Tips for College Bound Students

 

Colleges are interested in admitting students who are life-long learners. The Great Hearts curriculum is academically rigorous and contains all the elements for your success in college. Your part is ensuring you participate in your learning and maintain the very best grades you are capable of obtaining.

Develop strong work habits now. Ask for help outside of class if you need it. Time management is crucial in learning to balance schoolwork with other interests. Use quarterly grades as spot check to determine if you need to study more, get more rest, or seek additional help from your teacher.

All semester grades are recorded on your official transcript and reported to a university. Your GPA is cumulative meaning every semester grade from your freshman year going forward counts. Bridge Academy Prep reports both weighted and unweighted GPA. Students receive extra grade weighting for all honors level classes; fine arts, drama, and music classes are not honors and, therefore, are not weighted.

The better your grades, the more college options you will have!


Develop Your Interests

While a strong academic record is key, exploring and developing interests in and out of the classroom is just as important at this stage.

You should explore athletic teams, clubs, and community service organizations to discover your strengths and interest.

A college admits a cohort made up of students from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, different geographic areas, and students with different academic interests, socioeconomic backgrounds, religious beliefs, and political views. Think about what type of unique contribution you will bring to your college campus. Nurture your uniqueness by getting more involved with what you love.

Consider leadership opportunities in or outside of Bridge Academy Prep clubs and athletics. Examples include Mayors Youth Council, volunteering for your City Parks and Recreation, police or firefighter cadet programs, etc. Work and volunteer experience are also important.

Consider depth versus breadth when considering how many things you can be involved with at one time.

Make summers productive—take enrichment courses, attend summer camps or workshops, volunteer, or work.

Participate in competitions that showcase your skills.

Keep an academic portfolio and co-curricular record. Document every award, honor, activity, and leadership position you hold. These are crucial elements to many scholarship and college applications. This information will be used to create a resume come Junior year. Get a head start and begin a resume on your own.

Check here for College Counselling College bound.