road trip to college
Extracurriculars
QUALITY! Not quantity!
The quality of your extracurriculars is much more valuable than the quantity! Choose activities that you genuinely enjoy, and where you can maximize your ability!
#1 Volunteering
Volunteering is a great way to show your dedication to your community to your future colleges! There are many platforms you can use to find a cause that resonates with you, and one of them is dosomething.org. Another is volunteermatch.org. The ideal number of volunteer hours to put on your application is at least 50. Take a look to see some of the ways you can give back and make a positive difference today!
#2 Summer Programs
There are many different summer programs for different interests. Most take place either online, or on a college campus where you would get the opportunity to live in a dorm. You can use PreCollegePrograms.org to find the best fitting programs for you!
#3 Start a club!
Starting a club at your high school is an amazing way to show leadership! There are many different options, such as clubs that stem from an official organization, such as Key Club, but others that you can do independently. Here are some club ideas
Passion Project
Create a project that is unique to you and follow your passions! Find ideas through the help of Julie Kim.
Creating Your College List
At IFirstGen, we understand that choosing the right colleges to apply to can be daunting. One effective strategy is to organize your college options into three categories: Reach, Expected, and Safety. Reach schools are those that may be a bit of a long shot, but still within your academic range. Expected schools are those where you have a good chance of being admitted and would be a great fit. Safety schools are those where you are almost certain to be admitted and would be happy to attend. By dividing your list into these categories, you can ensure that you’re applying to a range of schools that meet your needs and goals.
Also, a great way to find colleges that fit your needs is a college finder, which helps you find colleges that are your perfect fit!
Financial Aid
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form to determine a student’s eligibility for financial aid. Applying for FAFSA can greatly help with the cost of tuition, textbooks, and other expenses associated with higher education. It’s important to know that some states and colleges have their own deadlines for FAFSA, so it’s best to apply early to maximize your potential aid. Apply using this website.
SAT & ACT
College Board sponsors the SAT ® tests. The SAT is given 7 times a year: March, May, June, August, October, November, and December, typically on a Saturday morning. Create your own College Board login to see your scores, practice SAT tests, and to signup for the real one!
Most States offer the ACT seven times a year in September, October, December, February, April, June, and July. The ACT test website is where you can create your own login to see your results, practice and sign up for the test!
There are many different online preparation courses, with varied prices. Khan Academy offers a great self-paced preparation course, with personalized material!