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Health & Fitness

Preparing for College Early

It's not just about SAT and ACT scores anymore. And, it's not just for high school Juniors and Seniors. Preparing for college acceptance starts early.

It’s not just about SAT and ACT scores anymore.  And, it’s not just for high school Juniors and Seniors.  Preparing for college acceptance starts early.  If you’re the parent of a junior high, or even a middle school student, there are critical strategies that you can employ now to help your student gain an edge when the time comes for college applications.

We asked around… we wanted to know where a well-rounded and highly competitive college application starts.   In the past,  some parents and students were tempted to think it’s as simple as a high GPA, a litany of activities and an essay about “The Person You Most Admire.”  Our Education Specialists, Lacey Cesarz and Michele Kennedy shed some light on the subject.  They both agreed:  Most college admission boards have very different visions of what their student body should look like, and most are seeking well-rounded students with a variety of strengths, skills and interests.

Here are 3 areas that you can address with your student now, even in middle school and junior high:

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1) Academics
Talk to your child about their interests and plan their class selection early.  Did you know…the classes that your child takes as early as middle school can have an impact on the classes that he or she is eligible to take in high school?

Appleton recommends that every student take at least one semester of Speech or Debate.  This course gives students of all learning styles an opportunity to improve their writing, critical thinking and public speaking skills.

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2) Activities
What are your child’s favorite activities?  College admissions boards want to see students who are dedicated to the organizations that they become involved with; they want students who can commit to an activity and see it through. Encourage your student to be an active participant in their chosen activity.  Even if they’re not an elected officer in a certain club or group, there’s always an opportunity to demonstrate leadership qualities.  Your child can use his or her critical thinking skills and creativity to identify a need within the club, design an action plan and lead a project.

Remember, colleges are less interested in the list of clubs in which the student is a member, and they’re more interested in the role played, actions taken and the results a student produced.

3) Applications
When the time comes for your student to complete college applications, it should be a fun opportunity for your student to tell their personal story and to share their success.

Stay tuned…we’ve got critical strategies that you can use to develop college applications that stand out from the crowd.

Put college admission on your radar early, and you’ll amplify your student’s chances for success.  With a little push in the right direction, every student can gain great experience that allows them to showcase their unique learning style and skills.

For more information on Appleton Learning's geniuStyle, please check out: http://www.appletonlearning.com/geniustyle

Appleton Learning offers SAT/ACT test prep classes and 1-on-1 SAT/ACT test prep coaching sessions all year long. We are also offering a high impact version of our traditional 6-week SAT/ACT in 1 week this summer! Download a copy of our summer camp schedule to see when you can sign up! 

Also, take a look at Appleton East Cobb's Facebook page and "Like" us!

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