Step 6: Make a list of extracurricular things that you can do. Not only will this look fantastic on a college application, it will also help you explore your interests (making you a well-rounded, and overall happier person). Try things like joining sports teams at your school, volunteering at a local animal shelter, or starting a club with a few of your friends.
Step 7: Now, take a few pages to create a “vision collage.” Compile picture cut-outs that represent your goals for college. Make this speak to you.
Step 8: This step requires some research. Look for a select few colleges that you dream about going to. There are many online resources that you can use to find a good college match for you, try bigfuture.collegeboard.org, or take Ana’s college match quiz. Once you have found your dream college look into the acceptance requirements. Write down the GPA requirement, the SAT/ ACT requirements, as well as the essay prompts for the written portion of the application. It is good to start thinking about what you will write early on so that you don’t feel stressed when it becomes crunch time. Leave a little space to jot down any ideas that you have for the essay (or for the interview if there is one).
Step 9: In the rest of your journal make notes to yourself about what you are doing well and what you may need to step up on. Make notes about your grades, and opportunities that you have taken, along with extra credit opportunities, or upcoming events that you could volunteer at (be sure to write down all of the hours of service that you do and the contact information of those organizations to prove that you volunteered there).