school you are pursuing but of course, I would suggest to try and get as high a score as possible. Average is about 1500-1690 for the SAT which converts to about a 21-25 on the ACT so I would suggest to aim for that or higher.


    • These tests are long ranging from about 3 and a half hours to 4 hours. I would definitely suggest taking the PSAT and the PLAN. Both give you a taste of what the real tests are like. I would suggest taking these your sophomore year and beginning of junior year.

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