<p>Hi I just finished my junior year and it's summer! However I'm a bit confused now because I don't really know how to prepare for the college admissions process. What should I be doing this summer? Thanks a million.</p>
<p>Start writing essays, read next year’s required books, prepare for SAT IIs if you haven’t taken them yet, find an internship/do a meaningful activity if you have time…these are just ideas :)</p>
<p>I’m also finishing junior year.</p>
<p>Hi injectmagic. You’re right to be thinking about this now, and cc2468 has given you good advice. The CommonApp won’t be live online until August 1, but here are some ways you can get started on your applications in the meantime:</p>
<p>1) Write the main essay. This essay is on a topic of your choice, target 500 words.
2) Write the Extracurricular Activity essay. Target 150 words. The topic can be anything you do outside of classes: an organized activity (sports team, student govt), a hobby (sewing, crossword puzzles), or any other passion (piano, a business you started). The length of this one is physically limited by the character count the Common App will allow (1000 characters, including spaces).
3) Start compiling the list of activities you want to include on the Common App. The information needed for each activity is grades participated, hours per week, and weeks per year. This info can take a while to figure out and compile, so I suggest starting early.
4) Fill out a paper version of the Common App for yourself as a draft. The application asks for all kinds of details (specifics about parents’ education, your test scores, courses, etc). You can’t create an online account until August 1, but filling out a paper copy allows you to have all that information at your fingertips at that time. You can print out a paper copy here: <a href=“https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/...tedPreview.pdf[/url]”>https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/...tedPreview.pdf</a></p>
<p>Good luck, and good for you for starting out early on this process - you will thank yourself in the fall!</p>
<p>In addition to application stuff, have meaningful discussion about what you can afford. If you have a list of schools do the financial calculators/FAFSA estimators and figure out where your family stands. Make up your list of schools with academic and financial safeties. Do your research about stats need for any possible merit aid. Possibly meet with guidance this summer. If you are applying to schools that a lot of kids in your area apply to, they should be familiar with what you might expect in terms of scholarschips, likelihood of admission. Also, look at admission pages of favorite schools. Often there are school specific essays/short answers along with common app and these are often stated on site.</p>
<p>For schools not on common app, look for this info on individual sites. Some schools have timeline checklist you can print out to keep on track. Good luck</p>
<p>Edited: Also, the beginning of school gets busy. If you haven’t already, consider contacting teachers, etc about doing letters of recommendation.</p>