Summer Tips for Juniors

Congratulations to my high school seniors, most of whom have made the final college decision this past week! I wish you all happiness and success this upcoming fall, and am thrilled that I'll be running into many of you on Valpo's campus come August!

As summertime is quickly approaching, I'd like to transition over to some tips and reminders for all of my juniors (Class of 2011). I know going to college still seems pretty far away, but it's never too early to begin planning. Here are a few things to keep in mind over the summer:

• PLAN YOUR ACT/SAT TEST DATES: A lot of students wait until their senior year to take these tests; however, I encourage you to start signing up as soon as possible. This will give you time over the summer and into the fall to test multiple times, if you’d like to. (Remember, some schools, including Valpo, will look at your highest score, so it can only help you!)


• PLAN YOUR COLLEGE VISITS: Summer is a great time to start visiting schools. Even though classes aren’t in session and few students will be on campus, take advantage of your free time to visit a variety of universities. If you’d like to plan a visit here to Valpo, just let me know.


• START THINKING ABOUT YOUR APPLICATION: In your free time over the summer, it’s not a bad idea to start thinking about the various aspects of your college applications—including references, resumes, and essays. Ask professors, coaches, or mentors for references with plenty of advance notice. Start putting together a resume, or “brag sheet,” that lists your various involvements and accomplishments. Finally, begin writing and editing preliminary drafts of your essay. Since these things take time and careful planning, it’s never too early to start!


• START SAVING FOR YOUR EDUCATION: This summer is a great time to start putting away money from your part-time job to help cover expenses associated with college, like books, travel, and spending money.

I hope these tips are helpful at this beginning stage of your college search process. If there's anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Keep up the great work!

-Laura@Valpo