Many students in school grapple with uncertainty regarding their post-high school plans and how to prepare for them adequately. To help students on this journey, The Raider Review asked upperclassmen about their preparation strategies.

  Senior Mariela Morataya explains that her main advice is to sign up for dual enrollment. She adds that “dual enrollment not only helps you through high school classes, but also when you’re going to college.” This allows high school students to earn college credits early and helps them adjust to college work easily. You can apply for dual enrollment the summer before Junior year by either taking the Accuplacer or having a GPA above 3.0. Contact PGCC advisor Peaches Crenshaw at [email protected] with any questions about dual enrollment, PGCC, or FAFSA/MSFA. Once your Sophomore year ends, the stresses of the SAT begin. The SAT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the US. Morataya recommends “Khan Academy” and “College Board” for practice exercises.

  Additionally, Mr. Miller in Room 220 hosts after-school SAT tutoring sessions. It takes place twice a week all year- even after the initial practice test. Mr Miller recommends “every Junior take the SAT at least twice so you can join the tutoring group after you take the test in March.” Junior Marcel Ho prepares for his future by “look[ing] at college websites.” He also talked to a college counselor, which he recommends for all students to do so at least once. Junior Kennedy Mathews has a college advisor who also helps her through this process and for applying scholarships. Be sure to do the “Senior Questionnaire” where you upload your resume and answer several questions. That is sent out to all Juniors from the counselors at the end of the year as it helps them to write you a letter of recommendation. This time is also a great opportunity to ask your teachers for letters of recommendation.

  Additional advice from Senior Temi Kumapayi is that students should start making a list of colleges and write their personal statements the summer before Senior year. When senior years starts, confirm your letters of recommendation through your teachers and link your Common App to your Naviance so your counselor and those who are writing you a recommendation can see where you’re applying, place in your letter of recommendation, and your transcript. Once you’ve completed everything, you can start applying for colleges. The Common App website allows students to apply to multiple- but not all- colleges. The student section, your section, is sent to all schools while supplemental questions and essays are added from some school. Be sure to put your colleges on Common App and to look for deadlines you need to meet for early action/decisions and regular decisions. The CSS Profile (College Board), FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), and MSFAA (Maryland State Financial Aid Application) are financial aids that helps students to estimate their tuition.

  While we can’t predict our futures or be sure our futures will turn out how we want them to, students need to know the steps they can take to get the most out of their high school years to better themselves in college. We hope this college preparation and application “How-to-Guide” will be of help to you!