November To-Dos

Now is a good time for high school students to assess their study skills and make adjustments for the rest of the school year.

Seniors

• Write thank you letters to the teachers, counselor, and others who wrote recommendations on your behalf. They spend a great deal of time writing your recommendation, so showing your appreciation is essential.
• Plan to submit all your applications before the December vacation so you can enjoy some well-deserved time off. This means you should be working on your supplemental essays this month.
• Continue to schedule and prepare for virtual or campus interviews (if offered, instructions are on the college website). Keep in mind deadlines for requesting or completing interviews.
• Once submitted, check the status of your applications to be sure all components, such as test scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and supplementary applications, have been received by the colleges. Most colleges use a portal to which you can log in and review the status.
• Be sure your parents have submitted the CSS Profile for financial aid for those colleges that require it.
• Secure an FSA ID for the FAFSA, which opens December 1, so you can apply for financial aid.

• Make a plan for standardized testing. If you think you will need to prepare for the test, find a tutor or online class now and create a preliminary test schedule to ensure that you have adequate time to practice.
• If you receive testing accommodations at school, apply to ACT and/or College Board for accommodations well before your test.
• If you plan to apply test optional be sure to discuss this with your consultant.
• Make at least one college visit this fall. Begin to create a college list that is based on well-thought-out criteria.

• Take a look at your extracurricular activities to determine if you are using your free time in an engaging way. While having downtime is important, it is also essential to explore your interests in a meaningful way. You want to ensure that come application time you can list activities that reflect a strong commitment to a few meaningful activities.
• Assess your school performance and whether you need to adjust your study skills, habits, or commitments. If you need extra support to do well in a course or in general, talk with your parents and counselors about a plan.

Educational Advocates is here to help you with your college admissions journey.  Let us know how we can help you, as we have helped many other students achieve their college goals.