Summer is a time of relaxation for teens. A time to recover from the school year, hang out with friends, tan at the beach. It is also a perfect time to stay on top of the college preparation process.
Free from the pressure of classes and extra-curriculars, students can use the summer to complete essential steps in the college preparation and application process. This will free up time and relieve pressure (fewer meltdowns guaranteed!) when the school year rolls around.
The following maps out a summer-by-summer college preparation plan. Following this plan will greatly reduce the anxiety that comes from knowing that college applications are looming in the future but not quite knowing how to be prepared when that future arrives.
THE PLAN
Rising Sophomores
For many, the summer after 9th grade may seem too early to start the college preparation process. Students have just survived their first year of high school; college is certainly not foremost on their minds. Still a few simple steps—addressing academic concerns, pursuing personal interests, and taking an informal college visit—can set students on the right path for preparation success.
ADDRESS ACADEMIC CONERNS
Often 9th grade marks a shift in academic difficulty and responsibility for students. Teachers provide less explicit instruction, while requiring more work at a more sophisticated level. Many students, therefore, struggle for the first time. This can be very frustrating. It will become even more frustrating if the struggles continue and increase during 10th grade (when teachers and counselors start to trot out the “grades really count now” mantra).
Therefore, this is a perfect time to address any coursework that was confusing or frustrating. Working with a tutor, parent, sibling or even an older student, students can relearn confusing concepts and preview materials for the beginning of next year’s coursework. (Schools and teachers are usually more than happy to provide a list of concepts and texts students will be using in the fall.) This will allow students to enter 10th grade better prepared and more confident.
PURSUE A PERSONAL INTEREST
I always start college essay consultations by asking students what they want to write about. Often I am met with blank stares, so I then ask what interests or excites them. A few blank stares remain. So, to those who are still stuck, I ask what they do with their free time, what they do when school ends, how they spend their summers. Every so often, I’m still starting at silent face that has shifted from blank to concerned.
Students do not want to start inventing interests when junior year rolls around. Summers are a great time to try out jobs, intern, volunteer, work. I’ve had students who have been able to travel across the world and students who’ve had to scoop ice cream to make money. Both of these summer experiences have helped to shape these individuals, to push them to begin to understand themselves as people, not just as students.
This understanding is essential when students start to decide what they want out of college, and how to present themselves during the application process. Bottom line, students should DO SOMETHING this summer, preferably something they’ve chosen, something that has meaning for them. However, if that fails, something is much better than nothing.
TAKE AN INFORMAL COLLEGE VISIT
Informal is the key word here. If students sense college pressure this early on, spines will become more rigid. However, a simple stroll through a school or two during a larger trip or a weekend walk on a beautiful campus will help to put an image of “college” in the mind of the student. Even having one picture in mind can be hugely helpful when it comes time to make a list of college possibilities.
(A note of warning: summer college visits can be extremely helpful in getting a sense of campus and facilities. However, many colleges host outside programs during the summer, so this is not a good time to get a good sense of student bodies.)
Rising Juniors
This summer marks the calm before the storm. During junior year, class workload often shoots through the roof. Students will take the PSAT in the fall. Many will take the SAT in the winter or spring. College counselors will start asking questions about lists and scores. All of this can stress out an unprepared student. To avoid this, students should begin SAT prep and take a more focused college visit this summer.
START SAT PREPARATION
This is the perfect time to start to prepare for the SAT. The SAT is now broken into three main sections: Writing (with grammar exercises and an essay), Math, and Critical Reading. Preparing for one of these sections over the summer can greatly relieve the pressure during the school year. Students can work with private tutors, enroll in preparation classes, or simply buy a preparation book and get to work. Doing some of this preparation before the PSAT will also help families to see if the chosen preparation strategy is working.
Many families wait to see how students do on the PSAT before seeking preparation support. This can put students in a difficult position. PSAT results are not released until after Thanksgiving break. Most juniors choose to take SATs in either January or March to leave time for SAT Subject Tests in May and June. Starting preparation after receiving results can often rush the process, which can increase, rather than relieve student stress. Beginning preparation in the summer, however, often gives students the option of taking the test in January or March, depending on how the work is going. This leaves plenty of time for Subject Tests and potential retakes.
TAKE A FOCUSED COLLEGE VISIT
Visiting at least two colleges this summer will greatly help students get a sense of what type of campus suits them. Deciding which schools to visit can be tricky. If students have a list of schools of interest, start there. If not, variety is key. Visit a large state school and a small private school. Visit an urban campus and a rural campus. Wherever you go, bring a college visit notebook with you. Students should jot down general impressions, as well as positive and negative details from each college visit. This is a vital tool when deciding where to apply (without the notebook students often cannot remember which detail or feeling went with which school), and when filling out an application (mentioning specific details from a visit can greatly strengthen a “Why This School” statement).
Rising Seniors
Students and parents can never quite believe it. High school has flown by, and the final stages of preparation and decision-making are upon them. This is the summer students need to make sure everything is in place for the year to come. This is also the summer that students should finish as many college preparation steps as possible. Senior year will go quickly – the more students accomplish during the summer, the happier they will be. This summer, students should finalize testing plans, college lists, and personal statements. They should also try to squeeze in one or two more college visits.
FINALIZE TESTING PLANS
Students need to figure out if they need to take or retake any more entrance exams (think SAT, ACT, Subject Tests). Students should check application requirements at potential schools to make sure they’ve taken all they need. If students do need to take tests, they should figure out a schedule that will work (early application will obviously shorten the time frame), and make a preparation plan.
FINALIZE COLLEGE LISTS
Students do not want to be scrambling to discover new schools during senior year. They should take the time this summer to scan books, check out websites, and explore campuses. Students entering senior year with a list of 8 – 12 possible schools they actually like will have a much easier time working with counselors and completing applications.
WRITE THE PERSONAL STATEMENT
This is the single most helpful step students can take to relieve pressure during the academic year. All schools require a personal statement. Choosing, drafting, and refining this statement can be a challenging process. If students complete this process this summer, they will be much happier than classmates who scramble to write and send their personal statement and all supplemental essays (there will be many) days, or minutes, before applications are due.
If students are stuck for inspiration, or confused about format or tone, they can meet with a college prep counselor, or buy one of the many books filled with actual essays sent to actual colleges. These can be a great starting point.
VISIT SCHOOLS
I have met so many students over the years who apply to schools because of descriptions they’ve read in books, or general reputations they’ve heard from friends and family. Too often, students do not have a strong sense of the majority of the schools to which they apply. Clearly, this lack of knowledge can add to the anxiety of the application process.
While visiting all schools is most likely not a financial possibility for most families, visiting as many schools as possible can greatly help students to gather information, form opinions, and minimize uncertainty.
Rising College Students
Sleep late. Go to the beach. You’ve earned it.
Abigail Murtagh has taught English at The Chapin School, The School for Law and Justice, and The Math and Science Exploratory School. For the past nine years, she has also worked as a private tutor in New York, specializing in English, mathematics, and SAT preparation. Reach her at abigailmurtagh@gmail.com
