The road to college starts earlier than you think. For many kids—especially those dreaming of top-ranked schools, competitive programs and scholarships— the process often begins before freshman year. Getting a handle on the college timeline early can remove stress. “Being proactive helps prevent last-minute scrambling and the feeling of ‘if I had only known’ and reduces anxiety by keeping students on track for their goals,” says Elaine Cataneo, an educational consultant based in Maplewood.
Although every child’s timeline is unique to them, all students should do as well as they can academically in the most rigorous classes they can handle. For extracurriculars, freshmen should try a few things and see what sticks, narrow their focus sophomore year to activities they’re passionate about and that align with college goals, and take on leadership roles their junior and senior years. And if they don’t? There’s no single path to college (or success outside of college, for that matter). There are lots of less competitive schools, fabulous community colleges, fantastic two-year programs leading to interesting careers, and other roads to be taken. And it all works out.
But, if your child is on a college-prep path, here’s what you should know to keep pace.
COLLEGE ADVISING
Connect with a professional advisor when and if it feels right for you. Some hire help as early as freshman or sophomore year but this comes with a much heftier price tag. “A college counselor provides expert guidance from the start, advising students on course selection, extracurricular activities, and standardized testing timelines, ensuring that students are happily engaged and thus on track,” says Cataneo, noting that the increasing demands on high school guidance counselors leave little time for the ever-changing needs of today’s college-bound students. Later on, advisors can help curate a school list tailored to your child and help manage essays and the complicated application process. (For some parents, this alone is worth the cost, which can run about $5,000 and up for a comprehensive package.) Find someone affiliated with Independent Education Consultants Association (IECA) or the New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling (NJACAC), or tap into your parent network for recommendations (they always know). If you’re late to the game, don’t worry—college counselors are skilled at meeting kids wherever they are in the process.
ACADEMICS
According to Cataneo, colleges like to see progression (i.e. four years of increasingly difficult language, or Art 1 through AP) and completion. For example, many colleges want to see Algebra through to Calculus on a transcript—even for non-STEM students—which requires getting on an advanced track in middle school or taking a math class over the summer. Generally speaking, if your child plans to take a slew of AP classes, you need to plot this out early in high school to make sure they are in the right courses and there’s room in their schedule each year.
COLLEGE VISITS
Summer is a good time to make the rounds. During the school year (such as when schools are closed during the NJEA Convention week in NJ) is even better to get a sense of what a college is like in session, so plan visits with this in mind. Tours can help your child figure out what they want in terms of size and setting, which can help narrow down their list. And while it may be impossible to tour every school on your child’s wish list, those at the top definitely deserve a visit no later than junior year. This is how some schools gauge demonstrated interest, and real interest can potentially boost the chance of admission.
STANDARDIZED TESTS
Plan to start studying at least 2-3 months before scheduled exams, and register as early as possible to secure a seat at a nearby location. Cataneo advises students to take the SAT or ACT as soon as they complete Algebra 2—this makes the summer before junior year (or even earlier) ideal to begin test prep for most kids. “Many students think they need Precalculus, and this is just not the case. In fact, the further they get from Algebra ll, the harder it becomes to recall topics like simple slope calculations or the few geometry topics on the test, making test prep more challenging.” This also allows plenty of time for retakes. As for the ACT and science, timing the test is not as clear cut. Basically, most kids will have two of the trifecta (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) done by early junior year, and according to Cataneo it’s the scientific ideas that matter more than sheer content. “The ability to work with science concepts should be there,” she says, even if they haven’t mastered every subject.
APPLYING TO COLLEGE
There’s lots to do. Students should start requesting teacher recommendations during their junior year, and follow up on stragglers after the summer. During the summer before senior year, students should be finalizing their list of schools, signing up for and filling out the Common Application; taking note of deadlines, especially for early decision and action; working on their many essays; and polishing up portfolios and any major-related supplemental materials. They should also get comfortable with the application process—for example, learning how the guidance office handles recommendations and transcript requests. Parents should start gathering tax information for FAFSA and CSS to submit for financial and scholarships. Come spring, when acceptances come in, students will need to accept, decline, or if waitlisted, prepare to express continued interest.
But that’s not all. Yes, the timeline is pretty crucial in college planning, says Jenna Shulman, a college consultant based in Florham Park. “But it’s also important to understand that every student is different, so the timeline is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ method. With the exception of undecided students, there’s a case to be made that every major requires extra planning, some majors more seriously than others,” she says. Which is why it’s extra important that students, especially ones with a focus, talk to admissions counselors to ask them what they are looking for when they are reviewing an application.
Here are some examples:
ART AND DESIGN
Many art schools and programs expect to see a prospective student’s work. It’s common for students to attend portfolio classes or hire art teachers to help students create pieces that showcase talent across multiple forms of media—which many will present at a National Portfolio Day Association event sophomore or junior year in order to have pieces evaluated. Every school wants a different number of pieces, so students need to check admissions requirements early.
PERFORMANCE
Theater majors will have to present their work through audition reels (it’s not uncommon to hire advisors junior year to help select and perfect monologues), and show interest performing, whether in school plays, attending theater programs, or working at a camp.
HEALTH SCIENCES
Along with a transcript stacked with advanced science classes (which requires deft planning), schools want to see expressed interest in their desired field, whether audiology or medicine or nursing. This may mean a pre-college program devoted to medical research, volunteering as an EMT, or getting a job at a doctor’s office, says Shulman. Many health science majors want to see shadowing hours (following a practitioner in the field), as do most accelerated health programs (BS/MD, accelerated PT and OT) which want the same, as well as high science grades, says Shulman.
ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
Top grades in advanced math are the minimum for acceptance into engineering and computer science programs, plus involvement in STEM-related clubs (like robotics), pre-college STEM programs, and real-world tech endeavors (such as teaching kids to code). It also doesn’t hurt to have an award, a patent, or a successful app under their belt. Arguably the most competitive major, it’s tricky to transfer into once already attending a school, so for many kids this is their only shot at this lucrative path.
COMMUNICATIONS
Even less “competitive” departments may want to see expressed interest for admission. A school focused on “fit to major” will want to see that a would-be communications major runs club social media pages, takes English classes at the highest level, participates in the school’s newspaper or television station, edits the literary journal, strings for a local publication, or even simply maintains a personal blog or thriving social media presence, says Shulman.
SPORTS & SCHOLARSHIPS
Although not a major, athletes hoping to earn a school scholarship or play at the college level will need to attend sports camps and showcases, and prepare and submit a 5-10 minute reel (sometimes professionally edited) to coaches at prospective schools.
Here’s one timeline you don’t need to worry about: Scholarships. “One hears so much about outside scholarships, but the best money almost always comes from the institution itself so keep your grades up,” says Cataneo.
—Jennifer Kantor is an education, parenting and lifestyle writer and a Maplewood mom of two.
