Tips for high school juniors: beginning the journey to college

University of Rochester dean of undergraduate admissions says applying to college is easier when you start with some introspection.

By Robert Alexander, the dean of undergraduate admissions, financial aid, and enrollment management for Arts, Sciences & Engineering, University of Rochester.

When you’re a junior in high school, applying to college can seem overwhelming. That’s one reason it’s an ideal time to start thinking about your choices. Beginning to think about college early allows you time to get organized and to break a long, multistep process into a list of smaller tasks. With that mindset, you can approach the process with a lot less stress and a lot more confidence.

Know thyself

You’ll probably want to begin by developing a list of potential colleges. But before making that list, start with some introspection.

You don’t need to know exactly which major or career you’re headed for, but you should have some sense of which academic subjects and classes excite you. Do you enjoy hands-on laboratory experiments, or are you more oriented toward small classroom discussions? Are there specific extracurricular activities you’d like to pursue in college? What kind of person are you, and where will you find classmates who both appreciate and challenge you, and who could become your lifelong friends?

Each of us has a unique story, and when we can articulate it, we are better prepared to make life decisions, including where to apply to college. Thinking about your own story can also guide you as take concrete steps, such as writing admissions essays, deciding which teachers to ask for a letter of recommendation, and what questions you might ask in an admissions interview.

Start developing your story by compiling your experiences and interests into a simple resumé format.

Talk with your parents or another trusted adult

Who are the adults who know you better than anyone else? Who might be able to help you see yourself from a different perspective? Students often worry that they won’t measure up to the expectations of admissions committees. But remember, colleges aren’t looking for a single perfect archetypal student. They’re putting together a class, and to do that they need a diverse array of students who are interesting in different ways.

You should also have some frank conversations about college costs. If you will need to apply for scholarships or financial aid, how much support will you require? If aid comes in the form of loans, how much debt are you comfortable taking on? But don’t let costs constrain which colleges you consider, since there can be a substantial gap between the so-called “sticker price” and the actual cost you bear, after receiving financial aid. Try using a net price calculator, such as the MyinTuition Quick College Estimator or the College Board’s Net Price Calculator, that colleges are required to offer on their websites. You can find both on Rochester’s Cost Calculators page. The more accurate the information you provide about family income, assets, number of children in college, and academic performance, the more accurate the estimate you’ll receive.

Connect with your counselor

Schedule an appointment with your guidance counselor to talk through your ideas. They’ll want to get to know you if they don’t already, so bring that resumé. They’ll share with you the expertise and knowledge they’ve gained about various institutions from their years of guiding students who came before you. They may introduce you to some helpful online tools, such as the College Board’s Big Future, which offers resources to help you develop a college list based on parameters including size and location, academic and curricular offerings, and campus services. Similarly, the US Department of Education’s College Navigator enables users to compare schools side-by-side using data from the National Center for Education Statistics.

Visit nearby campuses

If possible, plan college visits close to home. Even if those schools aren’t among your choices, touring them will offer you a better sense of what questions to ask and what to look for when you tour schools that do interest you. If you are lucky enough to live near several schools, make visits to schools that vary by size, academic focus, or campus “vibe.” And if you can’t make visits in person, remember that you can learn a lot about schools through their social media feeds and their websites, which often enable virtual visits. You can also watch videos of student performances and campus events.

As you’re doing these things, try to picture yourself there.

Create a list, make a contact in admissions

By now, given your introspection, conversations with parents and counselors, and research in person or online, you should be ready to make your list. You will probably have identified the types of academic programs that interest you, your financial needs, and considered such factors as whether you’d prefer a small or large institution, or a rural or small-town setting or a big city.

You may even know which schools have your favorite student clubs and athletics programs. At the very least, you will know what you won’t be able to live without, versus what would just be nice.

Once you have that list, use each school’s website to join their mailing lists to receive more information, regular updates, and invitations to events. Most colleges have a webpage showing which admissions staff member is assigned to you, either because of where you live or your specific academic interest. Reach out, introduce yourself and start asking questions.

Attend college fairs and events

Find out when the schools on your list are hosting online info sessions or coming to your area. Many occur during your junior year. Ask about everything, including admissions application requirements and standardized testing policies – while these details can be found online, often there are nuances about how they factor into specific programs and scholarships. Don’t be shy, because admissions counselors know you’ve been thrown a lot of information about their schools and likely several others. No one is expected to remember everything on a school’s website. Interacting with college reps show you are genuinely interested in the school, and it can help you decide if you think it’s a potential fit. You can often have a chance to meet some local alumni or current students and parents, each of whom will have a unique perspective on the college and why it was a good choice.

Looking ahead

If you follow the steps above and determine that one school is a far better match than any others, you might want to apply Early Decision. Early Decision requires you to submit your application, including letters of recommendation, early in your senior year, as opposed to the winter or spring.

But Early Decision is not for everyone. Most students will want to apply to an array of schools, all of which could be good fits, particularly if the amount of financial aid and scholarships awarded will be a major factor in your ultimate college choice.

In all likelihood, there’s not just one perfect college for you, but a range of fantastic options where you’ll thrive. If you’re consistently working hard, you will have amazing and appropriate college choices.

About Robert Alexander

Robert Alexander, the dean of undergraduate admissions, financial aid, and enrollment management for Arts, Sciences & Engineering at the University of Rochester, has more than 22 years of enrollment management experience in higher education. He joined Rochester in June 2020 and previously served in senior admissions, enrollment, and communications roles at Millsaps College, University of the Pacific, and Tulane University.

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