By: Alexis Whitney
Planning for college can be overwhelming, especially if put off until senior year; however, starting the process early can eliminate some of the stress that comes with college planning.
Sophomore year is a great time to begin thinking about college options. Creating a large list of schools, including the unfamiliar, is a good first step. Add four or five interesting characteristics about each school to create a database to choose from.
As a junior, revisit the list of schools created sophomore year. Dive deeper with research and explore specifics such as transportation, housing, class size, recreation and other important factors. Don’t only use the internet; gather information by visiting the college and talking to college representatives. After gathering more information about schools of interest, eliminate uninteresting choices. The list will become shorter as more research is conducted.
Approaching senior year, about five colleges should remain on the list. Begin applying to these schools the fall of senior year. If possible, it also may be helpful to start applying over the summer. Do not only apply to the first choice, always apply to the backup schools as well. Focus on filling out applications well before the deadlines, and soon acceptance letters will flood the mailbox!
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