An ominously thick package bearing your high school’s name arrives in the mail. Inside, you find your new schedule, a picture-ordering form, a PTA-membership form and other back-to-school information. Kmart is piled high with fresh stacks of binder paper, shelves of colorful binders and bright signs screaming, “BACK TO SCHOOL SALE!!!” The days of the week, which faded blissfully to the back of your mind in the summer, have suddenly crashed back into full view. That’s right, folks—the time has come to get geared for school. Instead of charging blindly into the new school year, be aware of what you need to accomplish in the next nine months. What should you be thinking about now? The classes you have selected for the year. Are you meeting college requirements? Are you challenging yourself with AP and honors courses? If you need to change your classes, do it as soon as possible. The college-admissions tests you need to take? The SAT I and ACT will surely be on your list. As for the SAT II, what are your best subjects? Make sure you check with your school counselor for testing dates. The activities you will be involved in this year. Are all of your activities meaningful to you? Or, are you doing them just for the sake of making your college applications appear full? Remember: Colleges look for depth, not breadth. The type of college you wish to attend. Rank the following factors in order of importance to you: academic programs, campus activities and sports, cost, housing, diversity, location, prestige, religious affiliation, size, social atmosphere and student body. Use these characteristics to help you develop and narrow your list of potential colleges.
