I am a senior in high school.
How can I start preparing for college?
Follow these recommendations to guide you to college-ready success.
- 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?
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.
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?
-
Take note of admissions criteria, deadlines, etc.
-
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
-
Visit the college adviser at your high school for assistance with registering
-
Some schools require a minimum score for acceptance
-
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.
.png)
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
-
Take a campus tour, visit with staff and students, but most importantly, ask questions
-
Try to visit more than one campus so you can compare your experiences
-
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
-
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
-
Some high schools have programs like Upward Bound which helps students prepare for college through tutoring and other enrichment events
-
Ask your college advisor if there are any programs on your campus

Take challenging classes in core academic subjects
-
Talk to your school counselor or teachers about Advanced Placement courses
-
Colleges want to see that you are interested in learning new things and will work hard to excel in the classroom

Update your resume
-
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
-
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
-
You may need to search for a roommate, which will require you to start communicating with potential roommates

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