Ready to start exploring your college options? We’re here to help! Here’s how to start planning for college in high school.

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Do your research 

An important first step of beginning your college planning is to do online research. Set aside some time to research schools that have majors, sports, or extracurricular activities that interest you. Not sure where to start your search? We recommend using BigFuture’s College Search tool, which allows you to research colleges by academics, location, campus life, and more. Here are some other important things to consider when beginning the process of researching colleges:

• Do I want to attend a small or large school?
• Do I want to attend school close to or far away from home?
• What do I want the campus culture to be like? Do I want to attend a school with lots of events always happening around campus, or one that’s a bit more low-key?
• Does this school have majors I’m interested in? Will I be able to change my major down the road if needed?
• Can I realistically afford to attend this school after financial aid is awarded?
• What are the housing options at this school?
• Can I see myself thriving and being happy while attending this school?

By taking some time to research schools, you’ll have a better idea of which ones you want to actually apply to when it’s time. Learn more about other things to consider before applying to a college.

Stay organized during your search

Staying organized is key to making sure you submit all of your applications and any supplemental materials on time! Use our free college application requirements tracker to organize your applications.

Talk to your counselor 

Once you have an idea of schools you'd be interested in attending, the next step is to meet with your college counselor. Talk to them about the schools and majors you’re interested in and anything else that came up during your research that you’d like to know more about. They can also connect you to college fairs, campus tours, and give you some information about colleges they think might be a good fit for you.

We recommend meeting with your college counselor at least once during your junior year, and then multiple times throughout your senior year to check in with them about your progress on college applications, personal statements and essays, and other application materials. They’re there to help you stay on track and get all of your necessary materials in to finalize your applications, so don't forget to check in with them!

Note: If your school doesn’t have a college counselor, we recommend talking to a trusted educator or parent/guardian about your college goals and choices. You can always talk to us, too! Text #Hello to 33-55-77 if you have any questions about getting to college.

Attend a college fair

College fairs, which are usually free and held by school districts or local cities, give prospective students a chance to meet with admissions representatives and learn more about colleges. Be sure to come prepared with a few questions to ask representatives at schools that interest you. This is a great way to make a connection with someone from that college in case you have any more questions during the application process! 

Register for the PSAT, SAT, or ACT and start studying

PSAT

During your junior year, you will take the PSAT, which will help you get a feel for what taking the SAT is like, and potentially qualify for you for the National Merit Scholarship. 

SAT

Read more about registering for the SAT and about free study resources you can use to prepare for it.

ACT

Read more about registering for the ACT and learn how to manage your time on it.

Build your college application

Academics are an important element of your college applications, but they’re not everything! The colleges you’re applying to want to learn more about you as a person and your interests outside of school. Here are some things you can add to your applications to help colleges get to know you better:

• Sports
• Student government
• Clubs
• Volunteer work, both virtually and for political organizations
• Part-time or seasonal jobs
• Side hustles
• Internships
• Instruments you play
• Languages you speak
• Family responsibilities

Learn more about making your college application stand out!

Start drafting your application essay

A student’s college application essay is one of the most important components of their application. It’s their time to share a significant moment, event, or story from their life that not only gives schools better insight into who they are, but helps them demonstrate personal growth and a dedication to their future.

Your essays don’t need to be finalized or submitted until you’re a senior, so your junior year is the perfect time to start brainstorming and drafting them. Check out the Common App's essay prompts, select one or two that you find interesting and have experiences related to, and start drafting.

As you work on your drafts, send them to us for free review! We’ll have them back to you within a week with actionable feedback and advice.

Finalize your college list 

Once you've gathered information about the colleges you're interested in, it’s time to make a decision about where to apply. You can organize your list into three categories:

• Reach schools are the ones you dream of going to, but are a bit more competitive to get into, due to things like small acceptance rates, minimum GPAs or test scores, or even high costs of tuition.
• Match schools are schools you feel confident about getting accepted to, even if they’re not necessarily at the very top of your list.
• Solid schools are schools you have a strong chance of getting admitted to. Your test scores, GPA, or coursework typically match those of other incoming students at these schools.

These categories will be different for everyone. You can find out which of your listed schools are a fit by comparing the data colleges publish on their average admitted student GPA and ACT/SAT test scores and comparing them with your own.

Ask for letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation are another important component of your college application. They show that you are a hardworking and dedicated student, employee, teammate, and friend, and that you would continue to work hard at the schools you’re applying to. Ask one to two educators, coaches, bosses, or other influential adults in your life if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you. Be sure to give your recommenders enough time (at least one month) and provide them with a list of your leadership roles, community service, awards, and extracurricular activities (also known as a brag sheet) to make the writing process easier. Read our step-by-step guide on asking for a letter of recommendation.

Research different financial aid options

One of the most important things you will need to take into consideration when you begin to research and apply to colleges is financial aid. Spend some time researching different financial aid types (like scholarships, loans, and grants) to familiarize yourself with them before you begin applying to colleges.

The most important thing you can do to receive financial aid is to complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA must initially be completed during your senior year, and then renewed each year you're in college. Most forms of financial aid are only awarded once a student has completed and submitted their FAFSA. This is a crucial step in receiving aid that can significantly cut down the cost of attending college, so be sure to complete your FAFSA during your senior year. 

It’s important to note that FAFSA eligibility is based on whether a student has a Social Security number. If you're an undocumented student, a student that doesn't have a Social Security number, or are otherwise unable to complete the FAFSA, you can still receive financial aid for college! Learn more about states in the U.S. that offer financial aid to undocumented students, and be sure to check out our list of scholarships for undocumented students and DACA recipients.

Have any questions about preparing for college? Text #College to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors. If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!