July College Checklist for High School Rising Seniors
What are must-haves this month in preparing your college journey?
What are must-haves this month in preparing your college journey?
Class of 2026: Here are your need-to-know’s in July
The summer before your final high school year is essential for building and enhancing your academic and extracurricular profile, finalizing your college admissions strategy and preparing your college applications before you get busier in the upcoming school year. Getting a head start in July (or sooner) will help you avoid being overwhelmed this fall when school starts, setting you up for success. To make sure you are on top of your college planning, here’s a helpful checklist of what to focus on in July.
Start brainstorming and drafting topics for your college essays, keeping in mind that your summer experiences may also be integrated, to allow you to self-reflect on who you are and what matters most to you. Check the Common App and admissions requirements for schools that you’re interested in to get ideas of the personal statement prompts and content for supplemental essays. Remember that these essays should be unique to you, addressing your personal journey and your specific ways of how you will approach your college experience.
*Working with a counselor can help you personalize your essays, to highlight your strengths and unique qualities, while also helping you stand out to admissions officers!
By the end of spring of your junior year you should have already taken at least one ACT or SAT test to determine which is the best fit for you and assess if and how your score matches the colleges on your intended school list. This will be crucial especially if planning to apply early action/early decision. However, before you start your test prep, make sure to check the testing requirements and median ranges for the colleges you’re interested in to determine your testing plan.
*Discuss the best testing options with your counselor and be aware of the latest ACT and SAT testing dates to make a solid plan.
Finalize your resume of activities, including all of your participation in initiatives outside of the classroom ~ academic mentorships, research, volunteer work, employment, clubs, starting your own business, sports, the arts, conferences, awards, community initiatives, etc. This is a good opportunity to identify any potential gaps or weaknesses in your resume.
*Reviewing your resume (or your brag sheet from high school) with your counselor can provide insider tips to enhancing your takeaways and highlighting what colleges look for in top applicants (leadership, initiative, community building, impact beyond your own interests, identifying solutions, advocating for causes of interest, creating your own unique initiatives), to help you stand out from your peers.
It’s recommended to determine who your recommenders will be before the summer break so you have a chance to have these discussions with your teachers and mentors. Remember that most colleges require 1-2 academic recommenders (who have taught you in high school coursework) and a recommendation from your school counselor (so make sure you have established that relationship ahead of time). And some colleges offer the option to submit additional supplemental recommendations (this can be an excellent way to highlight your academic and extracurricular abilities and achievements beyond the classroom ~ from a research mentor, internship supervisor, sports coach, boss, college professor, etc.). Be sure to provide your potential recommenders with your resume so they have an understanding of your activities and goals, as well as your potential college list.
*A counselor can assist you in determining who are your best “champions” to recommend you and guide you in drafting recommendation request letters so that your strengths, uniqueness and fit for college can truly shine.
College admissions officers look closely at how you spent the summer before your final year in high school. And as this is your last chance to build an impactful profile, it’s important to show how you stay active throughout the summer, exploring your interests, staying involved with your community, gaining job/internship experience, contributing to your intended career field, developing research skills, traveling, and preparing for college, etc. This is your final chance before college to present yourself as an aspiring expert in your areas of interest and show that you are already contributing to your field as well as impacting others.
*Make sure you’re discuss your summer plans with the concert to identify unique opportunities to build your profile, expand your experience and reflect your commitmentsIn ways specific to you.
Start with colleges that your high school has a strong acceptance record with and/or that your counselor recommends for you based on your profile. Confirm with your high school if they use college matching software such as, Naviance, Maia Learning, SCOIR, etc. to stay organized. Identify what is important to you in your college experience ~ specialized academic programs, diverse student body, expansive extracurriculars, internship opportunities, location, proximity to off campus initiatives, size, ranking, tuition costs, scholarships, research facilities, faculty of interest, alumni networks, sports teams, Greek life, residential life, etc. Take notes on which aspects of each college stand out to you as pros and cons ~ this will also help you build your application strategy and determine some relevant content for your supplemental essays as well as eventual interviews.
*A counselor with experience in the college admissions process (or even behind the scenes as a former admissions officer who has made admissions decisions directly) can bring unparalleled personal insights into what colleges are looking for, how to find the right fit for your specific profile, needs and goals and can help you develop a strategic and balanced school list that reflects the current admissions trends and highlights your unique attributes as a fit.
As some colleges track how you engage with them officially, while others do so unofficially, it’s always a good idea to get to know the schools you’re interested in, in-depth and beyond simply looking at their websites. Join mailing lists of your target colleges – it shows you are interested in the school, which looks great for potential admissions. Register for any info sessions available, on campus for virtually. Schedule campus tours to see the college for yourself and get a sense of its overall vibe. Identify faculty, alumni and current students of interest ~ reach out to learn more from their personal experiences. You can also join forums and research the schools beyond their websites to understand what other people are saying about them and how they are featured in the media. Also keep in mind that anytime a college admissions rep visits your school or you meet them at a college fair, they are likely the admissions officer who will be first reading your college application if they are assigned to your region. So make sure you make an excellent impression on them from the beginning, showing your genuine curiosity and interest in the school and in their perspective!
*Counselors often have specific experience within admissions teams to know what helps students stand out and demonstrate their interest and in building their college applications accordingly, so getting their invaluable insights will always help you build a solid admissions strategy.
Don’t risk being turned down by your dream school due to a less than positive social media presence, as some colleges will look at this. Be sure to reflect your best self on your social media accounts and profiles to put your best foot forward. Think about your future self and how you want to be perceived, not about you in middle school when you didn’t take that seriously.
*A counselor can also guide you in crafting a compelling online presence, Linkedin profile, portfolio, personal website content, etc. to show the world who you are, your strengths and achievements, and your intentions beyond your college applications.
Whether you qualify for need=based financial aid or are simply wanting to identify merit-based funding, it’s in your best interest to apply to scholarships, not only for securing potential funding, but also to show schools that you are serious in highlighting your academic strengths. And many schools offer various types of scholarship awards, which could also help you emphasize your merits be on your college application profile
*Counselors experienced in working with scholarship research and scholarship applications can be the difference between simply applying to college and paying tuition, and determining which type of awards you qualify for and showcasing your recognitions.
