2024 Checklist for Prospective College Applicants

Starting 2024 off strong can give you an advantage in your college applications.

Dr. Aviva Legatt, founder of Ivy Insight and contributor at Forbes, recently offered a checklist to help applicants set strong admissions goals and succeed in the first few months of the new year.

CONSIDER YOUR MAJOR

While you won’t have to actually decide on your major until sophomore or junior year of college, Legatt recommends prospective college applicants to start exploring potential fields of study.

“Choosing a major early on will help to drive student priorities for academics and extracurriculars for the forthcoming year of high school,” Legatt says. “Remember that the classes you take in high school (and how well you perform in these classes) should directly reflect the strengths that are valued in the major you are intend to apply for. For example, if you want to be a college English major, but have consistent Bs in high school English (with As in other subjects), consider applying to a different major.”

PLAN COLLEGE VISITS

Your final year of high school can quickly become overwhelming with college applications, school, and social life. Planning your college visits early, ideally before senior year, can help ease the stress once it comes time to decide on a college. Additionally, experts recommend connecting with current students to learn more about what a college has to offer.

“Talk to as many students as you can to get a flavor of the student population,” Liz Doe Stone, a senior private counselor for Top Tier Admissions, tells US News. “Email students from your high school who attend that school and ask to get together for coffee when you’re on campus.”

BE INTENTIONAL WITH YOUR SUMMERS

Summer can be an ideal opportunity to take part in activities that can bolster your admissions candidacy. Legatt recommends prospective college applicants to start researching potential summer opportunities that may be of interest to them.

“Each activity can serve a purpose for your admissions candidacy, whether it is demonstrating your interest in an academic subject, enhancing knowledge of a field of study, earning work experience, or gaining exposure to a career field that interests you,” Legatt says.

Sources: Forbes, US News

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