College Guidance
College Admissions is a high school process, not a senior year activity! As the Director of Student Services, it is my privilege to assist in every aspect of this important process by:
- Partnering with parents and students in the entire college admissions process.
- Encouraging students to be college-minded in academic pursuits, extra-curricular activities, community and church involvement, and strength of character.
- Providing tools, contacts, and support to assist students in reaching their college admissions goals.
- Assisting the faculty and administration in the education process to graduate students who are prepared for college, academically curious, and motivated to succeed in the next step of life.
So what should you be doing now…?
9th grade
College applications are three years away and you need to pace yourself. You are now laying a foundation for a successful high school experience that will lead to many open doors.
Involvement in the life of the school is key! Find activities that you enjoy. Seek out leadership roles.
Keep a record of awards, camps, community service projects, work experience, etc. Creating a resume will be easier later!
Your grades count! You have basically six semesters of grades that will create your high school GPA (grade point average) for your college applications. You will be applying to colleges in the fall of your senior year, so only 9th, 10th, and 11th grades are on the transcripts when you begin to apply. Many seniors regret careless 9th grade coursework, thinking that it won’t affect the big picture.
Hill Country requires that freshmen take the PSAT (practice SAT) in October. This will be given during a school day and requires no preparation. Take the test, get a feel for a college admissions test, and most importantly, use the data that you will receive with your test results in December. With your results, College Board (the company that distributes the PSAT and the SAT) designs study tests for you based on your weaknesses on your PSAT. These study tests are free, easily available online, and shouldn’t be ignored!
Go to http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html for more information.
Continuing the development of your study, time management, and organizational skills is vital to success as both a high school and soon-to-be college student.
Continue to cultivate student/teacher relationships. These relationships take on even more meaning as you mature and the mentoring process progresses. Seek out help, ask questions, and take advantage of the wisdom your teachers have to offer.
10th grade
Sophomores will again take the PSAT in October. I would still not recommend a prep course – this is still practice! Once your PSAT scores are available, and if you checked (on your PSAT answer sheet) that you wish to receive materials from colleges, you will definitely begin to receive mail from universities and colleges.
It is time to begin visiting College Fairs. Representatives from around the state and across the country will be on hand to answer questions and to market their schools. In late September, the Centex College Fair comes to Austin. Leander ISD and Round Rock ISD also have college fairs in the fall. In the Spring, our students will head to downtown Austin to a national college fair.
The sophomore year is a great time to read the mail you receive from the various colleges. Also, I have catalogs and handbooks in my office and, of course, the internet has information on every type of college you can imagine. It is time to register on CollegeBoard.com and begin researching colleges. You may find a school that you have never thought about that fits your future plans perfectly!
College representatives from a variety of universities will visit Hill Country to talk with students. Take advantage of these opportunities to make personal contact with representatives from schools to which you will soon be applying or simply to ask questions.
Continue to build a strong academic profile. Take advantage of any honors or AP courses, read, write, seek leadership opportunities, and stay involved! Think “depth” – don’t try to be involved in 10 different groups, clubs, and sports, but become “passionate” about one or two.
A Sophomore Parent/Student meeting will be held in the fall to give further details on the college admissions process. You and your parents can also make an appointment to meet with me during the 2nd semester to discuss academic plans and the college admissions process.
During the summer between sophomore and junior year:
- Enjoy your family and friends.
- Plan to participate in meaningful activities – mission trips, church camps, leadership activities, or get a job.
- A PSAT prep course (for the junior year PSAT in October) could be taken – depending on how well you did last fall and how strong a tester you are! Princeton Review, Revolution Prep, and More Than a Teacher are strong test preparation companies.
- Utilize College Board prep materials on their website. These are free, extremely helpful, and you could use some summer hours to study online!
11th grade
The Junior year PSAT (October) score serves as the basis for the National Merit Scholarship Program. The score qualifies a student for Commended or Semifinalist status. Semifinalists then apply for Finalist by taking the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) and submitting an application. In February of the senior year, Finalists are announced and over 8,400 Finalists will be awarded scholarships.
