College Prep Programs for High School Students

Spring is the prime time for boosting your student profile for college applications. As your classes begin to wind down, you’ll have plenty of free time to fill out activities and tasks strategically designed to give you a competitive advantage in the college application and admissions process. You can focus on doing something huge that will impress colleges or multiple small things that will steadily put you ahead of the game. Whatever you do, remember to make it productive and fun at the same time.

1. 1. College Application
      1. College Search
         Choosing which college is the best fit for you is a complex process. Our team of expert educational consultants, through a series of discussions, helps you identify your strengths and interests as well as your considerations (size, location, etc) to narrow down your college selection and identify those that match your needs and goals.
      2. Admissions Essay Editing
         No matter what schools you apply to, you will need to write an admissions essay that sums up your life experiences and convinces admissions officers that you are a great fit for them. Our writing tutors and editors are here to provide you with the admissions essay help you need and teach you how to start and write your admissions essay, supplemental essay, and Common App essay. Here are some tips to guide you.
      3. Test Preparation
         Test scores are the best indicators of a student’s potential for success once admitted. This is the reason why after years of being test-optional, many colleges are bringing back standardized tests as part of their application requirements. We offer a comprehensive test prep program where you will learn not only the skills but also test-taking strategies as you take full-length ACT practice tests and SAT practice tests. Find out which test suits you best so you can submit the best scores.
      4. Letters of Recommendation Request Advising
         Recommendation letters for university admission give colleges an insight into how you are as a student and the role you play in the school community. As you do not know what your teachers think about you nor do you have control over what they will write, it is important to build relationships and demonstrate leadership. Our college consultants will teach you how to ask for a recommendation letter from your teachers, principal, and counselor that will showcase your strengths. Read this article to help you choose the teachers you will be requesting recommendation letters from.
      5. Common App Form Filling
         Filling out the Common App application takes time. The biggest mistake that most applicants make is putting irrelevant information that could potentially hurt their application. Our admissions consultants will help you determine if the information you have makes you stand out. If your application is not exceptional, we will make recommendations, such as tutoring, to increase grades, and participating in internship activities, camps, or organizations to manifest leadership skills.
      6. College Visit
         Visiting colleges is an important part of the admissions process, as it is a way for students to demonstrate interest and learn more about the school. In-person college visits, if possible, are the best way for a student to feel the campus vibe, learn more about a school, interact with faculty and students, and determine if it is indeed a right fit.
   2. High School Activities
      
      1. Extracurricular Activity Designing
         Participating in the best extracurriculars and the leadership role you play matters a lot in your college application. Strategic planning is necessary to make sure that you choose the activity that matches the values of the school of your choice. If you’re applying to the Ivies, our educational consultants can help you decide on the best extracurricular activities for Ivy League schools that admissions officers value.
      2. High School Internship Advising
         An internship provides students with hands-on experience in their field of interest. It equips students with knowledge and skills to make them stand out from the other applicants. There are various spring internships for high school students, and we can help you choose the most suitable for your college application.
      3. Class Selection
         A student is responsible for choosing their classes depending on the educational program and major chosen. We can help you carefully choose which classes to take and plan them on your calendar to make sure that you are maximizing your time while still having enough time to cover your extracurricular activities. For tips on how to choose the right classes, click here.
      4. Summer Programs Planning
         One of the best ways to spend your spring is to plan out what you will be doing during the summer to boost your student profile. And there will be plenty to do, from summer courses, internships, research projects, and even part-time jobs. But the issue about having plenty of options is not knowing which ones are worth taking. So don’t get bogged down and use spring to plan your summer early.

Feeling overwhelmed? Not to worry! Cardinal Education is no stranger to helping students plan for the spring and optimize their college applications. Contact us now and let us start on a personalized spring strategy for you!