It always seemed so far away and unreal, but now the time is here: college application time. As early as freshman year, students–like me–were advised to start thinking about the big picture and were advised to plan for their future as early as possible. This fell on deaf ears for many of the underclassmen as it seemed so far away. The time flew by and now here we are- some students are more than prepared others and have already been accepted into their dream college while others are significantly less prepared and have completely no idea how to write the next chapters of their lives. For some, the college application process is a regretful process and the seniors are stuck wishing they had done some things differently or received more help along the planning pathway. Lucky you, underclass and juniors! Here is your chance to get ahead by reading some tips and pointers from this year’s seniors.

Start Planning College Visits Early

“I have always taken my education very seriously, and from the start of my high school career I have always been aiming to get accepted into one of the more competitive colleges. My grades, ACT score, and all the credits I gained from AP classes will never be a problem with me- but choosing where I want to attend college will be a problem.” Senior Monika Dimitrow claims. Dimitrow has lived in various places all her life, including New York and New Jersey but Chicago strikes her as “one of the most amazing places she’s lived because of the people, beautiful city life, and amazing opportunities.” Now Dimitrow is torn between staying at home for college or starting a new life in a completely different state. “I wish I had done more college visits. I really want to go to Florida State University, but at the same time I’ve never been to a school in Florida, and I don’t know what to expect. I don’t want to move 1,000 miles and find myself missing home and being uncomfortable. I am not too worried because there is still time for college visits, but I would tell the underclass to make time for them earlier because exploring the campus of your dream college is really a game changer and then you will know if it is exactly what you want or if you begin re-routing your path for the future.”

Take the ACT VERY Seriously

“I don’t think enough emphasis is put on how important the ACT is until it actually rolls around,” senior Michelle Stryczula claims. “If I knew that one single point could really be critical in determining your future, I would have enrolled in ACT practice classes.” ACT practice classes are available for juniors before the ACT, but that’s not the only step one can take to prepare. During ACT practice classes, students take practice tests similar to the real ACT and get a feel about how much time the ACT will take and learn how to pace themselves and get examples of what they should expect. For those who do not have time for the prep classes, simply doing a google search with “ACT practice tests” will link you to many valuable resources and you can even buy ACT practice books online on Ebay or Amazon for cheap. “Overall, I’m still content with my composite score. Math has never been one of my strong suits, however, so I wish I had practiced more for that section. I chose working over taking the prep classes, and I would advise the underclassmen and juniors to never put anything before their education and ACT test. You won’t ever see a college that doesn’t care about your ACT score, and it would really be unfortunate to not get accepted into your college, especially if it is a competitive college, because you’re one or two points off.” Practice, Practice, Practice! Small things do really matter regarding the ACT score, and one or two points can really change your future- no pressure! However, getting a score you are not content with is not the end of the world. Retaking the ACT is always an option and multiple test dates are offered at school. Some colleges will even super score your scores meaning that they will take the highest score from the four sections ( reading, math, english, and science) and combine them together to create your composite score. It is important to try your hardest the first time, but one mistake will not define whether you get into your dream college or not and you can fix that “mistake” by retaking your test. You can take the ACT up to 12 times and that’s more than enough tries to be able to reach your goal.

Take Advantage of AP Classes–

Leyden is one of the various schools that offers Advanced Placement or A.P classes that students can enroll in starting their sophomore year. Some students completely misinterpret what taking one of these classes would be like. “Taking these classes requires a lot more effort than taking a normal class but succeeding in them is nowhere close to impossible. Jessica Krieter, who has taken almost every AP class offered at Leyden, shares her secret “You don’t have to be one of the top students in your grade to succeed and that’s the best part. As long as you stay motivated, show up to class everyday and stay on task and set aside at least 30 minutes a day to study for whatever class you have enrolled in you are almost guaranteed a four or five on your AP exam in May.” Taking an AP class looks great on your high school transcript as it showcases your ability to take a risk and challenge yourself. Even if you don’t end up getting an “A” in your course, AP classes are weighted so a “B” in an AP class is weighted and equivalent to an “A” in an honors class. Besides potentially raising your GPA, AP classes really pay off in the long run. Every May, the annual AP tests are held at every school who offers them. Students who score 4 and 5’s can receive college credit for taking these classes, meaning that they will be exempt from taking these classes at college and can move on beyond introductory courses. “Going into college with almost a semester worth of college credits is a huge weight off my shoulders. Not only did I save myself time, I saved money. Instead of taking a college class for thousands of dollars, I paid $80 dollars for each AP exam. Just do the math and tell me that isn’t a better option.” Krieter claims. You don’t have to be a superhuman to exceed in AP classes, so don’t be afraid to enroll. Hard work really does pay off in long run!