Taking college exams early can help you get into a better college when you apply. Colleges like to see that students who apply have initiative, and the necessary drive to succeed at their university, before they accept them. You can take your college exams, and several of your college classes while you are in high school. Try to fit them in on the weekends, or even during the summer time. When the college looks at your application they will see that you've already done many of the required courses necessary for the program of studies you want to enroll in and will be very impressed with you!
Start earning as many college credits as you can while you are in high school. Most people who are out of high school can look back on it and tell you that a whole lot of their time was wasted. Don't be one of these people. If you are blessed enough to know what you want to do with your life already, then attempt to take college classes and exams that have to do with that field of study, specifically. Not only does it look good on your college application, it will give you a great feel for the field of study, and help you know for sure whether or not it would be something you are interested in doing with your life down the road.
Ask your guidance counselor for more information. This point cannot be stressed enough. Their job is to help you make decisions. Many high school students have the misconception that guidance counselors are only for people going through hard times, or having family issues at home. But remember, they are "guidance" counselors. So ask them about how you can go about getting in on college prep classes, PSAT examinations, and other helpful courses to get a jump start. You may also check in the school library. If you can't find a reference, ask the librarians themselves. These folks are in their positions to help you, and if you ask questions like these you'll most likely be very surprised with the amount of help you will get.
Make your work load easier down the road by getting it done now. Another benefit of taking your college exams early, (besides getting into a better college), is that you will be lightening the work load for the future. Imagine arriving on the scene your freshman year of college with three less classes to take than everyone else in your freshman class does! That time can be spent taking other electives you are interested in before deciding what to major in.
So when choosing which college exams to take now, factor in the ones you know you'll have to take as general ed. Classes like science, mathematics, English, history, and the like would all be good choices when considering which ones to sign up for. Don't limit your pre college preparation to PSAT's and SAT's. Take some of the actual courses, and you'll go very far when the time comes to apply!
1. Don't even think about making a final college choice without visiting at least your top two choices...more if possible. Visits are the only reliable way to learn about the campus environments of the colleges you are considering and how good a "fit" you might be. And bring your parents along if you can...you might find their impressions helpful.
2. There are no exceptions to rule #1.
3. A college is not necessarily right for you because its name is familiar. That seems pretty obvious, but you wouldn't believe how many students equate educational quality with name recognition.
4. Take the time to identify and check out three or more colleges unfamiliar to you which would seem likely to admit you, offer the major(s) in which you are interested, and are located in areas in which you would like to spend four years. With any luck, you'll discover some great new options.
5. There are very few worse reasons to select a college than because your friends are going there. Choosing a college because your girlfriend or boyfriend is headed there is one them. In fact, if there is a worse reason to choose a college, it escapes me.
6. You are sure to hear people make generalizations about colleges. Many are baseless. Be careful not to be unduly influenced by people who say a college is a "good school", a "party school", a "jock school", etc. Investigate and judge for yourself.
7. Do not rule out colleges early because of cost. Many colleges offer scholarships, financial aid, and tuition installment plans that make them far more affordable than they may first appear. You can't/won't know how much it will cost to attend a college until the very end of the process.
8. Write down and adhere to all deadlines. Write down and adhere to all deadlines. Does saying it twice illustrate how important it is? I hope so.
9. Don't be afraid to apply to a few "reach schools"you might be pleasantly surprised by the results if you are not entirely unrealistic. Apply to at least three colleges you like which are likely to admit you. Remember, choose these three colleges very carefully as they are the places you are mostly likely to wind up at. And, choose at least two "safety" collegescolleges to which you are virtually certain you will be admitted. Choosing "safety" schools they don't really like is a mistake many students maketake the time to choose safety schools you would be happy to attend.
10. When it is time to make your final choice, discuss your options with your family, your counselor (if you have one), and others who know you well and whose judgement you value. If you have a tough time choosing among two or more colleges or universities it is probably because you have done a good job putting together your list and you will be happy at whichever institution you choose. Just make your choice and don't agonize over itsome of the best years of your life are ready to begin.
Both Terry Fitzroy & Daniel Kane are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Terry Fitzroy has sinced written about articles on various topics from Tax Software, Pets and Cars. Terry Fitzroy is a professional writer specializing in and