Junior Year…

The Key to Success: Start Early!

Shamara Rhodes, 16" " " " " " " " " 
Massachusetts

Are you interested in going to college? If so, you should start planning as soon as possible. That's what I'm doing. I am a junior in high school right now and I have visited nine colleges in the last three years.

The first college I ever visited was Simmons College, when I was in 8th grade. It was fun because this college isn't like a lot of other colleges; it is an all-women's college. I didn't think they could do something like that.

I didn't think I was going to go to any college until I started high school. I attend Codman Academy Charter Public School in Boston, Massachusetts, which is a college preparatory school. My school had a 100 percent college acceptance rate in 2007! In my school, we go on a college visit twice a month with a couple of teachers and a guidance counselor. Our first year, we received a packet with all kinds of college terms that might be used on a tour, and we took an hour-long class to learn more about going to college. Then, when we entered our sophomore year, we visited a college in the Boston area.

During junior year we take an SAT preparatory class, and senior year we take a college preparatory class. Even if you don't want to go to college or you're not thinking about college right now, you have to take the college prep class. It gives you a really good heads-up for college. I have now visited Simmons, Emerson, Wellesley, Boston, and Newbury Colleges, as well as Northeastern, Boston, and Harvard Universities and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology." 

One thing I really would like to stress is that even if you aren't interested in college, it's never too early or too late to think about it. You can talk to your guidance counselor, research various colleges that you are interested in, or even visit different websites that can help you determine what colleges you are compatible with.

Junior Year

Jamie Cohen, 16
New York

The hardest year in school
the most work
college hunting starts

Trying to decide
what schools to look at
studying hard to meet their grade requirements

Taking time to do all the homework
doing it carefully
to make it the best homework ever

Studying each night
reviewing pages and pages of notes
even when there are no tests the next day
hoping in the long run all the work
will help in grades

Grades are what count
nothing else matters
one bad grade and
all my studying
doesn't pay off

The Road to College

Christine Shuster, 14
New Jersey

College can be tough. But before you even get "on the road" to college, you have to get through high school. Here are some ways to improve your chances of college acceptance while you're still in high school.

First, try to get into Honors or Advanced Placement (AP) classes because they will look more impressive on your high school transcript. Colleges would rather see you try hard in an Honors or AP class and get a B than to see you get an A in a lower level class. Also, keep your grade point average (GPA) and class rank up. Colleges want the smartest students they can find to represent their school. GPA/class rank will help colleges decide if you're someone they are looking for.

Besides your GPA, colleges will look at your SAT, ACT, and SAT II scores. Recommendation letters are also a big advantage. Get them from high school teachers who are familiar with your good grades, athletic performance, artistic talent, or leadership roles. Activities can make an impact too, so get involved!"  Volunteer work looks good on applications so remember to mention the work you've done for any organizations. Past job experience is also looked at by colleges because employment shows responsibility. A compelling essay is also an important factor.