It is time to begin taking College Entrance Tests – the SAT and the ACT (American College Test, Inc.). I recommend that Juniors take both in the spring and then retake your strongest test before the summer. It is important to check the website of the universities that you are interested in to determine which test they may prefer.
- SAT is administered by the College Board at local high schools during the summer and throughout the school year. Test dates, locations, and registration are found at www.collegeboard.com.
- ACT is administered by the ACT at local high schools. For details go to www.actstudent.org.
It is time for some serious college visits:
- Check college websites for preview events.
- Plan with your parents to take a trip during a school day or on a preview weekend (be sure to check your absence record first!)
- Make appointments with a college admissions representative, financial aid office, and academic department(s) BEFORE you go to make the best use of your time.
- Be sure to tour the campus, check out the dorms and cafeterias, and observe the universities’ students.
- Hill Country will take a class trip to tour Texas colleges and universities.
Make an appointment to meet with me in the spring. We will discuss college choices, college visits, test registrations, etc.
Continue to focus on your schoolwork. The spring semester is the last record before college applications!
12th grade
Continue to take the toughest academic courses that you can handle at Hill Country. As you apply to colleges, it is important that your senior year schedule is strong.
Pay close attention to emails and announcements from my office about college information.
Finalize your list of colleges to which you will apply. Include a reach school (your #1 pick if you had your wish), match schools (ones which meets your criteria well) and some safety schools (ones to which you will surely be admitted). Dream big, but think of all the factors. As your college admissions counselor, I can help you think through this.
The university website of the schools to which you are applying will be your main source of information from now until you begin classes next fall. Their deadlines are crucial; their updates and requests need to be read carefully.
Essays for your applications are extremely important. Study the university websites to be well-informed of the requirements for the essay portion of the applications. You will be working with Mrs. Hechel on your application essays. The admissions committees read all of the essays, so let them see “your mind at work!"
During the summer and early fall, you will be constructing your resume to accompany your applications. Mrs. Hechel will assist you in the format. It is time to put together all of those records of your accomplishments that you have been saving since your freshman year.
Apply to your selected schools. Carefully read their websites to discern the proper application and to follow all the instructions. Set a preferred deadline of November 1. You will send the applications and application fees directly to the universities, either online or paper.
Letters of Recommendation from a faculty member or an administrator are a “must” as you begin to apply to colleges – even if your chosen universities do not require them. If you are using the Common Application, they will email your selected teachers directly. Give teachers plenty of time and include your resume with a stamped, addressed envelope if they are to mail the letter to the universities.
Transcripts must be requested to be sent from Hill Country directly to the universities. Fill out a Transcript Release Form for each college (forms are in my office), and turn them in to me allowing at least 2 weeks prior to a deadline. The university addresses are your responsibility to supply. If you are using the Common Application as well as various other applications, the university might contact me via email to request a transcript. Pay close attention to details! If you attended high school at another school before entering Hill Country, you also need to have that school send an official transcript to the universities.
Watch the scholarship deadlines on the university websites. They are often different dates than the application deadline. Even if you will be applying for merit (grade- or test score-based scholarships), submit a scholarship application.
After January 1 of your senior year, you will be submitting your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Your parents will play a key role in this part of the process so be sure to include them and heed their advice. Go to College Board and attend any scheduled Financial Aid Information meetings!
Two helpful websites for financial aid information are www.scholarships.com and www.fastweb.com. They have free information and will be extremely valuable to you at this time in the process.
Pray. Pray for God’s peace and discernment. Pray to hear His voice in this process and to seek His good and perfect will.
Please remember that I am here to help you through all the aspects of applying for college. Stop by my office, make an appointment, give me a call, or send me an email. This can be an exciting time, if you stay on top of it and stay ahead of the deadlines!
Debby Krohmer
Director of Student Services
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
