Class of 2011: do you have your college list ready?

If you are a rising high school senior of the Class 2011 I hope you have put together a college list. Optimally you have visited one or two colleges on the list, and you’ve planned visits for the summer and into fall. Most students will start senior year classes during August so a finalized list of colleges that you plan to apply to will help the application process flow smoothly. Your senior year is NOT the time to be researching schools! Your sophomore and junior year is best utilized for college research. (If you are a rising junior in high school, pay attention and start planning!)

Hopefully you have put thought and much consideration into your list. You have considered the academic and social environment you desire, the distance from home and location that is agreeable to you and your family, and you have the knowledge you need about cost, financial aid, and scholarships. It is also important that you have schools on your list that you believe you are very likely to get into, schools where you believe you have a possibility of being accepted, and a couple of schools that you consider to be “reaches” (reaches, not fantasies! If you have a C average do not apply to Yale!). Most people call these schools “safeties”, “good matches”, and “reaches”. I advise students to apply to 6 to 8 schools that they would love to go to, and that list should include 2 “reach” schools, 2 to 3 “safeties”, and the rest should be “good match” schools. Have you also considered applying Early Decision or Early Action? Do you know the difference? These possibilities and options, with due dates, should also be on your final list.

Getting your list and timeline finalized BEFORE senior year starts will give you an opportunity to relax and have fun during your senior year! Your resume should at least be in draft form, and have you looked at the essay prompts for your applications? My advice to you is plan your time, do a few college visits and campus tours, fill out those applications, and write those essays! The application process can be overwhelming, so plan in advance.