Tips from national student vice president of service for Educators Rising Taylor Jenkins
As the excitement of senior year winds down, and the anticipation of college and adult life begins to build, life can start to feel a little overwhelming. I remember feeling very lost trying to navigate all the information thrown at me from every direction. Scholarships, college essays, applications, résumés, etc. It felt like a bunch of words being shouted at me with little to no direction on where to start. Here are a few tips and tricks that would have helped me manage that process a little better.
1. Talk to your school counselor or college adviser.
Having a good relationship with your school counselor or college adviser can be helpful while preparing for the admission process. They have access to information and resources that can be hard to find elsewhere. Information on local, school, and district scholarships is often sent to school counselors before anyone else. Your counselor or college adviser is also a great source for any letters of recommendation required for college or scholarship applications. Hearing someone else’s view of you is important to colleges and to others looking for scholarship candidates. Having a relationship with your counselor or adviser will make it easier for them to write about you. Their writing will be more personal and show a more accurate picture of who you are.
2. Start early.
During the last year of high school, it can be hard to stay focused. There are parties and senior events, and a lot of students have jobs, relationships, and other obligations. It can be very difficult to stay on task with so many distractions. I suggest you set a to-do list with deadlines that you want to meet. You want all of your applications in by Jan. 1? Write it down. Setting dates will help you hold yourself accountable. In some cases, applicants who apply early are better able to maximize their chances for scholarships or other opportunities. Grants, scholarships, and work-study funds may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis depending on the school and state where you are applying.
3. Choose an interesting essay topic.
Many people choose to write their college essays about hardships and struggles, but there are endless other possibilities. It can be as simple as ketchup versus mustard, if that is what your heart desires. Do not get discouraged by how others write their essays or feel that you have to do the same thing they’re doing. Pick a topic that interests you or that you could talk about for hours. Write it as early as possible. Your essay is an important part of your college application. Don’t wait too long to get started.
4. Apply for financial aid and search for scholarships.
Fill out the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as soon as possible. It’s the form that determines what federal grants and loans you are eligible for, and many states and colleges also use the FAFSA to make their financial aid decisions. This year, the FAFSA opens on Dec. 31. Colleges and states each have their own priority deadlines, which means you need to submit your FAFSA form by that date for your best chance of receiving the most aid. Talk to your school counselor or college adviser if you need help determining when and how to apply.
Scholarships are very important for students looking for help paying for their education. College can be expensive and although loans are always an option, the goal is to minimize the amount of money you have to pay back. I suggest looking online and talking to your school counselor for possible scholarship opportunities. When searching online, it’s important that you only use trustworthy websites. Some of the scholarships you may see online are not real, or they are more like sweepstakes, where the selection process is run like a lottery, and it’s very unlikely that you will be selected. College Board has a wonderful scholarship search tool. I recommend writing a few basic scholarship essays that you can tweak a little bit for each different application. A lot of scholarships ask similar questions about your financial situation and motivation for continuing your education. Use this knowledge to your advantage.
5. Remember: You are only in competition with yourself.
It can be hard seeing your peers win scholarships and get into schools that you may have wanted, but always remember that you are only in competition with yourself. Comparison is a thief of joy. Your hard work will always see you through.
Navigating this big change in your life is not easy, but your mental health and happiness are the most important factors. Enjoy your senior year and spend lots of time with your friends. Maybe even fill out some applications with your peers. The college admission process does not have to be all boring paperwork. Make it fun and engaging and believe in yourself and your abilities.
