Preparing for College as a Highschool Freshman

The high school freshman year sets precedence for your journey, which is why it’s important to be fully prepared.

Don’t think it’s too early to start thinking about college.

Admissions officers value a genuine and seasoned portfolio, and can tell a rushed application that doesn’t fully represent a student’s best abilities.

Creating your interests and passions over time convinces colleges that you at least know what you want.

In case you still don’t know, there’s no harm. Signs of long-term exploration convinces them you are motivated to find your passion.

Here are 5 ways you can prepare for college in the 9th grade

1. Choose Your Classes

The right classes shape your entire high school journey.

Try and focus on your past interests and areas you are curious about. We recommend proving to colleges you can do difficult courses.

So focus on taking honors classes on the subjects you love most and are best at to increase chances of high performance.

2. Focus on Keeping your Grades Up

We cannot emphasize the importance of a good transcript. It gets harder along the way, so maximize on getting good grades while the courses are still manageable.

That way it will be easier to keep your GPA up as you graduate high school. Remember it’s also easier to keep your grades up in junior and senior year once you establish that culture early enough.

Don’t worry too much about test scores because focusing on your current grades will set you up for high test scores.

So build your performance confidence early enough.

3. Pick Your Extracurricular Activities

A good resume needs to show an all-rounded student.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to build your extracurriculars portfolio. College admissions LOVE this part because it’s mostly a tie breaker among high-achieving applicants.

It’s never too early to pick a sport, volunteer, and join clubs.

Trust us on this one.

 You’ll thank yourself a few years later as you write your personal statements.

4. Start Learning the College Admissions Process

Surprises are not fun when your future depends on it.

Learn early enough exactly what you will need to prepare for the college application process. Early preparation makes you an organized student and will reflect on your applications.

Here’s a tip. Start brainstorming personal essay topics and develop them along the way as you request for feedback.

When the time comes, you will have a less difficult time customizing them to college prompts.

5. Involve you Parents in Your Education Journey

High school gets too hectic and it’s difficult for constant coordination between parents and their children.

Remember your parents, whether college educated or not, know a thing or two about what it takes to excel in the real world.

They are also responsible for your finances, and involving them helps you set realistic expectations about what colleges you have a sure bet of getting into.

If you cannot afford tuition fees, you know early enough where and how to search and prepare for scholarship applications.

Do you feel ready?

We hope you at least know where to start in the college application process.

If you are already past the 9th grade, it’s not too late to apply these tips as soon as possible.

The deal here is to be as prepared as possible for this next step of your life.