The stress of senior year and the college admissions process is coming to a close. We have all heard that some of the country’s top universities experienced historically low admission rates, but you weathered the storm and gained admission to one or more of your best-fit schools. So what’s next?
Preparing to get into college is one thing, but that does not really brace one for the transition of actually going to college. You have hopefully done research and know all of the resources available to you at your chosen school, now is the time to take advantage of them!
At IvyWise, we counsel our students to not only become experts in their top-choice school, but also identify opportunities and resources that can add an intangible value to their college degree.
Here’s what college-bound students need to do after sending in their enrollment deposit and securing their spot in the Class of 2018.
Stay up-to-date on campus news and events through social media.
Social media plays a big role in the college admissions process. It allows students to learn more about colleges they’re interested in, and also gives them the opportunity to showcase their work, talents, and achievements. While social media and resources like LinkedIn’s University Pages are useful during the application process, they are just as important after getting in.
Make sure you are following your college of choice on all social media channels, especially LinkedIn, so you can keep up with news, events, and issues you’ll want to be informed of before arriving on campus.
Interact with future classmates.
Many colleges have social media profiles or groups for recently admitted students to join or follow as a way to stay informed and meet other members of the new freshman class.
Get a head start on networking with classmates by joining any relevant recent admit conversations, and use LinkedIn’s University Pages or Groups to connect with other classmates in your major or geographic area. College is where you can meet future CEOs, business leaders, politicians, and others who you can collaborate with to further your dreams and pursue your ideas, so take time to connect with your future classmates.
Don’t fall victim to ‘senioritis.’
This is an exciting time for college-bound seniors and their families. It’s easy to lose focus when you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Just because you’re now ‘in’ college doesn’t mean that high school work is done. Colleges will still want to see your final transcript, and a significant drop in grades could result in a rescinded acceptance.
Avoid this by keeping up the good work that helped you gain admission. It is possible to strike a healthy balance between getting ready for college and wrapping up high school.
After four years of hard work in high school, students are graduating and realizing their dreams of a college education at their best-fit schools. Celebrate this great achievement, but remember to take advantage of the resources available to you in order to get the most of your college experience. Congratulations to the Class of 2018!
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