The beginning of the school year is always a good time to stop and take note of the milestones. Seniors are beginning the excitement of college choices, but ninth graders, just starting their first year of high school, should be looking ahead. From this point on, everything counts towards your future goals!
You are starting with a completely fresh slate. How well you did in middle school is water under the bridge--it will have no effect on your college admissions. If you struggled with grades in 8th grade, this is a new opportunity to start fresh, to get the help you need to improve and to succeed. If you did well, this is no time to get distracted. So, what do you need to know to prepare for your future? What do colleges look for in their applicants?
Obviously, the first item is academics. All the athletics, community service and talent in music or drama will not get you far if you don't work at keeping grades at the highest level you can. In high school, more of the responsibility will be on you; your teachers won't be chasing you down the hall begging you to turn in that assignment from last week--they will be entering a 0 in your gradebook. You will need to seek help if you are struggling, keep track of your assignments and turn them in on time. One way to keep track of things is to have access to Renweb, our online school software. If you stop by my office, I can enter your email address into the system and give you directions on how to log in and receive a passcode to access your homework assignments and grades from home.
In addition to good grades, colleges are looking for academic challenge, so plan on taking higher level courses, especially in math and science. Don't assume you can take all fluff classes your senior year and be accepted at that college of your dreams. The University of Maryland public universities are now requiring a senior year math, and other advanced courses will show that you are willing to challenge yourself in the educational arena.
For most schools, you will need to take college admissions tests to apply. What can you do now to help prepare? Read. Read some more. Then read some more. It is one of the best ways to learn vocabulary, to get a feel for good writing and to learn more about the world around you. There must be books out there about the things that interest you, whether it's computers, history, sports, music, or fiction, so find them and get reading! Our librarians will be happy to help you find books that appeal to you.
But colleges aren't interested solely in grades and test scores. You should have a life outside of academics, and that life should include things you love. Sports is a good thing, though very few of you will continue sports in college, and even fewer beyond it. Community service is becoming a larger item in college admissions and scholarships (besides being necessary for graduation!), so find someplace that needs your talents and get involved. Do you have a passion for music or drama or art? Cultivate that with clubs or community groups. Do you bike? Find a group that takes bike tours and join in. Are you planning on a medical career? Volunteer at a local hospital. There are many ways to become involved, and all will not only help you with college admissions, they will also add enjoyment to your life.
Try not to go overboard, though. Don't do so many different activities that none are done well or completely. Choose a few that are really important to you and stick with them.
Most important of all, keep track of everything. When you are a senior, you will be filling out lots of forms asking what you did when, how much time was spent on it, etc. Develop a record book, or file, to keep track of all you do, awards received, and any other important information; it will make your life so much easier later on.
But most of all, enjoy the years ahead. They will go by much faster than you imagine, and in three short years you will be seniors making your college application lists.
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