Mid-Year Momentum: College Admissions Checklists for High Schoolers

Having trouble keeping up with everything you should be doing to become a competitive applicant for college admissions? Mid-year is the perfect time to assess your progress in 5 key areas to ensure you finish the second semester strong!

Freshman Year: Explore and Settle In!

Academics	Don’t underestimate how difficult the transition from middle school to high school is, especially if you are taking Advanced Placement courses. Set academic goals for the second semester to improve in all classes by at least half a letter grade or more! Schedule tutoring hours with one of our experienced tutors to help you get ahead for the next semester.
Test Prep	Take a practice SAT and ACT to help you decide which format is best suited for you. Compare the results and your experience taking each test to plan your test preparation accordingly.
Volunteering	Start giving back to a community/cause that is important to you! Invest in something you care about, so you can grow with the same community over the next three years! Aim to volunteer for at least 50-75 hours each year.
Extracurriculars	Get involved on campus and join activities that interest you! You must participate in at least one club that relates to the major you are most interested in.
Career & Major Exploration	Freshman year is the perfect time to explore your passions! Figure out what careers excite you and then dig a little further to identify what college programs/majors might be a good fit.

Sophomore Year: Start Stepping Up!

Academics	If your school provides rankings, hopefully you have been placed at the top of your class (5-10%)! Identify what rank you need to secure automatic admission into your favorite Texas colleges and make aggressive goals to improve your study skills this semester.
Test Prep	This is the time to really step-up in terms of test preparation! Take a test prep course like the ones B2A offers to learn strategies for question types and improve your test score by up to 200-400 points on the SAT or 4-5 points on the ACT!
Volunteering	If you didn’t meet your volunteering hours last year, it's all the more important that you fulfill them this year! Make the most of spring and summer breaks to reach at least 50-75 hours.
Extracurriculars	Based on your favorite classes and activities, you should have an idea of what majors most interest you. With this experience, pursue your passions more seriously through extracurriculars, online courses, independent research, and summer programs. Apply for leadership positions when your clubs host elections this spring!
College Research	Start considering what is most important to you when it comes to a college education and what universities could be a good fit for your goals. Sign-up for virtual admissions information sessions over the upcoming semester and attend college tours over the summer break. Create a list of at least 15 colleges you may want to apply to..

Junior Year: Solidify Your Leadership!

Academics	Junior year is often the toughest year academically for students with courses like AP Calculus, AP Physics, and/or IB Chemistry HL. Be sure to perform well this year as these grades are the strongest indicator for colleges on how you will succeed at the university level.
Test Prep	You should aim to achieve your target SAT/ACT score before summer so you can spend summer break working on college applications. If you do not reach your target score after taking 3 official tests of the same exam format (SAT or ACT), it’s time to consider switching. Prioritize SAT/ACT studying now through a class or 1:1 tutoring to see the quickest improvement.
Extracurriculars	During junior year, you must step up in terms of leadership and responsibility for the activities you are involved in. Colleges want to see your impact on your communities, so apply for officer positions and if none are available, find other ways to “unofficially” contribute more before the year ends.
College Research	You will be applying to colleges this summer! Discuss with your parents how many schools you will be applying to and what your deadlines are (rolling admissions, Early Action, Early Decision, or Regular Decision). You may need to write up to 15 essays or more.
Summer Plans	This summer there are more opportunities open to you than ever before! Look into research programs and shadowing or internship opportunities related to your major. Be sure you organize your time wisely so you are able to stay on top of your college applications and pursue major-related opportunities.

Senior Year: End on a High Note!

Academics	Now is not the time to slack off. You should continue to challenge yourself and perform well in your classes, as most colleges will be taking into account grades from the first semester of senior year. Avoid taking off-blocks or senior releases unless you are using this time for research, internships, or part-time work.
Extracurriculars	At this stage in your high school education, it's important to demonstrate leadership in the opportunities you have been involved in throughout high school, such as holding an officer position or founding your own club on campus. Aim to accomplish 1 more goal in each of your most important activities this spring. These achievements will help you when submitting Letters of Continued Interest to colleges you may be deferred or waitlisted from.
Applications	Be mindful of remaining deadlines for any college applications, financial aid materials, etc. Be sure you have everything needed to submit in a timely manner, including recommendations and transcripts.
Continued Interest	Some colleges may offer the opportunity for applicants to interview with alumni. Be sure you request an interview as soon as possible as spots may be limited. Additionally, if you are waitlisted or deferred from a school, consider writing a Letter of Continued Interest to show your commitment to the college.

Want help staying on track to achieve your college admissions goals? We offer college admissions counseling with experienced professional counselors who have guided students interested in all sorts of pathways, including STEM, pre-med, pre-law, business, military academies, humanities, fine arts, and more! We offer different options to suit your college advising needs. 

• Enroll in our Steps Program to meet twice monthly with a designated counselor to monitor your progress throughout high school. Receive personalized support unique to your goals and get access to monthly workshops and exclusive resources.

• Purchase a College Admissions Services (CAS) package to meet 1:1 with one of our college counselors to set goals and discuss how you can achieve them.