As a junior or senior in high school, college can feel like it’s still a long distance away when you are caught up in sports, prom, band, and other extracurricular activities. However, this is actually a great time for students to start to think about which college they want to attend or what they want to study as they have time to plan without an overload of stress and deadlines. Waiting until the tail end of senior year may leave a student with limited options and could cause the student to rush through the application process. This can lead to silly mistakes or missing a deadline which could delay the process or even cost the student acceptance into the college altogether. 

One of the more essential parts of applying to schools is understanding what major you are interested in. Many colleges specialize in certain areas of study, and it is important to know a college’s area of expertise before applying there. If you have not decided on a college major, looking at liberal arts programs could benefit you as they offer more general areas of study. A tip that could help a student is having them make a list of everything they are interested in studying and learning more about those areas of interest to help narrow down their options. 

After the student has decided on what type of programs they are interested in studying, they should begin researching schools with their programs of interest. Here are some other things to consider when researching schools:

• How far from home do you want to be?
• What kind of campus life is important?
• Are there clubs, sports, or Greek life you are looking for?
• What size school are you searching for?

Once a few programs have been identified, it can be helpful to organize them into a list from most desirable to least desirable. Students should definitely schedule college visits for all schools that they plan to apply to in order to get a feel for each school’s campus and lifestyle. Once a student has identified and visited their colleges of interest, it is almost time to start applying!

With a list of schools to apply to, now it is time to gather all materials and get organized. Research each school's application information and make a list of deadlines and requirements from each school. When are applications due? What schools require extra materials such as personal essays or recommendation letters? Creating a schedule of personal deadlines to complete tasks will help ensure that nothing gets forgotten when applying to schools. 

Finally! With a program of study chosen, a list of schools determined, and a schedule of deadlines, it is time to start applying to colleges. It's vital to ensure that all application deadlines are met, and nothing required is left out. Connecting with admissions representatives from your schools of interest will be important in answering any outstanding questions you have about this process. 

Club Z! Tutoring of Glenbrook specializes in providing individualized, in-home, and virtual tutoring for students K-12 in Northbrook and Glenview. We also work with students to complete the college application process. If you want your child to work on developing skills that will translate to improved grades and self-esteem, contact us today at: bbalatsos@clubztutoring.com. You can also reach us at 847-440-3440 and by visiting clubztutoringglenbrook.com.