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Top Five Tips for Back to High School

Top Five Tips for Back to High School

What you need to know as you head back to school.

By ApplyWise

March 12, 2009

Learn about your schools The best applicants know their top choices-the name of the library, where students hang out for coffee after class, a star professor they’d love to take a class with. Go beyond the basics of class size and location and find out what makes your school special. The extra effort will shine through in your application.

Make friends with teachers You don’t have to sit with them at lunch, but remember that at least two of your teachers will be writing college recommendations. Forge good relationships-stay active in class discussions and keep them posted on your extracurricular activities and achievements. The better they know you, the more praise they can bestow.

Get expert advice on how to navigate the scholarship search & application process.

Manage your time Winning essays weren’t written in a weekend: brainstorming, drafting, editing, and sharing your work can take months. Leave yourself plenty of time to work on your essays, even if it means TIVO-ing a few season premieres. A fat envelope in the spring will be worth it.

Ace those tests Schedule your standardized tests (try to take them twice, if you can), and study up! Now that school’s back in session and you’ve got all that sunbathing out of your system, you’ll be able to motivate yourself to go through those practice tests and vocab cards.

Challenge yourself If you love science, take the hardest science classes offered at your school. If writing’s your thing, freelance for a local newspaper. Go above and beyond; show you’re not afraid to be passionate and take risks. That’s one that’s one life lesson that won’t just help you get into college, but get you through life.

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    Bocanegra_17

    5 months ago

    I am so scared it seems like yesterday i was just starting school.Now i'm a sophmore its going by so quickly.Honestly I think I just am so paranoid that i'm not going to do like I should in the big world ahead of me.Oh and karo_2012 don't worry if you try hard enough you will do better.There are many volunteer opportunities out there just keep looking>.<

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    Nicole_424

    over 1 year ago

    I am also very excited that school is starting up. This is my senior year and I just keep thinking about how horrible I did last year. Took too many challenging coursed >_<. But this year will be better. This year's goal: ACE THE ACT!!! o_o

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    DSaleh4119

    over 1 year ago

    karo_2012, I just graduated high school. They look more closely at your junior year, so really buckle down. I wasn't involved in any extracurriculars in high school aside from Boy Scouts (I'm an Eagle, which probably helped a bit) and I got accepted to both Gonzaga University and UCSB. If your SATs, letters of rec, and essays are really good, it might help make up for any failings you had in grades.

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    alex_g

    over 1 year ago

    karo_2012, its not too late to get started on volunteer work so dont stress about it.! I am also a junior and cannot wait to go to michigan state!

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    FutureGaucho

    over 1 year ago

    It's my senior year and this article just reminds me to kick it up a notch when I return to school.

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    karo_2012

    over 1 year ago

    I am going to be a junior in high school!I am super excited to go back! But my last two years I didnt do very well,as in I wasn't involved in any extracular activities nor did i do volunteering.So I am worried it might be too late to start this year..

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    mizukinsano

    over 1 year ago

    i still have 2 years of high school but I'm so excited to start getting ready for college now!!! I plan on signing up for my college next year and i want to be ready for it. As soon as I'm done with high school i want to go straight to college. i don't want to give myself the time to forget anything or get behind. :)

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    almar471259

    over 1 year ago

    This is going to be my last year in high school so I'm super excited!

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    JonathanJ508

    over 1 year ago

    Honestly I think college essays are over-rated. All you need to do is to write a page and a half of just a page to tell the college who you are and to be real with yourself. Just let the ideas flow, write them down and revise a couple of times.

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    lgnnoland

    over 1 year ago

    i am really excited about school starting back; but yeah, evrything is so close it is kinda scary!

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    kim_n_c

    over 1 year ago

    Its true; as I sat going through all the stuff I need to do, it hit me how close everything is. I was really freaked out!

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    kim_n_c

    over 1 year ago

    Its true; as I sat going through all the stuff I need to do, it hit me how close everything is. I was really freaked out!

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    kim_n_c

    over 1 year ago

    Its true; as I sat going through all the stuff I need to do, it hit me how close everything is. I was really freaked out!

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    JessicaD3051

    over 1 year ago

    I kinda already knew to do this, but it was a good reality check that senior year is only weeks away.