Roadmap to College: Avoiding Roadblocks and Hazards - How Can I Be Proactive?

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I should have studied more for the SAT/ACT exams.”

“I can’t believe I missed a financial aid deadline.”

“I wish my parents weren’t so involved in the application process.”

The college admissions process is a multifaceted and complex one, with many details and deadlines. To avoid hitting roadblocks and potential hazards along the way, the best way to prepare is to be proactive, plan ahead, and do extensive research. Being proactive means starting early and anticipating potential problems, so that you can deal with them before they strike.

If you truly want to be prepared, you can start preparing for college as early as ninth grade by following the steps discussed below: 

• Take challenging courses
• Involve yourself in a few activities in an area of passion or interest
• Attain consistent grades or have grades on an upward trend

How Can I Be Proactive

You can be proactive in the college search process by:

• Conducting an honest self-assessment 
• Being realistic about your finances and your chances of being admitted
• Doing research, research, and more research
• Engaging in extracurricular activities beginning in ninth grade
• Demonstrating interest in colleges and making your application stand out
• Being aware of deadlines and requirements
• Taking personal responsibility for your academic history, and following up during the application process

Self Assessment

Before embarking on a college search, you must take a step back and really think about who you are and where you’re going. You should assess your personality, your values, your needs, and your wants. If you can do this honestly, it will be easier to make a choice later on, as you will be able to determine if a college fits your needs, realizing that there is a “multi-fit” approach to choosing colleges.

Realistic Choices

Be realistic during your college quest, in terms of your chances of being admitted and the economic reality of your situation. Students should evaluating colleges and reviewed the economic aspects of college before making choices.

Do’s and don’ts for picking realistic college choices

• Don’t waste time applying to colleges truly out of your reach.
• Listen to your counselor.
• Look at the “Common Data Set” or Freshman Profile to see if you are in the range to be considered for admission.
• Have a conversation with your family in the early stages of your search to discuss how much your family can realistically afford.
• Have your parents use the FAFSA4caster to project college expenses.
• Don’t set yourself up for disappointment by applying to colleges out of reach for you academically or financially.

Research Your Choices Wisely

Conducting research during the application process increases your chances of finding an appropriate college where you will thrive academically and socially.

Here are some suggestions when researching colleges:

• Apply to a manageable number of schools in different ranges (highly likely/probable, likely/target, and not likely/reach schools).
• Each school on your list should be one where you can see yourself being happy academically and socially. Don’t apply to name-brand colleges just because other students are applying there; choose schools that are right for you.
• Become familiar with a college’s requirements for admission as well as what it offers and what requirements (including general education or core requirements) are needed to graduate.

TIP: Think “outside the box” when choosing colleges. Consider colleges in different geographical locations. You might be pleasantly surprised with these choices, so have an open mind in the initial research phase.