Labor Day is almost here, and in many ways it’s similar to New Years Day. It’s the start of a new year -- not the calendar year, but the academic year. For students, it’s the perfect time to make mental (or paper) checklists to be sure that they’re on track to meet all of their future goals.
Students should carefully consider their schedule for the new school year, to be sure that the courses they will be taking – whether online or in person -- will allow them to complete all of the courses they want to have under their belt by graduation day. For example, students with dreams of attending a top college to major in engineering should be sure to get through calculus while in high school. If they’re not on track to do so, perhaps they should double up on math this year.
Students who recognize that demonstrated leadership is an important quality to college admission officers may want to join a club or organization, of which they are particularly passionate, early in their high school years. Through dedicated involvement as freshmen and sophomores, the opportunity for leadership roles will be great in junior and senior years.
Students aiming to earn a college athletic or music scholarship in the future should choose their area of specialty quite carefully. According to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the odds of getting an athletic scholarship for men is greatest in gymnastics, fencing and ice hockey. For woman, the odds are reportedly greatest in rowing, equestrian and rugby. As for budding musicians, recommended instruments that have the best odds of leading to college scholarships include the harp, tuba, oboe, bassoon and cello.
Students should also schedule, well in advance, when they plan to take their SAT exam. The fact that several testing dates were cancelled this year demonstrates that things don’t always go as planned. So students should prepare, and plan to start testing, early in their high school years. Then if some testing dates get cancelled, they will still have time get the scores they are aiming for well before the start of senior year.
Just like New Years Day, the start of the academic year gives students limitless opportunities to make checklists and resolutions that will serve them well when the time to file college applications rolls around.
Susan Alaimo is the founder of Collegebound Review. For the past 25 years, Collegebound Review's Ivy League educated tutors have prepared students for the PSAT®, SAT®, ACT®, Subject Tests®, AP courses, and all high school subjects. Visit www.CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362
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