Chances are you have been thinking about college for a while now. You and your parents have hopefully visited a few colleges, attended college fairs, and you may already be tiring of it all. However, in anticipation of your college classes which begin this week, I ask you to consider the following.
1. Yesterday, Eric Hoover, an education writer for The Chronicle of Higher Education, tweeted this New Year's resolution: stop using the term "top colleges." Agreed! The goal of the college search is to find the right college for you, not the right college for everyone else or the one you think will be most impressive when we post the Where O' Where's at the end of next year. If you will do the necessary research (and be forewarned, it is hard work), work closely with your college counselor, and communicate with your parents, you will develop a list of schools that uniquely fit you. That should be your goal, and that is what we will help you do.
2. When considering your transcript and resume, we like to say "It is what it is." What we mean is that even if you do start making all A's, your GPA isn't going to go up a whole point (sorry!). Yet I want to offer a different perspective on that phrase. Yes, by this point in your junior year, your transcript is what it is, but you still have the power to make changes. All is not lost. If you don't like your English grade or you're not satisfied with your extracurricular involvement, you still have the power - and the time - to do something about it. English may not be your favorite or best subject - and you may not move the grade needle significantly - but by the end of the year, your teacher might be able to talk about your renewed focus and interest, your willingness to go the extra mile, or your attempt to be more involved in class discussions. Likewise, if you choose, you can step up and decide to lead the Amnesty letter writing campaign, or you can be the lacrosse teammate who decides to be a role model for the younger players. The changes may seem insignificant or even pointless to you, but even those small changes have the power to make a difference in your college process. What changes in your attitude or participation are you willing to make as the second semester begins?
3. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote two songs for Hamilton in two years. Two songs in two years! Why do you believe you can write your college essay in one sitting? No, you're not writing a Broadway masterpiece, but your essay can be the tipping point, so you will have to write multiple drafts (think at least four or five) before it will be worthy of submission.
4. And finally, I picked up another Twitter tip today. "Be honest about what you want from college and from life." These are big questions we are asking you to consider, but if you will take the time to think about them seriously and have in-depth conversations with your parents and your counselor, you will have a better chance of finding the right college for you.
The college search process is not rocket-science, but it requires considerable introspection and a great deal of hard work. I know you're up for the challenge, and I look forward to meeting with you soon.
Happy new year,
Ms. McCarter
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