<p>I am currently looking in depth into the application process as all of my senior friends are getting news from early decisions and whatnot.</p>
<p>I am seeking advice from anyone (other juniors, seniors, current college freshmen, etc!) about applications. I am a top tier student (3.98 unweighted, 4.7 weighted GPA) that is an IB diploma candidate this year (last years test scores- 6 in math SL, 6 in bio SL). I volunteer, am a 7-year premier soccer player, and am ranked 4th in my class out of 256. </p>
<p>What can i do to get the edge on the apps process?</p>
<p>If you're a senior, what did you put into your apps that made you stand out?</p>
<p>What are your stats and where have you applied to/been accepted to?</p>
<p>If you really want an edge, find a school that you want to attend that can also use you as a soccer player. If you can find a D3 school that is interested, like the NESCAC schools, you’re in. Using your athletic hook plus your academics is way more powerful than just academics alone.</p>
<p>If you want to get an edge the best thing you can do now is educate yourself about the whole process. Get a book or two about college admissions so you understand it. Financial aid, how to find colleges that are a fit, how to write essays, what to do on a college visit. This and more are covered in any good book. One book I recommend is “Admission Matters”. There are other good ones as well.</p>
<p>This summer will have many leadership and internship opportunities as a junior you can apply for. If you have some favorite colleges look at what they offer in the summer. This is a great way to get to know the school and for them to get acquainted with you. Get all your awards and community service hours compiled so it will be easiest when you start to fill out applications. Do all your visits during your junior year. Go into August with some applications already completed. Senior year is very stressful so get ahead of the game. Since you play a sport I would try to have as many apps done prior to the start of your senior year. My d had three acceptances by September which was a confidence builder and a relief. If she hadn’t I’m sure the December 1 deadline would have been so much more hectic. She is only waiting on hearing from one more school where she has friends who are hoping to finish their apps over Christmas break and they are totally stressed now with finals, the holidays and those apps weighing on them. Some have even slipped in their grades from all the deadlines. Write essays during the summer if possible—get ahead in the paperwork. Think about who could write letters of recommendation. My daughter requested three in may and had those for the apps she sent in last August. Last summer my d did girls state, a leadership camp and two job shadowing opportunities. She also did over 65 hours of community service as well as helping to plan homecoming events. All of his went on her applications. There are several scholarships for juniors (Nordstrom has one soon) that you can apply for which many juniors haven’t even thought about yet. You are smart to plan this out. Good luck!</p>
<p>Do you think a school like Johns Hopkins would be good for the student-athlete edge? I am really interested in going there (did a visit this summer) and they have D-3 athletics.</p>
<p>Contact the coach. As a junior, now is a good time to start that process. Johns Hopkins can be a little competitive to get in, but it’s not a bad place to start. If you’re flexible, there are lots of schools just like it that provide just as good, if not better education, and who would love to have you as a soccer player.</p>
<p>Anything in NESCAC is probably a good place to start. Add in Haverford, plus WashU if you want a national university over a LAC. See if you can find any of their games online and see if you can evaluate how good they are vs. you. Be honest, and see if you think your game rates. That gives you quite a few teams and top flight academic programs to look at and contact if you see a match. And then work from there.</p>