- Amanda Cantu 

Write your Apply Texas essays

Essay A: 

Tell us your story. What unique opportunities or challenges have you experienced throughout your high school career that have shaped who you are today?

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Essay B: 

Some students have an identity, an interest, or a talent that defines them in an essential way. If you are one of these students, then tell us about yourself.

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Essay C: 

You’ve got a ticket in your hand – Where will you go? What will you do? What will happen when you get there?

Narrow down your list of colleges that you intend on applying to

• Do you want to go to a big school or small school? Do you want to live in Texas or venture out of state? Do you prefer having small class sizes or big class sizes?

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• Take note of admissions criteria, deadlines, etc.

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• The earlier you start your search, the more best match options you will find.

Prepare for the SAT and ACT

• It is highly recommended that you take the SAT and/or ACT in the fall semester of your senior year

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• Visit the college adviser at your high school for assistance with registering

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• Some schools require a minimum score for acceptance

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• Get free SAT preparation at KahnAcademy.org/sat

Attend college representative visits

• College representatives are a great resource to gain valuable information about schools you are considering

• It is your job to ask them questions that are important to making your final decision

  • What is the student to teacher ratio in the classroom?

  • What academic resources are offered?

  • How many clubs and organizations are there?

• Take note of admissions criteria, deadlines, etc.

Visit the campuses that you are strongly considering

• Visiting a college campus can help you decide if the institution is the right one for you

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• Take a campus tour, visit with staff and students, but most importantly, ask questions

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• Try to visit more than one campus so you can compare your experiences

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• Take note of admissions criteria, deadlines, etc.​

Volunteer at school, church, or with local organizations

• Colleges want to see that you care about your community and are willing to make it a better place

• Examples of volunteering:

  • Helping at a hospital, pet shelter, library, or summer camp

  • Tutoring students through an official organization

  • Helping at church events

Become a leader in your extracurricular activities

• Being involved at your school shows that you are committed to something that you care about 

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• Leadership experience shows that you are a team player, can manage your time well, and care about diversifying your experiences

Consider participating in academic enrichment programs

• Academic preparation is a critical part of being college-ready

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• Some high schools have programs like Upward Bound which helps students prepare for college through tutoring and other enrichment events

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• Ask your college advisor if there are any programs on your campus

Take challenging classes in core academic subjects

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• Talk to your school counselor or teachers about Advanced Placement courses

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• Colleges want to see that you are interested in learning new things and will work hard to excel in the classroom

Update your resume

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• When applying to colleges and scholarships in your senior year, you will be asked to list all of your challenging classes, volunteer experiences, extracurricular activities, and enrichment programs

• Colleges want to see what you are passionate about and how hard you worked over your high school career

• Visit the 'Resume ' page under the 'Career Planning' tab for free templates

Narrow down your list of possible career options

• What subjects do you like? What makes you happy? What do you enjoy doing with your free time?

• Searching your career options will help you select a major later on

• Visit the 'Career Exploration' page under the 'Career Planning' tab for help with searching.

Analyze your financial aid award letter with a college adviser

• Once you are accepted into a college and have submitted your FAFSA, you will most likely receive a financial aid award letter showing how much federal, state, and institutional aid you received

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• Compare your aid to the cost of attendance to determine your next steps

Finalize your housing for next year

• If you are planning to live on campus, be sure to complete the housing application and any additional requirements by the deadlines given

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• You may need to search for a roommate, which will require you to start communicating with potential roommates

Start saving money for college

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• Saving money for important college necessities like books, food, dorms, and tuition can be very beneficial if you start early

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• Talk to a parent or guardian about opening a savings account

Register for New Student Orientation

• Most schools will have a New Student Orientation (NSO) for all incoming first-years

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• If you do not receive an email from your college regarding NSO, you may have to sign up on your own through the institution's website