The road to college

Make the most of campus visits

• Start with a general tour, said Scott Gordon, an admissions counselor at Western Kentucky University. It’s better to get a feel for the campus and see if you feel at home your first time there.  If you feel uncomfortable while you’re visiting, you will probably feel uncomfortable living there. If you like the general tour, tour a specific school in which you are interested, such as the school of medical science.
• Take general tours as a high school sophomore or junior, said Alex Kurtz, an admissions advisor at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind. Take a more specific tours during your senior year if you've determined your areas of study. 
• Touring as a high school senior, after you've researched majors and narrowed your interests, is advised by Amber Roberts, an admissions counselor at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. This will help you make a decision based on your career interests more than your college experience.

By Kerry Skiff

The journey to college can seem difficult for high school students, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. There are many things you can do to prepare for college while you're still in high school.

Choose your high school classes with purpose. Make sure you have a full schedule, especially in your senior year. Try to incorporate more advanced courses in with the ones you really enjoy. 

"Don’t flake out on your senior year," advised Amber Roberts, an admissions counselor at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College. You might not like biology, but colleges like to see you are willing to challenge yourself by taking more difficult classes. 

Admissions counselors also recommend students take college entrance exams such as the ACT and SAT several times. Typically, your scores improve each time you take the test.

Get involved in activities outside of school, Roberts said. College admissions professionals like to see you have several areas of interest, whether it is sports, music or volunteering. A high school student involved in their community will become a college student involved on campus. 

Talk to your guidance counselor. Scott Gordon, an admissions counselor at Western Kentucky University, said counselors can help you find shadowing opportunities in your community for your areas of interest. They can also help you pinpoint things for which you are enthusiastic and help you find an appropriate major or college.

The last thing to remember is that college courses are more demanding than high school courses.

"At the college level, you’re treated as an adult, and you’re expected to do more on your own," Gordon said. Preparing for college can be scary, but following these steps can give you confidence and make the whole process less intimidating.

Kerry Skiff is a junior and is homeschooled.