1.  I’m a high school junior (or Senior). What’s the most important thing I should be doing right now to prepare for college?  The most important thing juniors and seniors should be doing right now is take the most rigorous classes you can, keep your grades up and take the SAT and/or ACT (better to take the ACT w/ Writing than the ACT).

2.  How many extracurricular activities should I be involved in?  It is not the number of extracurricular activities that colleges are looking for. – quality not quantity. Colleges are looking for extracurricular activities that mirror the student’s passions, interests and commitment.  They also like to see a consistency of commitment to the same activities over time.

 3. What’s more important – grades or SAT/ACT?  The most important academic factors in the college application process are the quality and rigor of courses (not as objective), grades (again, not as objective) and scores on the SAT or ACT (completely objective).

4. I don’t know what I want to major in. Should I be worried?  Although you probably don’t know exactly what you intend to major in, it will pay off in a number of ways if you have some idea the major field of study/career interests you most.  A couple of very real reasons are:  many degree programs start with major specific required courses the freshman year and the more focused you are when you first start college the better chance you of finishing college in 4 – 5 years (saving all the cost / expense of additional classes and resources required every time you change your mind).

5. Is it better to take a regular class and get an A or an AP class and get a B?  College admissions answer this question all the time. The answer they would give students from Steller  (because we don’t offer AP classes) is going to be: a student should “ALWAYS take the most rigorous courses” our school offers.

6. What is the best way to determine which college is right for me?  Determining the best college fit takes time and research. Some of the search programs available for parents and students are AkCIS.org and CollegeBoard’s: Big Future or Quick Start (based on PSAT scores and requires PSAT Access code) are some of the best; a couple of other good ones are Peterson’s and Princeton Review.

7. Are community service hours really important?  Yes. They are one of the criteria admissions and selection committees will definitely look for and factor into a student’s likelihood of being accepted and receiving an award; every college application and other scholarship application asks about your community service.

8. I don’t have any money for college. What should I do?  There are merit- and need-based scholarships, grants, very low interest institutional loans, etc. available to assist students in funding their education. Talk to John early in your high school journey (or as soon as possible if you’re already thinking about or making specific plans) regarding your college goals and family financial situation and get your FAFSA or CSS (College Scholarship Service) submitted.

9. Do colleges like to see employment during high school?  Yes, they like to see that a student can manage the responsibilities of holding a job (the longer at the same job makes a much bigger impact) and also like to see that they are helping to fund their college education.

10. What can my high school guidance counselor (John) do for me?  I can help you with any of the questions above: regarding your course selection throughout high school, the college admission testing process, the college application process and direction to resources to help you find the right college, scholarships and financial aid.