One of the questions I get asked most often by my clients is “How soon should I start preparing for college applications?” My answer is always the same: the sooner the better! The more time you invest in preparing yourself, the more likely you are to win a place at the university you want to go to.

In an ideal world, if you’re interested in going to a university in the US or UK, you should start thinking about your university preparation process in the 10th grade (15 – 16 years old). This may sound pretty early. You certainly don’t need to have everything figured out yet!  But this is a great time to start getting to know yourself better and making the right choices to open doorways when you finish high school.

Of course, there are literally hundreds of universities in the US or UK that will be delighted to accept you if you just submit an application when you finish high school.  However, if you’re like most of my clients, you want to be able to choose the perfect school for your interests – and you may want to apply to some very competitive places.

You need to bear in mind that this is a global competition. Students aiming to be admitted to top US or UK schools have often started preparing years in advance. But don’t let this intimidate you! You don’t need to become a superstar overnight. Your efforts should focus in two directions:

• Gaining a strong sense of your own strengths, weaknesses, goals, and motivations

and

• Developing and pursuing your passions – whatever they may be!

So, with that in mind, here are my top tips for some great ways to get ahead of the competition while you’re still in high school and begin preparing yourself for success:

• Start exploring careers that might interest you. A career worksheet like this one can be a great way to focus your thoughts.

• Take advantage of your summer holidays to broaden your experience.

 You could consider:

1. Applying for an unpaid internship at a company you find inspiring. You’ll be surprised how many will accept younger students.
2. Shadowing someone to find out more about what they do at work all day.
3. Completing a creative project – make a website, write a short story, even start an online business!
4. Take a course that relates to one of the university programs you are considering.
5.         Or any combination of the above that feels right!

• Consider your academic performance.

 If you aren’t getting the grades you’ll need to get into the universities that most interest you, talk to your teacher, your tutor, and your parents to find out how they can help.

• Learn more about different US or UK universities and different courses available.

Start thinking about which ones make you feel most excited, motivated, and comfortable. Get informed – don’t just rely on your parents to tell you where you should go!

• Think about working with a qualified educational consultant.

Of course, I would say that – I am an educational consultant! But honestly, the earlier I start working with a client, the more likely I am to be able to help them get into their perfect university.

If you’d like to find out more about how I can help you, no matter what grade you are currently in, please get in touch – I’d love to hear from you!