<p>I'm going to be a sophomore in the 2013 - 2014 school year. And i was wondering if anyone thinks it's time I chose a college and start preparing for it. Some say that I'm too early to start getting ready for college. My plans right now include taking the SAT Bio E/M exam at the end of tenth grade (I'm taking Bio in tenth grade) and taking the AP Chem exam (Self study, did not take regular chem). Any advice?</p>
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<p>I think you have it backwards - You will eventually find a college that is right for you, you shouldn’t shape yourself to please a college. You should probably make the best of your high school years, figuring out what you’re good at and are interested in. Don’t live for tomorrow too much, or else it may never stop.</p>
<p>I agree with snarlatron, you should just relax now for sophomore year and start thinking about colleges near the end of your junior year. Most people do that anyway.</p>
<p>I started looking around as a sophomore. Its never too early but right now your main focus should be on excelling in school.</p>
<p>It’s never too early to start looking at schools that you could potentially be interested in, but you shouldn’t be shaping your high school career around getting into “school x” at this point. Just focus on doing the best you can in high school. Take AP’s if you can, participate in EC’s that you find interesting, and try to do as well as you can on the ACT/SAT.</p>
<p>My advice is to focus on high school. Don’t spend your entire high school career focused on college. Join some clubs and sign up for some classes because you are interested and think they’d be fun, not to fit into a school. Starting to look at some may not be a bad idea, but just to dip your foot in the waters. Don’t get set on anything just yet.</p>
<p>Honestly I wouldn’t take the SAT until you’re at least a junior. Shoot, most of the people I know got their highest score when they took it as a senior. </p>
<p>Its never too early to think about what you want in a school though. But until you get those scores back and get a better idea of what your GPA will be heading into applications, all you can really do is get an idea of the qualities you’d like your school to have</p>
<p>Yes, it is best to take the SAT subject exams at the end of the year in which you take the class in that subject so that the material is fresh in your mind.</p>
<p>No, it is probably not worth the money to take an AP exam for Chemistry if you haven’t taken any Chemistry classes at all. </p>
<p>Yes, it is important to keep your GPA up because that is what will give you the best options when it is time to actually apply to college.</p>
<p>Unmentioned so far: Sit down with your parents and ask them how much they are ready, willing, and able to pay for your education each year (and for how many years). The sooner you and your parents can get on the same page about the money issue, the better. For ideas along that line, spend some time in the Financial Aid Forum.</p>